Abercrombie and Fitch (ANF) is a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) despite the fact that the company beat last quarter, the company is reporting before the bell today. This article was published before the company posted the latest results. The retail sector has been plagued by the tariff tantrum that the market is facing.  This article will look at why this stock is a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) as it is the Bear of the Day.Description                        Abercrombie & Fitch Co. engages in the retail of appar ...

Financial Performance - First quarter net sales reached $1.1 billion, an increase of 8% year-over-year[63] - Americas net sales increased by 7% year-over-year[63, 66] - EMEA net sales increased by 12% year-over-year[63, 66] - APAC net sales increased by 5% year-over-year[63, 66] - Abercrombie Brands net sales increased by 22% year-over-year[63, 69] - Hollister Brands net sales decreased by 4% year-over-year[63, 69] - Operating margin was 9.3%, exceeding the outlook of 8-9%[63, 73] - Net income per diluted share was $1.59, above the outlook of $1.25-$1.45[63, 76] Financial Position - Cash and equivalents totaled $511 million, compared to $864 million last year[79] - Inventories increased to $542 million, up 21% from last year[85] - Total liquidity was $940 million, compared to $1.2 billion last year[82] Fiscal Outlook - The company expects net sales growth in the range of 3% to 6% for fiscal year 2025[88] - The company expects operating margin in the range of 12.5% to 13.5% for fiscal year 2025[88] - The company anticipates net income per diluted share in the range of $9.50 to $10.50 for fiscal year 2025[88]

Core Viewpoint - Abercrombie & Fitch Co. reported record first quarter net sales of $1.1 billion, reflecting an 8% increase compared to the previous year, driven by broad-based growth across regions, particularly from Hollister brands which saw a 22% increase in sales [2][5][6] Financial Performance - Net sales for the first quarter ended May 3, 2025, were $1,097,311,000, up from $1,020,730,000 in the same quarter of 2024, marking an 8% increase [4][6][7] - Operating income decreased to $101,533,000, down from $129,849,000 year-over-year, resulting in an operating margin of 9.3%, down from 12.7% [6][24] - Net income attributable to Abercrombie & Fitch was $80,413,000, compared to $113,850,000 in the prior year, with diluted earnings per share at $1.59, down from $2.14 [6][24] Segment Performance - Net sales by segment showed the following growth: Americas up 7% to $874,804,000, EMEA up 12% to $185,036,000, and APAC up 5% to $37,471,000 [4][5] - Brand performance indicated Hollister brands grew by 22% while Abercrombie brands saw a decline of 4% [2][5][7] Cash Flow and Capital Allocation - The company repurchased 2.6 million shares for approximately $200 million, representing a 5% reduction in shares outstanding [2][9] - As of May 3, 2025, the company had cash and equivalents of $511 million, down from $864 million a year prior, with total liquidity of approximately $940 million [11][9] Outlook - For the second quarter, the company expects net sales growth in the range of 3% to 5%, with an operating margin projected between 12% and 13% [12][17] - The full-year outlook anticipates net sales growth of 3% to 6% and net income per diluted share in the range of $9.50 to $10.50 [17]

Group 1 - Abercrombie & Fitch Co. is set to release its first-quarter earnings results on May 28, with expected earnings of $1.33 per share, a decrease from $2.14 per share in the same period last year [1] - The company anticipates quarterly revenue of $1.06 billion, an increase from $1.02 billion a year earlier [1] - In the fourth quarter, Abercrombie & Fitch reported adjusted earnings per share of $3.57, surpassing the analyst consensus of $3.52, with quarterly sales of $1.585 billion exceeding estimates of $1.563 billion [2] Group 2 - Analyst ratings for Abercrombie & Fitch show varied opinions, with Raymond James maintaining an Outperform rating and lowering the price target from $110 to $90 [7] - JP Morgan also maintained an Overweight rating but cut the price target from $155 to $142 [7] - UBS increased its price target from $115 to $130 while maintaining a Buy rating [7] - Barclays initiated coverage with an Equal-Weight rating and a price target of $71 [7] - Citigroup maintained a Buy rating but lowered the price target from $135 to $98 [7]

