Business · NEWS EXPLAINER
Carrefour cuts 2026 outlook after French unrest hits about 50 stores
Third-quarter sales rose 2.3% like for like, but closures, damage and security costs pushed the retailer to lower profit and cash-flow expectations.
Carrefour lowered its 2026 earnings and cash-flow expectations after unrest in France disrupted roughly 50 stores, even as group third-quarter sales rose on a like-for-like basis.
The company’s wide €80 million to €200 million operating-income impact range captures uncertainty across closures, damage, lost stock, curfews and security costs; it is an estimate, not a completed loss figure.
Sales grew, but the outlook weakened
Carrefour reported third-quarter sales of €22.694 billion, up 2.3% like for like and 3.9% at current exchange rates. E-commerce gross merchandise value rose 18%, but the group cut several full-year targets after disruption in France.
Unrest created a wide financial-impact range
Reuters reported that about 50 stores were hit, looted or damaged. Carrefour estimated an €80 million to €200 million impact on recurring operating income, reflecting closed stores, curfews, repairs, stock losses and extra security.
The revised guidance is more cautious
The company now expects adjusted earnings per share to be stable or grow slightly, instead of high-single-digit growth. It expects net free cash flow to decline slightly rather than rise slightly, and cut 2026 French capital expenditure to €1.6 billion from €1.7 billion.
