Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 20, 2025
1 min readLast updated: February 27, 2026
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Carrefour shares dropped 7% after the retailer forecasted slight growth in 2025, citing weak consumer demand and no share buyback.
LONDON (Reuters) - Carrefour shares fell sharply on Thursday after the French retailer sounded a note of caution on consumer demand and said it expects only "slight" growth in free cash flow and earnings before interest and tax in 2025.
Carrefour shares were down 7% by 0904 GMT after its fourth-quarter results late on Wednesday showed comparable sales in France, its biggest market, fell again, with chief financial officer Matthieu Malige saying he does not see demand improving significantly in the short term.
Carrefour's overall profit margin for the second half also missed expectations, hit by the retailer's push to lower prices, which it said it would continue this year as it competes against rivals like Leclerc, France's biggest supermarket retailer.
Analysts said investors were also disappointed by the lack of a share buyback, which Carrefour's finance chief said was due to France recently implementing a tax on share buybacks. The retailer instead announced a special dividend.
(Reporting by Helen Reid; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
Carrefour shares fell sharply after the retailer expressed caution on consumer demand and projected only slight growth in free cash flow.
The fourth-quarter results showed that comparable sales in France, Carrefour's largest market, fell again, contributing to the decline in share value.
Carrefour's overall profit margin for the second half missed expectations due to its strategy of lowering prices to compete with rivals.
Analysts noted disappointment over the lack of a share buyback, which Carrefour's finance chief attributed to a new tax on share buybacks implemented in France.
Carrefour shares were down 7% shortly after the announcement of their fourth-quarter results.
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