FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - Disappointing statements about the current and coming year put the shares of fashion retailer Hugo Boss under heavy pressure on Thursday. At times, it fell to its lowest level since November 2022 at 50.56 euros and was last quoted at 51.85 euros, down 18 percent. This was by far the last place in the MDax.

The share has now lost almost a quarter of its value in the year to date. This makes it one of the five weakest shares in the MDax, which comprises a total of 50 medium-sized listed companies.

Following the preliminary key figures for last year, which were already known, the focus was on the outlook, said one trader. "And for 2024, the respective mid-point of the company's forecast range for turnover and operating result was below the average analyst estimate."

According to Goldman expert Louise Singlehurst and Frederick Wild from analyst firm Jefferies, the cautious statements on the current year and on growth in 2025 are also the main factors behind investors' disappointment.

UBS analyst Zuzanna Pusz also criticized the company's gross margin miss in the fourth quarter. Regarding Boss' forecast of sales growth of between 3 and 6 percent for 2024, she also pointed out that investors had rather expected growth in the mid to high single-digit percentage range.

"Hugo Boss has returned to 'normality' after a period of hype," commented DZ Bank analyst Thomas Maul on the figures and targets. "The charisma of the renewed brand is obviously no longer sufficient to meet previous growth expectations in a weak consumer environment." However, he particularly emphasized the management's statements on the growth targets for the coming year. In mid-January, Maul explained, the Group still considered the sales target for 2025 of five billion euros to be achievable. Now, however, there was talk of a possible slight delay./ck/ngu/mis