Core Insights - Abercrombie & Fitch's stock experienced a remarkable increase of 1790% from 2020 to mid-2024, indicating a significant deep value re-rating opportunity in the market [1] Investment Opportunity - An investment of $2,000 in Abercrombie & Fitch could have resulted in a profit of $39,000, showcasing the potential returns available in this stock [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported record net sales of $1,210,000,000 for Q2, a 7% increase compared to the previous year, exceeding expectations [7][20] - Operating margin was 13.9%, above the outlook range provided in May, with adjusted net income per diluted share at $2.32, slightly above last year's $2.50 [8][24] - The company repurchased $50,000,000 worth of shares in the quarter, totaling $250,000,000 in repurchases for the year [8][25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Hollister brands achieved a 19% increase in net sales for Q2, with comparable sales also up 19%, driven by strong cross-channel traffic [10][21] - Abercrombie brands saw a 5% decline in net sales, with comparable sales down 11%, primarily due to lower average unit retail (AUR) as inventory was cleared [12][21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Americas region reported an 8% increase in net sales, marking its twelfth consecutive quarter of growth, while EMEA experienced a 1% decline [9][20] - APAC region continued to perform well with a 12% growth in net sales [9][20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on leveraging its strong brand positioning and clean inventory to drive sales growth and profitability in the second half of the year [16][28] - The company plans to open 60 new stores and remodel 40 existing locations, expecting to be net store openers [29][98] - A partnership with the NFL was announced, aiming to enhance brand visibility and engagement [14][78] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in returning to growth for Abercrombie by the end of the year, citing strong traffic and successful product launches [37][106] - The company is navigating a challenging tariff environment with a focus on mitigating costs through various strategies [18][120] Other Important Information - The company anticipates a tax rate around 30% and expects capital expenditures of approximately $225,000,000 for the year [29][30] - Marketing investments are expected to increase by over 100 basis points year-over-year to support key partnerships and campaigns [30][86] Q&A Session Summary Question: What markers give confidence for Abercrombie's acceleration? - Management highlighted strong traffic, new partnerships, and successful store openings as key indicators of confidence for growth [35][36] Question: Clarification on credit card settlement inclusion/exclusion? - The $39,000,000 net benefit from the credit card settlement was included in the operating margin guidance, offset by increased tariffs [38][39] Question: Update on Abercrombie Kids' entry into department stores? - The launch has been positive, with good feedback from partners and customers, indicating a successful diversification of the operating model [41][42] Question: Insights on Hollister's momentum and developments? - Hollister's performance is strong across categories, with successful product launches and a focus on customer engagement driving growth [50][51] Question: Traffic cadence during Q2 and expectations for Q3? - Traffic has been consistently strong across brands and channels, with positive momentum heading into the back-to-school season [60][61] Question: Details on tariff impact and mitigation efforts? - The company is facing a $90,000,000 tariff impact for the year, with ongoing efforts to optimize sourcing and manage costs [27][76] Question: Update on the denim category and pricing strategy? - The denim business is performing well with a variety of price points, reflecting strong customer demand and engagement [122][124]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported record net sales of $1,210,000,000 for Q2 2025, representing a 7% increase compared to the previous year, exceeding expectations [7][19] - Operating margin was 13.9% of sales, above the outlook range provided in May, with operating income of $168,000,000 compared to $176,000,000 last year [22][23] - Adjusted net income per diluted share was $2.32, above the outlook, compared to $2.50 last year [24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Hollister brands achieved a 19% increase in net sales for Q2, with comparable sales also up 19%, driven by strong cross-channel traffic [9][21] - Abercrombie brands saw a 5% decline in net sales, with comparable sales down 11%, primarily due to lower average unit retail (AUR) as inventory was cleared [11][21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Americas region reported an 8% increase in net sales, marking its twelfth consecutive quarter of growth [8][20] - APAC region grew by 12%, while EMEA experienced a 1% decline in net sales, impacted by softness in Germany and other European markets [8][20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to increase full-year net sales growth expectations based on strong year-to-date results and brand positioning [16][27] - The company is focusing on maintaining strong brand health and engaging customers through partnerships, such as the collaboration with the NFL [14][17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in returning to growth by the end of the year, citing strong traffic and successful product launches [36][100] - The company is navigating a new tariff landscape from a position of strength, with plans to mitigate costs through various strategies [17][72] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $50,000,000 worth of shares in Q2, totaling $250,000,000 in repurchases for the year [7][25] - Inventory levels were reported to be in a clean position, with inventory at cost up 10% and units up 7% [23][51] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the markers for acceleration for the Abercrombie brand? - Management highlighted strong traffic, exciting partnerships, and successful store openings as key indicators of future growth [34][36] Question: Can you clarify the credit card settlement inclusion/exclusion? - The $39,000,000 net benefit from the credit card settlement was included in the operating margin guidance, offset by increased tariffs [37][38] Question: How is the Abercrombie Kids launch going? - The launch has received positive feedback, and the company is excited about expanding its operating model [40][42] Question: What is driving the momentum in Hollister? - Management noted that everything is working well for Hollister, with strong consumer engagement and successful product launches [47][49] Question: What is the state of carryover inventory? - The company reported significant progress in managing carryover inventory, with a clean and current position heading into the back half of the year [50][51] Question: What gives confidence for Abercrombie's future performance? - Management cited strong traffic, successful campaigns, and a solid start to Q3 as reasons for confidence in returning to growth [100][102] Question: Can you elaborate on the tariff impact? - The company is facing a $90,000,000 cost impact from tariffs, with ongoing efforts to mitigate these costs through various strategies [26][72] Question: How is the EMEA business performing? - The UK market is performing well, while Germany has faced challenges; however, management remains optimistic about future growth in the region [75][76]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported record net sales of $1,210,000,000 for Q2 2025, representing a 7% increase compared to the previous year, exceeding expectations [7][19] - Operating margin was 13.9% of sales, above the outlook range provided in May, with operating income of $168,000,000 compared to $176,000,000 last year [22][23] - Adjusted net income per diluted share was $2.32, above the outlook, compared to $2.50 last year [24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Hollister brands achieved a 19% increase in net sales for Q2, with comparable sales also up 19%, driven by strong cross-channel traffic [9][21] - Abercrombie brands saw a 5% decline in net sales, with comparable sales down 11%, primarily due to lower average unit retail (AUR) as inventory was cleared [11][21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Americas region reported an 8% increase in net sales, marking its twelfth consecutive quarter of growth [8][20] - APAC region grew by 12%, while EMEA experienced a 1% decline in net sales, impacted by softness in Germany and other European markets [8][20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on leveraging its strong foundation to balance current market conditions while investing for long-term global potential [6] - Plans include opening 60 new stores and remodeling 40 existing locations, with a net increase of around 40 stores expected by year-end [29][92] - The company aims to enhance brand positioning through partnerships, such as the recent collaboration with the NFL [14][17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in returning to net sales growth by the end of the year, supported by strong brand health and clean inventory [16][36] - The company anticipates a $90,000,000 impact from tariffs for 2025, with strategies in place to mitigate costs through various operational adjustments [26][112] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining customer value without broad-based price increases, focusing on brand experience [70][112] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $50,000,000 worth of shares in Q2, totaling $250,000,000 in repurchases for the year [7][25] - Inventory levels were reported as clean, with inventory at cost up 10% and units up 7% [23][50] Q&A Session Summary Question: What markers give confidence for Abercrombie's acceleration? - Management highlighted strong traffic, new partnerships, and successful store openings as key indicators of confidence for future growth [34][36] Question: How is the Abercrombie Kids launch going? - The launch has received positive feedback, and management is excited about expanding the operating model [40][42] Question: What contributed to Hollister's 19% growth? - Management noted that strong consumer engagement and successful product launches contributed to Hollister's performance [47][49] Question: What is the state of carryover inventory? - Management reported significant progress in managing carryover inventory, with a clean position heading into the back half of the year [50][51] Question: What is the outlook for gross margin in Q3? - Management expects some margin pressure due to tariffs and marketing investments, but remains focused on maintaining AUR [59][61] Question: How is the company addressing tariff impacts? - The company is employing a strategic approach to mitigate tariff impacts, including vendor negotiations and operational efficiencies [70][112] Question: What is the outlook for the EMEA region? - Management remains optimistic about the UK market while acknowledging challenges in Germany, with plans to replicate successful strategies [72][73]

