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Lululemon and Abercrombie & Fitch have raised their holiday quarter forecasts, suggesting robust demand during the crucial sales period. This comes after a mixed holiday season for the retail sector, with retailers vying for customers through steep discounts.
Strength in Product Offerings
Reuters reported that Lululemon and Abercrombie & Fitch benefitted from focusing on fresh styles and limited inventory overhang, increasing full-price sales.
Lululemon, which previously expected tepid holiday quarter results, expressed satisfaction with its performance during this period. CFO Meghan Frank stated, "Our sales trend remains balanced across channels, categories, and geographies, enabling us to raise our guidance."
Lululemon, according to The Gazette, now projects fourth-quarter revenue between $3.17 billion and $3.19 billion, slightly surpassing previous expectations. The company also anticipates a profit per share ranging from $4.96 to $5.00, compared to the prior forecast of $4.85 to $4.93.
Similarly, Abercrombie forecasts fourth-quarter net sales to increase in the high teens percentage range, up from its previous outlook of up-low double-digits.
Strong Performance in Women's Business
CEO Fran Horowitz of Abercrombie highlighted that the women's business is poised to achieve its highest-ever holiday quarter sales, further bolstering the positive outlook for the company.
Abercrombie shares, which tripled in 2023, experienced a 5% increase, whereas Lululemon saw a slight dip of approximately 1%. It is worth noting that Lululemon's shares had shown significant gains of nearly 60% last year.
Morningstar analyst David Swartz observed that many companies tend to offer conservative guidance, making upward revisions unsurprising. The positive outlooks provided by Lululemon and Abercrombie demonstrate the potential for solid performance in the retail sector.
Crocs and American Eagle Outfitters Join the Positive Trend
Footwear maker Crocs witnessed a significant surge of almost 14% as it projected a surprising increase in fourth-quarter sales. Meanwhile, American Eagle Outfitters raised its holiday-quarter revenue forecast with a 5% share boost.
Crocs, which faced challenges with inventory destocking at wholesalers last year, attributed its positive outlook to its namesake brand gaining market share.
Photo: Globe NewsWire
