Paris, Jan 17, 2026, 17:28 CET — The market has closed.
- LVMH ended Friday trading at €609.20, slipping 2.6% amid the steepest drop seen in European luxury stocks in months.
- Saks Global’s bankruptcy filing added strain on luxury brands tied to the U.S. department-store sector.
- Next week, LVMH’s full-year results will draw attention for insights into China and the U.S. markets.
Shares of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH.PA) closed Friday at 609.20 euros, slipping 2.64%. The luxury giant faces pressure ahead of a busy week for the sector. 1
Paris is closed for the weekend, leaving traders to decide if this selloff is just a quick dip or the beginning of a deeper slide. With LVMH’s earnings report nearly here, the stock’s price is shifting more on positioning bets than on fundamentals.
Luxury stocks weighed on European markets Friday, dragging the sector down while the broader STOXX 600 stayed flat. The luxury index dropped 3.2%, marking its worst day since early October. Richemont fell after BofA Global Research downgraded the stock, pointing to stretched valuations. “The margin of safety that investors had previously is gone,” said Morningstar strategist Michael Field. 2
Traders also flagged jitters in the U.S. department-store sector following Saks Global’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing this week, alongside its announcement of a $1.75 billion financing deal. JLL’s Matt Weko suggested a “sale-leaseback” — selling assets and leasing them back — as a possible cash-raising strategy. 3
The mood remains unsettled despite solid numbers. Cartier-owner Richemont reported Thursday an 11% sales increase at constant exchange rates — a figure that excludes currency fluctuations — beating expectations. Sales in China, Hong Kong, and Macau nudged up 2%, a sign RBC analyst Piral Dadhania described as “a pivotal moment” for the broader luxury market. 4
Investors in LVMH are keen to find out if the pickup in China is spreading beyond jewellery to the group’s main profit driver: fashion and leather goods. They’ll also be looking for clues on U.S. demand and discounting, especially as wholesale pressures resurface in the news.
Outside of trading, LVMH announced on Friday that Michèle Benbunan will take over as CEO of its Les Echos–Le Parisien media division starting Jan. 22. She will also manage the group’s other media properties. 5
None of this shifts the immediate momentum behind the shares. Monday’s open will reveal if buyers return after Friday’s drop or if the sector remains under pressure heading into earnings.
The setup works both ways. Should LVMH miss on guidance, or if the Saks fallout triggers broader doubts about wholesalers’ capacity to absorb inventory, luxury stocks might remain under pressure despite solid headline figures.
LVMH’s full-year results, due Jan. 22, stand out as the next major trigger for its stock. Investors will watch closely for any remarks on China and the U.S., which could influence rivals like Hermès and Kering. 6
