EssilorLuxottica Sales Surge 18% on Strong Meta Smart Glasses Demand

EssilorLuxottica reported a significant 18% increase in fourth-quarter sales, reaching 7.6 billion euros and comfortably beating analyst estimates of 11%. The strong performance was primarily driven by the surging popularity of smart glasses developed in partnership with Meta, including the Ray-Ban and Oakley brands. In 2024 alone, the company successfully sold over 7 million units of these wearable devices, highlighting a growing consumer preference for practical smart eyewear. This success comes as Meta maintains a strategic 3% stake in the eyewear giant, valued at approximately $3.5 billion, reinforcing their long-term collaboration. While sales volumes were robust, the adjusted operating margin saw a slight decline to 16%, down 70 basis points compared to the previous year. The results underscore the mass-market viability of smart glasses, contrasting with the slower adoption rates seen in high-end virtual reality headsets like the Apple Vision Pro.