Carrefour Q3 2026 slides: solid sales growth, guidance cut on France unrest

On October 20, 2026, Carrefour, the French retail giant, unveiled its third-quarter earnings for 2026, presenting a mixed picture of growth and disruption. Despite solid commercial momentum, the company announced a significant reduction in its full-year financial targets due to social unrest in France. Group sales reached €22.7 billion, a 3.9% increase on a reported basis and 2.3% on a like-for-like basis, showcasing consistent performance across core markets.

However, the unrest, which damaged around 50 stores, forced Carrefour to cut its full-year targets, marking a setback for its strategic plan. Share prices rose 0.31% following the announcement, indicating market anticipation of the guidance adjustment. The company highlighted growth across multiple dimensions, particularly in e-commerce, where gross merchandise value surged 18%, with France leading at 15% and Spain contributing 8%.

France remained the largest market, generating €11.9 billion, with hypermarkets showing resilience and supermarkets growing 1.2%. Notably, customer satisfaction improved, with the Net Promoter Score rising by 2 points. However, Spain's performance also showed promise with 2.1% like-for-like growth. The company's overall presentation underscored the challenges posed by the French unrest, which directly impacted trading conditions and year-end operations, leading to the substantial reduction in financial guidance.