Kao shares endured a modest dent following a 1.2% dip in operating income.
The Japanese beauty giant said income slipped to Y80.9bn in the nine months to 30 September. Sales inched up 0.9% to $2,735.1m, though home-grown sales rose 3.2% to $5,826.7m.
Asian growth surged 16.5% for the Jan-Sep period, worth $908.1m, while both European and American sales – up 16.6% and 12.1% to $550.1m and $522.3m respectively – were also encouraging.
However, Kao admits cosmetics sales dipped 0.5% to Y180.5bn and stripping out currency gusts, that figure is cut by 1.5%. Kao part-blamed the dip on bad weather and a voluntary recall from 2013 by Kanebo Cosmetics “and its associated impact”.
