Goldman Sachs: Beauty and personal care sales rise modestly amid volume declines

Investing.com -- US beauty and personal care sales increased 1.6% in the four weeks ending May 16, according to Nielsen data cited by Goldman Sachs on Tuesday, though volumes declined 2.6% during the period.

Makeup sales grew 1.9%, while hair care rose 3.4% and body care advanced 3.6%. Skin care sales fell 2.5% against a tougher comparison, with volumes down 9%. Nielsen captures approximately 40% of the US beauty market and excludes online sales, which represent 28% of the market, and beauty specialists like Sephora and Ulta, which account for 16% of sales.

L'Oréal (EPA:OREP), where the US represents 25% of sales, reported 8.3% growth in the period with 10.3% volume growth. L'Oréal Paris sales rose 12.9% and La Roche-Posay jumped 31.6%, while NYX accelerated to 11.2%. Garnier and Maybelline declined modestly. CeraVe sales increased 4.9%.

Unilever (LON:ULVR) US beauty, wellbeing and personal care sales, representing 12% of group sales, declined 0.4% with volumes down 2.2%. Dove sales rose 1.5%, down from 4.9% growth in April, while Vaseline accelerated to 16% growth. Liquid IV sales fell 0.9% driven by a 7.6% decline in price and mix, and Axe remained weak, down 14%.

Beiersdorf (ETR:BEIG) US sales, accounting for 10% of company sales, decelerated to a 4.1% decline with volumes down 11.4%. Derma sales grew 7%, driven by 11.4% growth in Aquaphor. Nivea declined 2.3% with 9.4% volume decline. Coppertone fell 33.4%, losing share in US sunscreen, which declined 16.7%.

In consumer health, four-week sales declined across upper respiratory products by 5.8%, internal pain relief by 3.9%, and sexual health by 2.5%. Vitamins and supplements grew 1.3%, toothpaste rose 3.4%, and digestive care increased 0.8%. Household cleaners sales rose 1.2%, while dish care fell 0.5%. Laundry sales increased 3.2%.

Haleon (LON: HLN), with the US accounting for approximately 30% of sales, reported a 1.3% sales decline with volumes down 1.7%. Toothpaste sales rose 5%, led by Sensodyne at 3.9% and Parodontax at 26.6%. Upper respiratory sales fell 4.8%, while nicotine replacement therapy declined 13.5%.

Reckitt (LON:RKT), where the US represents approximately 31% of sales, saw sales decline 2.7% with volumes up 0.6%. Infant formula sales fell 4%, while sexual health declined 1.3% as Durex rose 9% and K-Y fell 4.4%. Household cleaning products grew 1.2%, led by Lysol at 1.1%. Laundry sales grew 11.4%.

Henkel (ETR:HEN3), with the US accounting for approximately 26% of sales, underperformed in laundry with sales down 1.3%. Detergent sales fell 2% as Purex declined 5.9% and Persil dropped 9.1%, while All rose 3.8%.