智通财经APP获悉，随着华尔街各机构纷纷准备迎接本周一系列的零售企业财报发布，Raymond James 分析师Rick Patel提醒爱芬奇(ANF.US)的投资者要为与关税相关的不利因素做好准备，并且要警惕公司 销售额可能在八个季度以来首次出现下滑的情况。 Patel引用了包括店铺客流量、线上促销活动以及谷歌趋势数据在内的行业指标，他发现有初步迹象表 明，该品牌在上一季度的销售额出现了下滑，而促销活动却逐季增加，这两方面因素都可能对公司的毛 利率造成压力。 尽管最新的季度业绩可能令人失望，但该股票今年迄今已下跌了 51%，这表明与该公司受关税影响相 关的大部分负面消息已经反映在股价中了。 凭借已有的增长和利润率提升的手段，Patel维持对爱芬奇的"增持"评级。如果业绩符合预期，他将当前 股价视为一个具有吸引力的买入点，但他将爱芬奇目标价从 110 美元下调至 90 美元，以反映更为谨慎 的预期以及过去 6 个月股价的下跌情况。 爱芬奇将于周三美股盘前发布财报——预计该公司调整后每股盈利将达 1.37 美元，销售额为 10.6 亿美 元;与去年同期相比，每股盈利为 2.14 美元，销售额为 10 亿美元。在 ...

Core Viewpoint - Abercrombie & Fitch Co. is expected to report first-quarter fiscal 2025 results on May 28, with projected revenues of $1.06 billion, indicating a 3.7% growth year-over-year, but earnings per share are anticipated to decline by 36.5% to $1.36 compared to the previous year [1][2]. Financial Performance - The consensus estimate for Abercrombie's first-quarter earnings is $1.36 per share, down from $2.14 in the same quarter last year, reflecting a 36.5% decline [2]. - The company has seen a 4.2% decrease in earnings estimates over the past week, and it has historically delivered an earnings surprise of 14% on average over the last four quarters [2][3]. - The operating margin for the first quarter is expected to be between 8-9%, a significant drop from 12.7% a year ago, with EPS guidance of $1.25-$1.45 [6]. Sales Trends - Abercrombie is experiencing a slowdown in sales growth, projecting a 4-6% increase for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, a stark contrast to the 22% growth in the same period last year [4]. - The company anticipates a 9% increase in adjusted operating expenses and a 26.4% decline in adjusted operating income for the fiscal first quarter [7]. Cost Pressures - Elevated operating and freight costs are expected to pressure margins, with the company forecasting continued margin pressure in the first half of fiscal 2025 [5][19]. - The impact of U.S. tariffs on imports from China, Canada, and Mexico is projected to cost the company $5 million in fiscal 2025 [8]. Brand Performance - Despite slowing sales growth, Abercrombie benefits from strong brand performance, with projected sales growth of 9.9% for the Hollister brand and 1.7% for Abercrombie [9]. - The company has improved store traffic through fashion trends and store optimization, enhancing the shopping experience and supporting e-commerce growth [10]. Stock Performance and Valuation - Abercrombie's shares have declined 51.3% over the past year, underperforming its industry peers, while trading at a forward P/E multiple of 6.79X, below the industry average of 17.68X [11][16]. - The stock is currently priced at $73.17, which is 62.9% below its 52-week high of $196.99 [15]. Strategic Outlook - The company has focused on rebranding and premium casual wear, which has improved brand perception and sales growth [18]. - However, the near-term outlook is challenged by cost pressures and a deceleration in sales momentum, indicating a transition out of a high-growth phase [20][21].

