The company reported third-quarter sales of 6.9 billion euros ($8.1 billion), an 11.7% increase from a year ago, marking its best quarterly performance ever. The results exceeded analysts’ expectations, driven by strong demand for its smart glasses developed in partnership with Meta since before the pandemic. While wearable products still make up a fraction of EssilorLuxottica’s total revenue, they have become a focal point for investors and analysts alike.
Barclays analysts have predicted that smart glasses could become one of the most disruptive innovations since mobile phones, forecasting 60 million units sold globally by 2035. Chief Financial Officer Stefano Grassi said the AI-powered glasses contributed over four percentage points to sales growth, prompting the company to accelerate production plans ahead of schedule. “The exponential growth of wearables provided an extra boost to the top line performance,” EssilorLuxottica stated.
The stock’s 13.8% rise by 1400 GMT marked its biggest daily gain since 2008, lifting the company’s market capitalization to 126.5 billion euros. The surge also helped push the Stoxx Europe Luxury 10 benchmark up more than 7% for the week, its largest weekly gain since January. Year-to-date, the company’s shares have outperformed the broader European luxury index as investors bet on sustained eyewear demand and EssilorLuxottica’s push into smart glasses.
The latest Ray-Ban Meta models, priced from $379 to $799 for the new flagship version with built-in display, are currently available in select physical stores, with plans to expand into Canada, France, Italy, and the U.K. in early 2026. The emerging success of these AI-enabled glasses has revived interest in a market long abandoned by tech giants such as Google and Microsoft.
By integrating upgraded cameras and generative AI features into Ray-Ban designs, Meta has attracted renewed attention from competitors. Google and Samsung are reportedly developing smart glasses based on the Android XR platform, while Apple is also said to be working on its own AR eyewear.
J.P. Morgan analysts called the smart glasses a “material growth driver,” while noting that EssilorLuxottica’s core eyewear business remains resilient. Equita analysts raised their annual revenue forecast for wearables, projecting an impact of around one billion euros on the company’s sales this year. “The acceleration in third-quarter revenues and the confidence expressed on fourth-quarter and mid-term prospects indicate the success of the group’s strategic drivers,” the research note said.