Stock Markets March 24, 2026

Bank of America Elevates Richemont to Buy, Lowers Target as Near-Term Pressures Mount

Analysts say Richemont’s growth profile stands out despite margin headwinds from tourism, gold and currencies

By Maya Rios CFR
Bank of America Elevates Richemont to Buy, Lowers Target as Near-Term Pressures Mount
CFR

Bank of America upgraded Richemont to Buy, arguing the luxury group’s investment case has grown more distinctive even as the luxury sector faces softness. The bank trimmed its price target on the Cartier owner and adjusted sector estimates, citing Middle East disruption, higher gold prices and foreign exchange as near-term margin pressures already visible in consensus forecasts.

Key Points

  • Bank of America upgraded Richemont to Buy and lowered its price objective to CHF 175 from CHF 190.
  • Richemont shares are down about 20% year-to-date in 2026 and trade at roughly 22 times FY27 earnings (about 20 times excluding cash).
  • BofA revised estimates across the luxury sector, cutting targets for LVMH, Herms and Kering and keeping Ferragamo Underperform.

Bank of America has upgraded Richemont to a Buy rating, saying the luxury conglomerate’s growth trajectory is increasingly differentiated from peers even as the wider luxury market softens.

The bank highlighted that Richemont is continuing to record revenue growth that outpaces sector rivals. While the broader recovery in so-called soft luxury has proved slower than anticipated, Bank of America said that this dynamic only serves to make Richemont’s growth story more distinctive.

Richemont’s shares have fallen by about 20% year-to-date in 2026, leaving the stock trading at roughly 22 times fiscal 2027 (FY27) earnings, or near 20 times when excluding the company’s cash position.

Bank of America flagged several external pressures that are weighing on Richemont’s near-term margins: disruption linked to the Middle East, movements in the gold price and foreign exchange volatility. The bank noted that many of these headwinds are already being captured in consensus estimates, with projected gross margin declines of about 20 basis points in FY27 and around 220 basis points in FY28.

Reflecting updated earnings assumptions, exchange-rate considerations and changes to the market value of LuxExperience - Richemont’s online luxury platform business - the bank reduced its price objective for Richemont to CHF 175 from CHF 190. At that revised target, the stock would trade at approximately 25 times FY27 earnings on a cash-excluded basis.

Bank of America also revised estimates across the luxury sector. The bank said soft luxury demand got off to a slower-than-expected start in 2026, noting a more gradual recovery in global tourism and the effects of Middle East disruption. Those developments prompted downward revisions to organic revenue growth assumptions, which were partially offset by a slightly less severe outlook for FX headwinds.

The bank maintained Buy ratings on several peers while trimming their price targets and adjusting forecasts. LVMH remained a Buy with a reduced target of 675 from 750; Bank of America now expects 2% organic revenue growth in LVMH’s core fashion and leather goods division in 2026 and 6% in 2027, both below its prior forecasts.

Herms was also kept at Buy, with its price objective lowered to 2,500 from 2,650 to reflect estimate revisions and a slightly lower terminal growth rate. Kering was left at Neutral, with its target cut to 300 from 350; the bank now expects Gucci to register a 1% revenue decline in 2026 and highlighted continued uncertainty around a turnaround. Ferragamo remained Underperform, with a modestly higher target of 6.1 following its latest results.

Overall, Bank of Americas revisions underline a view that, while Richemont faces the same external pressures as peers, its revenue performance and balance-sheet characteristics make its investment case more singular within the sector.

Risks

  • Near-term margin pressure from Middle East disruption, higher gold prices and foreign exchange volatility - impacts luxury manufacturers, retailers and commodity-linked suppliers.
  • Slower-than-expected recovery in soft luxury demand and weaker global tourism - affects revenue growth in the luxury goods and travel-related sectors.
  • Significant downward revisions to gross margins in consensus forecasts (20 basis points in FY27 and 220 basis points in FY28) - increases earnings and valuation uncertainty for luxury stocks.

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