EL7.AI
StocksMedium•29 October 2026•
4 min read

Europris posts sales of NOK 3,473 million in the third quarter

Key Facts

1Third-quarter sales were NOK 3,473 million, down 1.6% in reported currency and up 0.6% at constant currency.
2Gross margin rose to 42.0% from 40.7%, while the EBIT margin fell to 7.0% from 7.3%.
3Net profit fell to NOK 129 million from NOK 154 million, and earnings per share declined to NOK 0.79 from NOK 0.94.
4Like-for-like sales at ÖoB rose 2.1% in local currency, compared with a 0.1% decline at Europris.
5The company targets ÖoB sales of SEK 5 billion and an EBIT margin of 5% by the end of 2028.

Europris reported sales of NOK 3,473 million in the third quarter of 2026, down from NOK 3,528 million in the year-earlier period. The company said sales fell 1.6% in reported currency, while sales grew 0.6% at constant currency. The results showed a divergence between sales and profitability: gross profit rose, but operating profit and net profit declined. The company linked weaker trading to lower customer traffic and the promotional campaign program performing below expectations. It also said it had begun corrective measures for the campaigns as it prepared for the final quarter, which it described as the most important of the year.

At the brand level, like-for-like sales at the Europris chain fell 0.1% during the quarter, while sales at Swedish chain ÖoB rose 2.1% in local currency. The company said year-on-year like-for-like customer traffic was below expectations, attributing this largely to summer starting earlier in the Nordic countries than in the previous year. Chief Executive Espen Eldal said, "Summer sales came earlier in the season this year and were already reflected in the June sales figures." The company added that promotional campaigns did not perform as expected during the quarter and that it had begun corrective measures. The divergence between the two retail chains puts traffic pressure in the context of a quarter in which ÖoB posted like-for-like sales growth while Europris recorded a slight decline.

Gross profit improved to NOK 1,459 million, compared with NOK 1,437 million a year earlier, and its margin rose to 42.0% from 40.7%. But that improvement did not carry through to operating profit: EBIT fell to NOK 244 million from NOK 256 million, and its margin declined to 7.0% from 7.3%. Net profit attributable to owners of the parent company was NOK 129 million, compared with NOK 154 million in the third quarter of 2025. Earnings per share fell to NOK 0.79 from NOK 0.94. The figures reflect a widening gap between the improvement in gross margin and the decline in bottom-line profitability during the quarter.

In the first nine months of 2026, reported sales rose 1.9% to NOK 10,467 million from NOK 10,268 million in the year-earlier period. EBIT for the period increased to NOK 710 million, compared with NOK 642 million a year earlier. The results present a stronger picture for the cumulative period than the third quarter alone, with sales growth accompanied by higher operating profit over the nine months. By contrast, the latest reported quarter saw year-on-year declines in EBIT and net profit. The comparison highlights the different performance paths of the extended period and the most recent quarter.

Europris said consumers remained price-conscious and favored lower-priced goods, while sales of campaign products and private-label brands continued to grow. The company said the Europris and ÖoB chains were well positioned to meet this customer preference. Looking ahead, it expected consumers to remain focused on value and promotions, but cautioned that higher interest rates could weigh on consumer confidence. It added that consumers in Norway and Sweden are expected to benefit from real wage growth this year and next. These factors remain part of the context as the company prepares for the fourth-quarter shopping season.

The company said it was ready for the Christmas season in Norway and Sweden, describing the final quarter as the most important of the year. In Sweden, Europris renewed its ambition to lift ÖoB sales to SEK 5 billion and achieve an EBIT margin of 5% by the end of 2028. It said, however, that ÖoB's store redesign program would continue to weigh on profitability in the near term, while the investments were expected to support the chain's ability to generate profit over the longer term. It also said visibility remained limited for some cost items, including energy, freight and certain inputs, and that further volatility could not be ruled out. The company said it was limiting the impact of increases through sourcing, pricing and operational efficiency.