Group 1 - Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) is expected to report fiscal Q1 earnings on May 28, 2025, with projected earnings of $1.34 per share and revenue of $1.06 billion, indicating a 37% decrease in earnings year-over-year but a 4% increase in sales compared to the previous year [1] - The company recorded full-year 2024 net sales of $4.95 billion, a 16% year-over-year increase, and achieved its highest operating margin in over a decade at 15% [2] - For 2025, net sales growth is projected to slow to 3%-5%, with operating margins expected to decrease slightly to 14%-15% due to trade tariff uncertainties [2] Group 2 - Historically, ANF stock has dropped 60% of the time after earnings announcements, with a median one-day decrease of 1.9% and a maximum decline of 10% [1] - Over the last five years, there have been 20 earnings data points for ANF, with positive one-day returns observed approximately 40% of the time, increasing to 50% in the last three years [6] - The median of positive one-day returns was 2.4%, while the median of negative returns was -1.9% [6]

Group 1 - Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) is perceived as a "deep value" investment opportunity, trading at just under 7 times forward earnings [1] - The company has experienced a significant decline in its stock price, indicating potential undervaluation [1] Group 2 - The article emphasizes the importance of listening to market signals to identify investment opportunities [1]

Core Insights - Analysts project Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) will report quarterly earnings of $1.36 per share, a decline of 36.5% year over year, with revenues expected to reach $1.06 billion, an increase of 3.7% from the same quarter last year [1] Earnings Estimates - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised 3.2% lower over the last 30 days, indicating a collective reevaluation by analysts [2] - Changes in earnings estimates are crucial for predicting investor reactions, as empirical research shows a strong correlation between earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock performance [3] Key Metrics Projections - Analysts estimate 'Net sales - Hollister' at $498.67 million, reflecting an 11% increase from the previous year [5] - 'Net sales - Abercrombie' is projected at $575.23 million, indicating a year-over-year change of 0.7% [5] - The total number of stores is expected to reach 797, up from 750 a year ago [5] Comparable Store Sales - 'Comparable store sales - Hollister' are forecasted to reach a year-over-year change of 8.8%, down from 13% in the same quarter last year [6] - 'Comparable store sales - Abercrombie' are expected to decline by 6.4%, compared to a 29% increase in the previous year [6] - The total 'Comparable store sales - YoY change' is projected at 1.3%, significantly lower than the 21% reported in the same quarter last year [7] Stock Performance - Abercrombie shares have returned +5.1% over the past month, underperforming compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +10.7% change [7] - With a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), ANF is anticipated to lag behind overall market performance in the near future [7]

Core Insights - The article highlights the 28th annual list of the world's most influential businesswomen, emphasizing the increasing competition as more women lead significant companies. The ranking is data-driven, utilizing a complex scoring system that considers various dimensions beyond just company size and performance [1][2]. Group 1: Rankings and Notable Leaders - The top three positions are held by Mary Barra (CEO of General Motors), Julie Sweet (CEO of Accenture), and Jane Fraser (CEO of Citigroup) [1][2]. - The list includes leaders from various global companies, with notable mentions from Walmart and Netflix [1]. Group 2: Geographic Representation - Over half of the women on the list work in the United States, with significant representation from China (10), France (7), the UK (7), and Brazil (3) [2]. - The Chinese representatives include notable figures such as Meng Wanzhou (Huawei), Joey Wat (Yum China), and others from leading companies [2]. Group 3: Emerging Leaders - Among the 16 new entrants, several have returned to the list after years, including Michelle Gass (CEO of Levi's) and Claudine Adamo (Chief Procurement Officer at Costco) [2]. - The list reflects a mix of seasoned executives and rising stars, indicating a dynamic shift in leadership [2]. Group 4: Business Performance and Challenges - General Motors, under Mary Barra, achieved record revenue in 2024, with a 9% year-over-year increase, and doubled its market share in electric vehicles [6]. - Citigroup, led by Jane Fraser, reported a net profit increase from $9.2 billion in 2023 to $12.7 billion in 2024, prompting a $20 billion stock buyback plan [10]. - Accenture, under Julie Sweet, demonstrated agility by hosting webinars for 900 clients in response to new tariffs, showcasing the ability to adapt quickly to market changes [7]. Group 5: Industry Trends and Innovations - The article notes a shift in evaluating business influence, with a diminishing absolute reliance on company size, as seen with Mira Murati of Thinking Machines Lab, who leads a seed-stage company [3]. - The focus on technology and innovation is evident, with leaders like Safra Catz of Oracle and Lisa Su of AMD navigating challenges in the tech sector while pushing for advancements in AI [11][42].