Spring is supposed to be the season of dressing up and stepping out after a long cold hibernation but for most cosmetics makers, the warmer weather and reduced COVID concerns have so far garnered a cold response.
Nowhere is this breakup with makeup more pronounced than at Revlon, where the 90-year-old New York-based parent of over a dozen different brands that are sold at thousands of global retail locations in 150 countries announced Monday (April 25) that it was looking to raise $25 million for “general corporate purposes.”
The move will not only dilute existing shareholders’ stake by about 7% given the cosmetic company’s shrunken $350 million market value but comes in the wake of a sell-off that has already seen Revlon’s shares shed almost 50% so far this year.
“‘Happy Monday’. Like this tweet if you loaded up on concealer this morning,” Revlon said to its 450,000 Twitter followers shortly after its separate stock sale revelation, a move that sharply reflects the stark contrast that exists between running a consumer products business and managing a public company.
Not Just Revlon
While Revlon’s struggles are, in many respects, unique given the fact that it has posted per share losses in 16 of the past 18 quarters, it is not alone in the broader sell-off that has seen makeup getting beat down.
Other rivals on the slide include French-giant L’Oréal, which is down 20% this year, as well as shares of Estée Lauder and e.l.f. Cosmetics, which have both shed roughly 30% in less than four months.
“In the first three months of the year, the growth trend continued in the global beauty market, with consumer purchasing behavior unaffected by inflation,” L’Oréal said last week while announcing its Q1 sales had risen 13% to the equivalent of $9.6 billion dollars.
Even though the Paris-based global category leader expressed confidence in the industry’s long-term growth prospects, investors were still concerned about the impacts of war, supply chain constraints and persistent COVID challenges in China and bid the stock down.
Nonetheless, the $180 billion colossus said while it was “mindful of volatility and uncertainty” it still remained optimistic about the outlook for the beauty market as well as its ability to outperform its rivals this year.
It’s a similar plight for Estée Lauder, as the $90 billion company’s last-reported results for the three months ending Dec. 31 delivered similar 13% revenue gains that left many investors wanting more.
“Net sales grew in every region and product category, reflecting early stages of recovery in brick-and-mortar retail stores, primarily in western markets, and strength in online,” Estée Lauder’s fiscal Q2 earnings announcement stated in early February.
Estée Lauder is scheduled to deliver its latest results next Friday, May 3, which will give investors a fresh update on how pricing and consumption are reacting to higher inflation, which is currently running at a 40-year high of 8.5%.
While it remains to be seen if the pre-earnings pessimism of analysts and investors proves true, or if another strong round of cosmetics sales will have them kiss and makeup, one thing that is clear at the moment is that no amount of lipstick can conceal the pressure currently being applied to the global makeup titans.
As the calendar flips to March, college basketball fans are gearing up for another exhilarating NCAA tournament.
In the future, artificial intelligence and cutting-edge technology could change March Madness as we know it. Let’s break down how the digital revolution could transform the Big Dance.
AI is already being used to predict brackets. Gone are the days of agonizing over your picks based on team mascots or your alma mater’s colors. In 2025, AI-powered bracketology is the name of the game. Fans can use algorithms that crunch data points, from player statistics to historical upset probabilities, all at the click of a button.
But beware, bracket enthusiasts. While these AI tools promise to boost your chances of winning the office pool, they can’t account for the quintessential March Madness chaos. You know, the instance where AI can predict everything except the inevitable Cinderella story that ruins everyone’s bracket by the second round.
In a move that would be sure to ruffle some feathers, AI-generated commentary could be used for games. Digital play-by-play announcers would never need a bathroom break and potentially be able to recall obscure statistics from the 1957 tournament in an instant.
Can’t make it to the Final Four? Ten years from now, games might happen in a digital stadium, Forbes reported. With virtual reality (VR) technology, fans could experience the thrill of courtside seats from the comfort of their living rooms.
“AI-generated athletes, inspired by the procedural generation techniques of video game developers … could perform in virtual arenas, exhibiting strategies and plays conceived by advanced predictive algorithms,” Forbes reported.
Just be careful not to get too caught up in the moment with streaming. Wouldn’t want to have reports of fans attempting to rush the virtual court after buzzer-beaters have led to an uptick in living room injuries — especially when that flat screen falls over.
While human coaches still call the shots, AI assistants could one day be indispensable members of the coaching staff. In the next five years, these digital strategists could analyze opponent tendencies and more.
“Building on existing technologies … AI will provide coaches and players with intricate, multi-dimensional data patterns that dramatically enhance both offensive and defensive strategies,” Forbes reported. “These advanced algorithms will analyze vast datasets from numerous games to uncover hidden trends, strategic insights, and predictive cues about opponents’ potential moves.”
Say goodbye to controversial calls. Advanced computer vision systems could assist referees in making split-second decisions, from determining if a player’s toe was on the line for a three-pointer to detecting the slightest touch on a blocked shot.
The Hawk-Eye system is already used in tennis and cricket to help determine fouls, Viso.AI reported.
“This system uses a network of cameras to track the ball and then compares the trajectory of the ball to a virtual model of the playing surface,” the report said. “This system is accurate within a few millimeters, which is much more accurate than the human eye.”
As we dive into March Madness 2025, it’s clear that technology will change the way we experience the tournament. From AI-powered brackets to virtual reality arenas, the digital revolution is coming for basketball. But at its core, the magic of March Madness remains the thrill of competition, the joy of unexpected victories, and the heartbreak of last-second defeats.
So, whether you’re relying on an AI to pick your bracket this year, or screaming at a holographic referee in the future, remember to enjoy the ride. In the unpredictable world of college basketball, sometimes the best strategy is to embrace the madness — digital or otherwise.
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