Shares of Carrefour, France’s largest publicly traded retailer, fell sharply Wednesday following a profit warning linked to recent nationwide protests and unrest. The company disclosed that violent demonstrations and looting over the past weekend have significantly affected its financial outlook for the year.

Chief Executive Alexandre Bompard revealed that approximately 50 Carrefour stores were looted during the disturbances, leading to an expected reduction in operating profit ranging from 80 million to 200 million euros ($90 million to $225 million) in 2026. Analysts at Jefferies noted this potential loss could account for as much as 60 percent of Carrefour’s operating profit for the fourth quarter, a critical period that typically benefits from year-end holiday sales.

Speaking on France Inter radio, Bompard explained that Carrefour had been on track to meet its financial targets before the social and security disruptions forced a reassessment. “We were no longer able to reach our targets for the last quarter,” he said, citing the deteriorating conditions.

The protests not only caused direct damage but also contributed to increased operating costs. These challenges come amid already weakened consumer confidence, driven in part by rising energy prices. Bompard highlighted the broader economic impact, noting that widespread unrest in French cities is expected to negatively influence consumer spending, especially discretionary purchases during the holiday season.

As a result, Carrefour has revised its forecast for adjusted earnings per share to reflect stable or slight growth compared to 2025, a reduction from its previous expectation of high single-digit growth. On the Paris stock exchange, the company’s shares dropped 13.6 percent to 14.09 euros by mid-morning trading.

Jefferies analysts emphasized the uncertainty surrounding the duration of these negative effects, stating that the scale and persistence of the impact into early 2027 remain difficult to determine. They also noted that management has not provided guidance on the longer-term consequences of the protests.

The financial setback for Carrefour underscores the broader economic ripple effects from the recent disruption across France and raises caution for retailers heading into one of the busiest sales periods of the year.