Finance
Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing hikes annual forecast after surge in quarterly profit
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 8, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 8, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Fast Retailing's quarterly profit surged 34%, prompting a forecast hike due to robust global sales and strategic expansion.
By Anton Bridge
TOKYO, Jan 8 (Reuters) - The operator of the Uniqlo clothing brand, Japan's Fast Retailing, said quarterly operating profit surged by a third and it bumped up its annual outlook, citing robust sales growth globally that helped it absorb U.S. tariffs.
On track for its fifth consecutive year of profit, the company has benefited from a pickup in sales in China - its largest overseas market - as well as an aggressive expansion strategy in North America and Europe.
It opened up major stores in Antwerp, Birmingham and Munich during the quarter. In the U.S., it is planning a string of new flagship stores in Chicago, New York and Boston.
Known for durable basic items and considered a bellwether for consumer sentiment in Japan and in China, Fast Retailing said operating profit climbed 34% to 205.6 billion yen ($1.3 billion) during the September-November period on a 15% increase in revenue.
That easily beat an LSEG consensus estimate of 177 billion yen.
Profit from its domestic business grew 20.6% from a year earlier thanks to buoyant demand for sweatshirts and warm innerwear.
Many overseas markets saw double-digit growth in revenue and profit. Autumn sales in China were strong and the launch of a collaborative business with e-commerce giant JD.com brought in new customers.
Overall, its international segment posted profit growth of 41.6%.
For the full year, it has increased its operating profit target to 650 billion yen from 610 billion yen.
Fast Retailing sought to lower its dependence on China after strict COVID-19 curbs hurt its business there and made North America and Europe its key growth areas.
($1 = 156.5200 yen)
(Reporting by Anton Bridge; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus and Edwina Gibbs)
Operating profit is the profit a company makes from its core business operations, excluding any income derived from non-operational activities such as investments or sales of assets.
A financial analyst is a professional who evaluates financial data, trends, and investment opportunities to provide guidance on financial decisions and investment strategies.
Business expansion refers to the growth of a company through increasing its operations, entering new markets, or launching new products to increase revenue and market share.
Profit is the financial gain obtained when the revenue generated from business activities exceeds the costs and expenses associated with those activities.
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