LVMH, founded in 1987, is the parent group of Louis Vuitton and Moët & Chandon.
LVMH stands for LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. The group was created through the 1987 merger of fashion house Louis Vuitton with champagne and cognac producer Moët Hennessy. It later assembled a large portfolio of luxury brands spanning fashion, wines and spirits, perfumes, cosmetics, watches, jewelry, and retail.
The company is relevant to market-cap comparisons because it became Europe’s most valuable listed company during the luxury sector’s strong expansion. Its shares trade in Paris, and its valuation reflects the combined earnings power and brand equity of many businesses rather than one product line.
A common mix-up is treating LVMH as the name of a single fashion label. Louis Vuitton is one of its maisons, while LVMH is the corporate group. Bernard Arnault has served as the group’s chairman and chief executive.