Hermes is doing better than most luxury brands during the sector slowdown. Thanks to ultra-wealthy clients and a big order backlog, the group kept increasing sales while rivals like LVMH and Kering struggled. CEO Axel Dumas said, "The group is going into 2026 with confidence." He also said price rises for this year would be around 5-6%, down from 6-7% last year, because of currency changes. Luxury analyst Chiara Battistini from J.P. Morgan said price hikes are key for Hermes' growth. Many rivals stopped increasing prices due to weaker sales. Gucci owner Kering's CEO said recent big price rises hurt their revenue. Hermes sales of Birkin and Kelly bags, scarves, and perfume rose 9.8% in the fourth quarter, beating the 8.4% growth expected. Sales in the Americas, mostly the US, jumped 12.1%, above the expected 9%. Asia (excluding Japan) sales, mainly China-driven, grew 8%. Dumas mentioned positive signs in China. The market slowed in recent years due to a property crash but is now stable. He said, "I do not see the situation deteriorating. There are positive moves, in particular the way they are managing the property crisis." Hermes’ leather goods, which bring most profits, grew 14.6% organically. This shows strong demand for its top products even as the luxury world faces challenges.