Kao (Kanebo, Curél)

Beauty & cosmetics groups · 4452

The Japan read

From the company's own filing for H1 (Jan–Jun 2026) · reported 2026-08-05 · the filing

JapanCosmetics sales in Japan rose 6.7% to ¥86.8bn, led by its six focus brands: Curél grew far faster than the market and KATE won more shelf space. Across all its businesses, Japan sales rose 5.4% to ¥476.1bn.
JapanIt says cosmetics sales at Japanese retailers rose year on year, but consumer-purchase surveys, which track domestic demand, fell.

Other callouts in the filing

SegmentCosmetics revenue rose 10.5% to ¥131.0bn and operating profit to ¥5.8bn from ¥0.3bn; Asian cosmetics sales grew sharply, led by China and by KATE and KANEBO in Thailand, while Europe fell.
One-offOperating profit includes an ¥11.5bn gain on a land sale in the first quarter. Kao adopted the new IFRS 18 presentation early this year and restated last year's operating profit to match.
OutlookIt raised full-year guidance: revenue to ¥1,800.0bn (+6.6%) from ¥1,750.0bn, operating profit to ¥190.0bn (+16.2%) from ¥182.0bn and net income to ¥135.0bn (+12.4%) from ¥130.0bn.

floortok's reading of the filing, in our own words. Figures are the company's own; where a growth rate is our arithmetic, it says so.

Show figures in

H1 (Jan–Jun 2026) · Year-to-Date

Reported 2026-08-05

Net sales¥871.9bn+7.8%

Operating profit¥95.8bn+38.5%

Net income¥65.7bn+32.3%

Kao makes household and personal-care brands such as Attack, Bioré and Merit, and cosmetics including Kanebo, Sensai, Curél and KATE. In January–June 2026 revenue rose 7.8% to ¥871.9bn, operating profit 38.5% to ¥95.8bn and net income 32.3% to ¥65.7bn.