India's Nykaa posts slowest revenue growth since listing amid stiff competition

BENGALURU, Nov 6 (Reuters) - FSN E-Commerce Ventures (FSNE.NS), parent of cosmetics-to-fashion retailer Nykaa, on Monday reported its slowest quarterly revenue growth since listing, hurt by stiff competition in its mainstay beauty and personal care (BPC) segment.

Consolidated revenue from operations grew 22.4% to 15.07 billion rupees ($181.17 million) in July-September, its slowest year-on-year percentage growth since the company went public in November 2021.

Revenue growth was also muted due to a delay in the festive season, which started in October this year in India as opposed to September a year ago, pushing sales and traffic to the current quarter for a number of retailers.

The festive season in India brings in the lions share of annual sales for retailers like Nykaa. It counts Tata Sons app-based store Tata Cliq, Reliances Tira among its competitions.

\“Shift of around 20 days in the festive calendar has resulted in some growth being impacted for the quarter,\” the company, which sells makeup, personal care items, as well as clothes and other accessories through its app and brick-and-mortar stores, said.

The BPC businesss gross merchandise value (GMV)- the monetary value of all its orders - grew 23%, amid rising competition in the segment. It had risen 24% in previous quarter and 39% in the year-ago quarter.

\“Discounting has increased in this category due to proliferation of a number of home-grown brands as well as increasing number of international brands making India a priority market,\” Nykaa said.

Analysts at Elara capital had said they did not see any negative impact of increased competition in online BPC.

The companys overall gross merchandise value (GMV) rose 25% to 29.44 billion rupees, aided by companys flagship sale event in July.

Profit attributable to shareholders grew over 42% to 58.5 million rupees, while profit for non-controlling interests jumped over 80%.

Shares of the company ended 5% higher ahead of the results.

($1 = 83.1800 Indian rupees)