STOCKHOLM—H&M, the world’s second-biggest fashion retailer, reported a forecast-beating 33 percent increase in March-May profit on Wednesday as shoppers flocked to its stores in the aftermath of the pandemic.
The Swedish company reported a pretax profit of 4.78 billion crowns ($471 million) for its fiscal second quarter, up from 3.59 billion a year earlier. Analysts polled by Refinitiv had on average forecast a 3.87 billion crown profit.
“Sales in physical stores increased substantially while online continues to do well,” Chief Executive Officer Helena Helmersson said in a statement.
The company also said it had decided to use an authorization given by owners at its annual general meeting in May to buy back 3 billion crowns worth of shares….