Subdued Messages From Pharma and Consumer Giants: Earnings Wrap
Bloomberg 2/4/2021 Joe Easton and John Bowker
(Bloomberg) European company earnings were mostly subdued, with drugmaker Roche Holding AG issuing cautious guidance and Unilever Plc reporting weak profit margins in the beauty and personal care division.
Among Roche’s difficulties are missed hospital appointments due to Covid-19, delaying treatments. Nokia Oyj showed the Reddit day traders who caused the stock to surge last week that the underlying business is not so rosy, with sales continuing to fall. Royal Dutch Shell Plc reported a slump in fourth-quarter cash flow, and Commerzbank AG racked up a $3.5 billion loss tied to the pandemic.