Elf Beauty forecasts weak year, flags up to $20 million hit from Iran war

Elf Beauty on Wednesday forecast annual sales and profit below analysts’ ‌expectations, and said surging oil prices tied to the Iran ‌war could have a $15 million to $20 million impact in fiscal 2027.

The cosmetics maker joins ​other global firms hit by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, but said it has not included the expected hit in its forecast.

“We have cost-savings programs that we believe can help offset” the impact, Chief Financial Officer ‌Mandy Fields told Reuters ⁠in an interview. She said tariff refunds could also offset those costs.

The company, which relies on China for ⁠about 75% of its production, has faced pressure from import tariffs introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump, that were later struck down by the ​Supreme Court.

Fields ​said Elf paid about $58.5 million in ​tariffs and is working to ‌collect the refunds.

The company expects full-year net sales to be between $1.84 billion and $1.87 billion, with the midpoint below analysts’ average estimate of $1.87 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Annual adjusted profit is forecast at $3.27 to $3.32 per share, also below expectations of $3.61.

Elf, which offers about 75% of ‌its products at $10 or less, has ​benefited from demand among cost-conscious shoppers despite ​broader macroeconomic uncertainty.

Fields said consumers ​are continuing to spend on beauty and that the ‌company is not “seeing the trade ​down effect right now.”

Elf — ​short for eyes, lips, and face — reported a 35% increase in fourth-quarter sales to $449.3 million, while analysts estimated $423.1 million.

Quarterly adjusted earnings ​per share came ‌in at 32 cents, beating an estimate of 29 cents.