EssilorLuxottica CEO confident in share price recovery over time

EssilorLuxottica chief executive Francesco Milleri told shareholders at the April 28 annual general meeting that the group's strategic shift into medtech and smart eyewear should, over time, support a recovery in the share price. He acknowledged short‑term volatility but expressed confidence the transformation will create long‑term value.

The company published strong full‑year 2025 figures, reporting consolidated revenue of €28,491 million and fourth‑quarter growth of 18.4% at constant exchange rates, while free cash flow reached €2.8 billion. Management reiterated its mid‑term outlook and noted capital allocation measures, including a proposed dividend and measures to support employee incentive plans.

Milleri and other executives pointed to the Ray‑Ban Meta smart‑glasses programme as a key growth driver. According to CNBC reporting, the company has sold multiple millions of units since late 2023 and aims to ramp production to around 10 million units annually by the end of 2026 — a scale‑up the group says will underpin future revenue and margin improvement in its wearables segment.

On capital policy, the group launched a share buyback mechanism to repurchase up to 5,000,000 shares under certain conditions, signalling management's confidence in the company's long‑term prospects and supporting shareholder returns. While macro headwinds — including currency moves, tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty — have weighed on sentiment, the company's cash generation and strategic initiatives provide a framework for potential price recovery.

Market commentators say near‑term headline risk and competitive dynamics in smart eyewear merit close monitoring, but many also note that EssilorLuxottica's integrated business model, balance sheet strength and explicit production targets give the company a credible path to restore investor confidence over time. For investors, the key variables to watch are sales traction for smart and medtech products, margin trends, and execution on capital‑return programmes.