Hermès is a brand that shows its real mettle in a downturn. The secret to its steady growth might be the restraint it shows in good times.  

The French handbag maker’s shares gained 33% in 2023, making it the luxury sector’s best-performing stock. Parisian rival LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, which owns Christian Dior and is also considered one of the safest bets in luxury, rose 8%. But across the industry, most large European luxury stocks ended 2023 in the red as demand for expensive baubles sputtered following a record three-year shopping binge.