EssilorLuxottica stock falls as governance tensions resurface despite solid H1 2026 growth

Published on 09/12/2026 at 14:32 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

EssilorLuxottica stock has retreated from its late-2025 peak, even though H1 2026 revenue grew 9.7 percent and adjusted operating profit rose 15 percent. The eyewear group also faces renewed criticism of CEO pay and strategy as of September 11, 2026.

Photorealistic studio shot of a generic designer eyeglass frame on white background — EssilorLuxottica FR0000033219 editorial shot of unbranded titanium designer eyeglass frame on white background, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

EssilorLuxottica Société anonyme stock (ISIN FR0000033219) has come under renewed pressure, even though the eyewear group reported H1 2026 revenue up 9.7 percent and adjusted operating profit up 15 percent compared with the prior period, according to data summarized by Yahoo Finance as of September 12, 2026.

Stock slides from late-2025 peak

Per the EL.PA quote on Euronext Paris, EssilorLuxottica stock last traded around EUR 262.90 on September 12, 2026, with a previous close of EUR 262.60 and an intraday range between EUR 260.90 and EUR 264.20, based on Yahoo Finance data.

The same overview shows a 52-week range from EUR 188.25 to EUR 298.00, indicating that the current price sits notably below the recent high and well above the low over the past year, with an intra-day market capitalization reported around EUR 119.90 billion as of September 12, 2026Yahoo Finance.

An Italian report from il Giornale on September 12, 2026, notes that from a peak reached at the end of 2025, EssilorLuxottica stock has lost 54 percent of its value, underscoring how sharply sentiment has turned despite strong long-term fundamentals.

H1 2026 results show solid growth

The H1 2026 results highlighted in the EL.PA profile point to a solid operating trajectory: revenue for the period grew 9.7 percent, with second-quarter revenue up 8.7 percent, while adjusted operating profit advanced 15 percent year-on-yearYahoo Finance.

Trailing twelve-month revenue is indicated at EUR 26.51 billion, with net income attributable to common shareholders of EUR 2.36 billion and diluted EPS of EUR 5.12, implying a profit margin of 8.90 percent and a price-to-earnings ratio of 51.05 on the current market priceYahoo Finance.

According to a translated summary of a Bloomberg-origin story reproduced by newmoney.gr on September 11, 2026, EssilorLuxottica executives argued in an internal memo that sales, profitability and cash generation are at record levels and that earnings per share have doubled over the past eight years.

Governance tensions and CEO pay debate

The main short-term catalyst for EssilorLuxottica stock has been governance tension around CEO Francesco Milleri and criticism from Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio, son of the company’s late founder, regarding executive pay and strategic direction, as described by Finimize on September 11, 2026.

Finimize cites Bloomberg reporting that senior EssilorLuxottica leaders sent employees a memo defending Milleri, arguing that the share-price decline reflects macroeconomic and geopolitical pressures rather than mismanagement, and reaffirming confidence in the company’s long-term strategy.

In parallel, the piece from il Giornale stresses that Del Vecchio Jr has publicly criticized Milleri’s compensation, pointing to the 54 percent drop in the stock price since late 2025 as evidence that investors are not being rewarded proportionately.

Risk factor: valuation and sentiment

From an investor perspective, the combination of robust operating trends and a steep share-price decline raises questions about valuation and market sentiment. With a trailing PE ratio above 50 and a profit margin under 10 percent, the current market price still embeds high expectations for sustained growth and margin improvementYahoo Finance.

The governance dispute and public criticism of executive pay are a clear risk for EssilorLuxottica stock, because prolonged conflict between management and key shareholders could weigh on sentiment and distract from execution, even as H1 2026 results demonstrate that the operating business continues to grow at high single-digit ratesFinimize.

EssilorLuxottica stock price as of latest session

At the most recent completed session on Euronext Paris, EssilorLuxottica stock closed around EUR 262.60 on September 12, 2026, with the shares trading between EUR 260.90 and EUR 264.20 during the day and a 52-week high of EUR 298.00 and low of EUR 188.25, based on Yahoo Finance data.