French consumer goods maker BIC reported €516 million in third-quarter sales, above the analyst consensus, as brush and shaver growth helped limit declines in other businesses.
Sales were down 0.5% from €519 million a year earlier on a reported basis and fell 0.6% organically. BIC defines organic growth as the change in sales at constant currency and constant business perimeter. The company’s Oct. 8 investor-site consensus showed an average sales estimate of €507 million from seven contributors, with estimates ranging from €500 million to €519 million. Analysts expected a 0.5% organic decline on average; BIC’s 0.6% drop matched the low end of their range, which ran from a 0.6% decline to a 0.3% decline.
The shavers-and-brushes division generated €155 million in sales, with 3.9% organic growth. Tangle Teezer’s Brushes business recorded 29% organic growth. Stationery sales were €183 million, down 1.1% organically, while lighters brought in €170 million, down 4.6% organically.
BIC said some U.S. back-to-school orders shifted from the third quarter to the second, weighing on North American stationery sales. The company also cited continued weakness in its Ball Pen segment. For lighters, BIC pointed to North American retailer pre-buys ahead of a September 2025 price increase as a tougher comparison, and cited softer trends in Europe and Latin America.
For the first nine months, sales fell 2.5% to €1.556 billion from €1.595 billion, while organic growth was 1%. BIC listed a 2.6% negative impact from changes in its business perimeter and a 0.9% negative foreign-exchange impact. The company reaffirmed its 2026 outlook for modest organic growth, an adjusted EBIT margin slightly above 14% and stable free cash flow year over year, based on current assumptions. CEO Rob Versloot said year-to-date performance supported keeping that outlook.
BIC lists Feb. 24, 2027, for its 2026 full-year results, subject to confirmation.
