Berlin-headquartered ecommerce multinational Zalando has warned that its full-year sales growth will come in toward the lower end of expectations, despite reporting double-digit profit growth in its second quarter.
The company said that it now expects both gross merchandise volume (GMV) and revenue growth to fall within the lower half of its previously announced 12 per cent to 17 per cent range for 2026.
The revised forecast sent Zalando’s shares down nine per cent in pre-market trading in Frankfurt, although the retailer insisted the update reflected its first-half performance rather than a change in expectations for the remainder of the year.
Zalando also narrowed its adjusted operating profit guidance to between €680m (£590m) and €720m (£625m), compared with its previous range of €660m to €740m.
The business said it had greater confidence in achieving the midpoint of the revised range, supported by cost savings from its acquisition of ABOUT YOU and expected benefits from changes to its European logistics network.
Growth across its higher-margin partner, software and retail media divisions, alongside wider efficiency measures, is also expected to support profitability during the second half, the company added.
Second-quarter GMV surged 20.7 per cent year on year to €4.9bn on a reported basis, while adjusted EBIT increased 10 per cent to €205m.
Zalando generated more than €10m of synergies from its ABOUT YOU acquisition during the quarter, as it continued integrating the fashion platform into the wider group.
The retailer has also continued investing in artificial intelligence across its customer-facing platforms and fulfilment operations.
Its AI strategy includes personalised shopping tools, automated product onboarding and robotics across its European logistics network, as the business seeks to improve efficiency and customer engagement.
Zalando said in May that its group revenue had climbed 23.8 per cent to €3bn during its first quarter, while GMV jumped 21.7 per cent to €4.3bn.
At the time, it maintained its original full-year guidance and said the integration of ABOUT YOU was progressing ahead of plan.
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