STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -H&M reported stronger than anticipated March-Might earnings on Thursday and mentioned third-quarter gross sales have been additionally off to begin as the corporate strives to meet up with faster-growing rivals.

Shares on the planet’s second-biggest style retailer have been up 7% in early commerce following the outcomes.

H&M, which has lagged Zara proprietor Inditex (BME:), has sought to lift its style enchantment and increase its higher-priced model Cos, focusing on consumers much less susceptible to the rising value of residing as fast-fashion large Shein takes market share with inexpensive garments.

H&M elevated gross sales in lots of markets regardless of a squeeze on shoppers’ spending capacity and “unfavourable” climate,” CEO Helena Helmersson mentioned, including that its summer time assortment had bought off to begin as temperatures rose throughout northern Europe.

Inditex and others have additionally reported good gross sales on the again of well-received summer time collections and sizzling climate.

“The circumstances for elevated development in addition to profitability proceed to develop in a beneficial path,” the CEO added.

H&M’s working revenue margin within the second quarter was 8.2%, down from 9.2% a 12 months earlier, whereas the group reiterated its purpose of a ten% margin subsequent 12 months, which analysts have mentioned might be arduous to achieve.

The revenue margin was supported by easing enter prices from improved macroeconomic circumstances in addition to from optimistic results from a value slicing program.

The group final 12 months introduced layoffs and different value cuts that it mentioned on the time would assist it save prices from the second half of 2023 onwards.

“The exterior components that have an effect on our buying prices proceed to enhance, work on the associated fee and effectivity programme is continuing at full velocity, and far of the work that we now have achieved lately is beginning to bear fruit,” the CEO mentioned.

Working revenue within the Swedish group’s March-Might second quarter was 4.74 billion Swedish crowns ($438.55 million) down from 4.98 billion a 12 months earlier however above the 4.07 billion forecast by analysts in a Refinitiv Eikon ballot.

Native forex gross sales for June 1-27 to start H&M’s third quarter have been up 10% from a 12 months earlier.

H&M’s share worth has risen 27% within the final 12 months, lagging a 58% enhance in Inditex inventory.

($1 = 10.8084 Swedish crowns)