The Berlin online fashion retailer Zalando SE presented solid numbers for the 2024 financial year on Thursday. In addition to sales plus, the company reported a strong increase in profits.
Already in mid-January, the e-commerce specialist had announced in advance that he was able to outperform his result forecast several times in the final quarter. The current year will now be all about the planned takeover of the competitor about you.
The net profit of Zalando jumps to around 251 million euros
Last year Zalando generated sales of 10.6 billion euros. The level of 2023 was exceeded by 4.2 percent. The gross -like volume (GMV) increased by 4.5 percent to 15.3 billion euros. According to the company, both key figures achieved “the upper end of the forecast range”.
The result was even clearer. The result adjusted for special effects before interest and taxes (EBIT) rose by 46.0 percent to 511.1 million euros compared to the previous year. Last but not least, this growth was “achieved through surgical increases in efficiency and a significant increase in the B2C gross parae”, Zalando said.
The designated net profit amounted to 251.1 million euros and was more than three times as high as in 2023 when it was at 83.0 million euros.
Management forecasts further growth for 2025
For 2025, management expects further growth. In sales and GMV, increases by four to nine percent are expected. This is to be achieved “by the successful implementation of the ecosystem strategy in the two growth fields of business-to-consumers (B2C) and Business-to-Business (B2B)”. In addition, the company announced that the Zalando shop expanded to the new markets of Portugal, Greece and Bulgaria. The target area for adjusted EBIT is between 530 and 590 million euros.
Co-CEO Robert Gentz emphasized the core elements of the current strategy. “In the B2C area we develop our Zalando Plus bonus program, expand our lifestyle offer, among other things, in the sports segment and inspire our customers: inside with entertaining content,” he said in a statement. “In the B2B area we will almost double the number of markets in which we are active, and brands and retailers offer innovative software and logistics solutions for their own online shops.”
About you should take over in summer
The effects of the planned takeover of About You have not yet been taken into account in the forecast. According to its own statements, the online retailer has now secured more than 90 percent of the ABOUT YOU share capital without taking into account its own shares.
“The high acceptance rate underlines the strong approval of this transaction,” said the company. The transaction is currently expected for the summer of 2025. After that, the consolidation of ABOUT YOU should take place.