Finance
Swiss chocolatier lindt surpasses profit increase expectations
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 10, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 10, 2026
Quick Summary
Lindt exceeded expectations in 2025 with CHF 971 million in EBIT, topping the CHF 968.9 million forecast, driven by successful price hikes that offset surging cocoa costs and sustained strong consumer demand.
Lindt boosts 2025 profit as customers bear brunt of cocoa costs
Strong Financial Performance Amid Rising Cocoa Prices
Annual Operating Profit Surpasses Expectations
March 10 (Reuters) - Swiss chocolatier Lindt & Spruengli reported a roughly 10% rise in its annual operating profit on Tuesday, beating market estimates, as it successfully passed on higher cocoa prices to customers.
The premium chocolate teddy bear producer's earnings before interest and taxes were 971 million Swiss francs ($1.25 billion) in 2025, above analysts' average forecast of 968.9 million francs, based on data compiled by LSEG.
Sales Growth and Pricing Strategy
The company, based in Kilchberg on Lake Zurich, had previously reported 2025 sales growth slightly ahead of expectations, with a 12.4% organic rise, helped by a 19% hike in selling prices aimed at passing higher cocoa costs on to customers.
Cocoa Market Trends and Impact
Cocoa prices, which soared over 2024 and 2025, have been on a prolonged slide this year, dipping to three-year lows. But London cocoa dealers said last week they had seen early signs of market stabilisation.
Analyst Outlook
Falling raw material costs should provide a tailwind for Lindt this year, analysts said ahead of the earnings release.
Shareholder Returns and Dividend Proposals
Share Buyback Programme
The maker of Excellence chocolate bars also announced a share buyback programme of 1 billion francs, set to replace an existing buyback of up to 500 million francs which it plans to terminate ahead of schedule in the coming months.
Dividend Proposal
Lindt said it would propose a dividend of 1,800 francs for its registered shares, which carry voting rights, and 180 francs per participation certificate.
Profit Margins and Future Guidance
EBIT Margin Expansion
The company, which in January said its EBIT margin expansion would be at the lower end of its medium- to long-term target of 20-40 basis points, reported a 20-bps jump in its annual margin to 16.4%.
Sales Growth Forecast
In January, it forecast organic sales growth of 6% to 8% for 2026 and beyond. However, it said on Tuesday 2026 growth would come between 4% and 6%.
Exchange Rate Information
($1 = 0.7774 Swiss francs)
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Bernadette Hogg and Danny Callaghan in Gdansk; Editing by Christian Schmollinger, Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Milla Nissi-Prussak)
Key Takeaways
- •Lindt & Sprüngli’s 2025 operating profit reached CHF 971 million, slightly beating analysts’ consensus of CHF 968.9 million (LSEG).
- •The Swiss chocolatier maintained healthy margins by passing elevated cocoa costs onto consumers through strong pricing power.
- •In 2025, Lindt recorded robust organic sales growth of 12.4%, underpinned by a 19% average price increase, despite a dip in sales volumes.
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Swiss chocolatier Lindt surpasses profit increase expectations
1How much did Lindt's annual operating profit rise in 2025?
Lindt reported a 9.8% increase in its annual operating profit for 2025.
2What were Lindt's earnings before interest and taxes in 2025?
Lindt's earnings before interest and taxes in 2025 were 971 million Swiss francs ($1.25 billion).
3How did Lindt manage high cocoa prices?
Lindt passed the high cocoa prices onto its customers, helping maintain profitability.
4What is the conversion rate used for Swiss francs to US dollars in the report?
The conversion rate used is $1 = 0.7774 Swiss francs.
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