Finance
UK's Moonpig forecasts slower annual earnings growth, announces CEO departure
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on June 26, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
Quick Summary
Moonpig predicts slower earnings growth and announces CEO departure, impacting stock prices amid volatile UK consumer spending.
UK's Moonpig forecasts slower annual earnings growth, announces CEO departure
(Reuters) -British greeting card and gifting retailer Moonpig on Thursday projected slower earnings growth for the year ending April 2026 and announced the departure of its longtime CEO Nickyl Raithatha, sending shares down more than 10%.
Consumer spending in the UK has remained volatile this year as households scaled back discretionary purchases, including holiday gifting, against a challenging economic backdrop marked by rising inflation and high cost of living.
CEO Raithatha, who has been at the helm for seven years, has overseen Moonpig through its public debut on the London Stock Exchange in 2021, and brought in artificial intelligence personalisation to its offerings.
Raithatha "has built a seasoned leadership team that will drive strong execution continuity during the transition. We are well prepared from a succession perspective," Chair Kate Swann said, adding that Raithatha will remain during the search for a successor.
Moonpig's stock, which has fallen 40.5% since its debut, was the top loser on the FTSE mid-cap index on the day. It dropped as much as 11.7% in early trade, after it forecast a rise of only 8% to 12% in its adjusted earnings per share for fiscal 2026.
For the year ended April 2025, it reported an 18.1% growth to 15 pence per share. Overall orders, including those for personalised cards, gifts and flower bouquets, grew 4.1% for about 12 million active customers.
Still, its 2.6% rise in annual revenue to 350.1 million pounds ($480.41 million) fell short of a company-compiled consensus of 352.9 million pounds.
Moonping also said Greetz, its greeting card and gifting brand in the Netherlands, logged a softer start to the second half of fiscal 2025 - a crucial period for retail sales, driven by gifting for occasions such as Christmas and Valentine's Day.
The company said trading since the start of the year was in line with its expectations, with a notably strong performance around Father's Day.
(Reporting by Nithyashree R B in Bengaluru, writing by Pushkala Aripaka; Editing by Janane Venkatraman and Sumana Nandy)
Key Takeaways
- •Moonpig forecasts slower earnings growth for fiscal 2026.
- •CEO Nickyl Raithatha announces departure after seven years.
- •Shares drop over 10% following the announcement.
- •UK consumer spending remains volatile amid economic challenges.
- •Moonpig's revenue growth falls short of expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions about UK's Moonpig forecasts slower annual earnings growth, announces CEO departure
1What did Moonpig forecast for its annual earnings growth?
Moonpig projected slower earnings growth for the year ending April 2026, estimating a rise of only 8% to 12%.
2Who is the departing CEO of Moonpig?
The departing CEO of Moonpig is Nickyl Raithatha, who has been with the company for seven years.
3How has consumer spending affected Moonpig's performance?
Consumer spending in the UK has been volatile, leading households to cut back on discretionary purchases, including holiday gifting, which has impacted Moonpig's earnings.
4What was the stock performance of Moonpig after the earnings forecast?
Moonpig's stock fell 40.5% since its debut and dropped as much as 11.7% in early trade following the earnings forecast.
5What is the significance of the Greetz brand for Moonpig?
Greetz, Moonpig's greeting card and gifting brand in the Netherlands, reported a softer start to the second half of fiscal 2025, which is crucial for retail sales.
