EssilorLuxottica accelerated growth in the second quarter of 2026, driven by demand for smart glasses equipped with artificial intelligence. Sales in this category nearly doubled compared to the same period of the previous year, supported mainly by products developed with Meta under the Ray-Ban and Oakley brands.

The group achieved revenues of €7.692 million between April and June, up 7,2% in reported terms and 8,7% at constant exchange rates. In the first half of the year, turnover increased by 5,7% to €14.818 million, corresponding to growth of 9,7% excluding the exchange rate effect.

Performance fell slightly short of market expectations in the second quarter, but confirmed AI-powered glasses as one of the main drivers of future growth.

Smart glasses gain scale.

EssilorLuxottica did not disclose the absolute sales figures for its AI-powered eyewear, only indicating that revenue in the category nearly doubled in the second quarter. Demand benefited from portfolio expansion and entry into new markets, as well as simultaneous growth in physical stores and e-commerce.

The range includes Ray-Ban Meta, Oakley Meta designed for sports, and Ray-Ban Meta Display, which integrates a screen into the lens. During the semester, the group also launched the Ray-Ban Meta Blayzer Optics and Scriber Optics, two models designed primarily for users of prescription lenses.

The devices allow users to capture photos and videos, listen to music, make calls, send messages, and use real-time translation features. Meta AI's capabilities have also been expanded to include functions such as meal logging, nutritional monitoring, and conversation summaries.

The category expanded to new Asian markets during the quarter, including Singapore, Japan, and South Korea, contributing to sales growth in the region.

Solutions for myopia grow by 24%.

Artificial intelligence wasn't the only driver of growth. Revenue from the portfolio dedicated to myopia prevention and management increased by 24% in the second quarter.

The evolution was supported by Stellest lenses, as well as solutions marketed through the Nikon and Kodak brands. The group attributes the performance to the clinical evidence presented on the effectiveness of these products and the existence of references with different technologies and price levels.

EssilorLuxottica has been progressively positioning itself beyond the production of traditional frames and lenses, moving closer to the areas of medical technology, eye health, hearing, and smart devices.

In this context, Nuance Audio Glasses integrate an open-ear hearing solution into the frames themselves, aimed at adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. The company presented new clinical results on the performance of this technology during the semester.

Retail is growing faster.

The direct-to-consumer sales division increased its half-year revenue by 7,3% to €8.001 million. At constant exchange rates, the growth was 11,4%.

In the second quarter, this area generated €4.237 million in revenue, up 10,2% in reported terms and 11,9% excluding currency effects. Comparable store sales increased by 8%, with similar contributions from optical stores and brands specializing in sunglasses.

The Professional Solutions division, which supplies opticians and independent professionals, grew by 3,8% to €6.817 million in the first half of the year. At constant rates, the growth was 7,8%.

The demand for smart glasses benefited both channels. In North America, Sunglass Hut posted comparable double-digit growth in the first half of the year, while e-commerce advanced at a high single-digit rate.

Asia-Pacific leads growth

The Asia-Pacific region showed the strongest growth in the second quarter, with revenues increasing by 15,2% to €979 million. At constant exchange rates, this represents a 17% increase.

Performance benefited from expansion in China, India, Japan, and South Korea, and from the integration of Top Charoen, Thailand's largest optical chain, with nearly two thousand stores.

The acquisition helped increase EssilorLuxottica's total network to 19.686 locations at the end of June, compared to 17.750 at the end of 2025. The company directly controlled 15.670 stores, maintaining another 4.016 under franchise or licensing agreements.

North America remained the largest market, with half-year revenues of €6.374 million, up 3,1% on a reported basis. The EMEA region, which includes Europe, reached €5.785 million, with growth of 7,1%, while Latin America advanced 9,7% to €806 million.

Adjusted operating profit rises 15%

Adjusted operating profit reached €2.751 million in the first half of the year, up 8,7% in reported terms and 15% at constant exchange rates.

The adjusted operating margin increased from 18,1% to 18,6%. Without the currency effect, it would have reached 18,9%, representing an improvement of 80 basis points.

Adjusted net income grew 6,8% to €1.921 million. Considering the accounts reported according to IFRS standards, profit attributable to shareholders increased 12,9% to €1.566 million.

The improved profitability benefited from a combination of more favorable pricing, the evolution of wearable device margins, and refunds related to customs tariffs in the United States.

Free cash flow reached €1.070 million, more than €100 million above the figure for the first half of 2025. Net debt, however, increased to €13.390 million, including €3.910 million in liabilities related to lease agreements.

Partnership prepares the next generation of smart glasses.

EssilorLuxottica has also begun a long-term partnership with Applied Materials to develop optical systems for the next generation of smart glasses and augmented reality devices.

The collaboration will encompass technologies such as waveguides, adaptive lenses, and new materials, seeking to transform optical innovations into solutions that can be produced at scale. The two companies will conduct joint research in a laboratory located on the Applied Materials campus in Silicon Valley.

EssilorLuxottica maintains its outlook for achieving solid average revenue growth over the next five years, accompanied by a similar progression in adjusted operating profit.