Brands
Bosch shifts into high gear with Rs 7,303 million quarterly profit surge
MUMBAI: Bosch limited has revved up its performance this quarter quite literally. The automotive components giant reported a standalone net profit of Rs 5,542 million for the quarter ended September 2025, racing ahead of its Rs 5,359 million profit in the same period last year.
Revenue from operations stood at Rs 47,948 million, a nine per cent jump from Rs 43,943 million in Q2 FY25, as both automotive and consumer goods segments drove growth. Total income touched Rs 50,047 million, up from Rs 46,032 million last year, buoyed by strong sales and steady other income of Rs 2,099 million.
Bosch’s total expenses for the quarter rose to Rs 42,744 million from Rs 39,260 million a year earlier, led by higher raw material costs of Rs 11,416 million and traded goods purchases of Rs 19,726 million. Employee benefits stood at Rs 3,652 million, while other expenses climbed to Rs 7,166 million.
But what really fuelled Bosch’s engine this quarter were exceptional gains, Rs 5,560 million linked to the sale of certain assets and portfolio adjustments. That turbocharged its pre-tax profit to Rs 7,303 million from Rs 6,772 million a year ago, and a robust Rs 13,939 million in the preceding June quarter.
After accounting for taxes of Rs 1,761 million, the company clocked a net profit of Rs 5,542 million. Total comprehensive income, factoring in other gains, came in at Rs 4,862 million for the quarter.
For the half year ended September 2025, Bosch’s revenue reached Rs 95,834 million, up from Rs 87,111 million a year ago. Profit before tax for the six-month period jumped 59 per cent year on year to Rs 21,242 million, while net profit surged to Rs 16,696 million against Rs 10,014 million in the previous period.
Segment-wise, the automotive products division remained Bosch’s powerhouse, contributing Rs 42,704 million to the topline, followed by consumer goods at Rs 4,368 million and others at Rs 974 million. The auto business alone delivered Rs 6,362 million in segment profit, underscoring its pivotal role in driving the company’s growth.
The balance sheet, too, looked well-oiled. Total assets stood at Rs 203,266 million as of September 2025, compared with Rs 202,453 million at the end of March. Equity rose to Rs 140,204 million, with other equity at Rs 139,909 million. Cash and cash equivalents closed at Rs 1,082 million.
Bosch also maintained its steady dividend payout rhythm, distributing Rs 15,103 million during the period. Even with significant cash outflow, the company’s operations generated a healthy Rs 9,984 million in net operating cash.
With its automotive heart still purring and its financial engine well-tuned, Bosch seems to be cruising comfortably through FY26. And while it may occasionally hit speed bumps in costs and inventory, this quarter proves it’s got plenty of mileage left in its tank.
Brands
Estée Lauder to shed 10,000 jobs as new boss bets on digital shift
The cosmetics giant raises its profit outlook but stays silent on a possible merger with Spain’s Puig, as job cuts deepen and a three-year sales slump weighs on the turnaround
NEW YORK: Stéphane de La Faverie is not done cutting. Estée Lauder announced on Friday that it plans to eliminate as many as 3,000 additional jobs, taking its total redundancy programme to as many as 10,000 roles, up from a previous target of 7,000 announced a year ago. The company, which owns La Mer, The Ordinary, Tom Ford, and Aveda, employs roughly 57,000 people worldwide. The mathematics of what is now being contemplated is stark.
The fresh round of cuts is expected to generate a further $200 million in savings, bringing the total annual savings from the programme to as much as $1.2 billion before taxes. That money, De La Faverie has made clear, will be ploughed back into the turnaround.
A CEO in a hurry
De La Faverie, who took the helm in January 2025, inherited a company that had endured three consecutive years of annual sales declines. His response has been to move fast and cut deep. A significant portion of the latest redundancies reflects his push to reduce headcount at US department stores, long a cornerstone of Estée Lauder’s distribution model but now a channel in structural decline. In their place, he is accelerating the shift toward faster-growing online platforms, including Amazon.com and TikTok Shop, a pivot that is reshaping not just where Estée Lauder sells but how it thinks about its customers.
The numbers are moving in the right direction
Despite the pain, there are signs the medicine is working. Estée Lauder raised its profit outlook for the remainder of the fiscal year, guiding for adjusted earnings per share in the range of $2.35 to $2.45, above analyst estimates and a notable step up from the $2.05 to $2.25 range it had guided for in February. Organic net sales growth is expected to come in at 3 per cent, the company said, at the high end of the range it set out in February.
The share price tells a mixed story. After De La Faverie took charge, the stock surged nearly 60 per cent, buoyed by investor optimism that a longtime company insider could finally arrest the decline. But 2026 has been rougher: the shares have fallen 27 per cent this year, weighed down by disappointing February results and the overhang of unresolved merger talks with Spanish beauty giant Puig Brands SA. The company gave no additional details about those discussions on Friday, leaving the market to guess.
Silence on Puig
The proposed tie-up with Puig remains the most consequential unknown hanging over Estée Lauder. A deal with the Barcelona-based group, which owns brands including Carolina Herrera and Rabanne, would reshape the global luxury beauty landscape. But with nothing new to say and a turnaround still very much in progress, De La Faverie is asking investors to trust the process.
Three years of sales declines, 10,000 job cuts, and a merger that may or may not happen. At Estée Lauder, the overhaul has barely started.