Q2 2025 Financial Performance - Net sales increased by 7% year-over-year to $1208560 thousand[108] - Americas net sales increased by 8% year-over-year[66, 68] - EMEA net sales decreased by 1% year-over-year[66, 68] - APAC net sales increased by 12% year-over-year[66, 68] - Abercrombie brands net sales decreased by 5% year-over-year[71] - Hollister brands net sales increased by 19% year-over-year[71] - Operating income was $206658 thousand, representing 171% of net sales[108] - Net income per diluted share was $291[66] Fiscal Year 2025 Outlook - Net sales are expected to grow in the range of 5% to 7%[82] - Operating margin is projected to be in the range of 130% to 135%[82] Share Repurchases - The company has approximately $11 billion remaining under its current share repurchase authorization[95]

Delivers 11th consecutive quarter of growth, with record net sales of $1.2 billion, up 7% from last year, exceeding outlookNet sales growth led by Americas up 8%, APAC up 12%, partially offset by 1% decline in EMEAHollister brands delivers its best ever second quarter net sales on growth of 19%, with Abercrombie brands down 5%Second quarter operating margin of 17.1% and earnings per share of $2.91 include a litigation settlement benefit of $39 million on pre-tax basis, $0.59 per share benefit on tax-adjuste ...

Core Insights - Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) and PVH are set to report their Q2 results, attracting investor interest as potential buy-the-dip candidates due to a possible rate cut in September [1][2] Q2 Expectations - Abercrombie & Fitch is expected to report a nearly 5% year-over-year sales increase to $1.19 billion, but earnings per share (EPS) are projected to decline by 9% to $2.27 [4] - PVH's Q2 sales are anticipated to rise by 1% to $2.1 billion, while EPS is expected to drop over 34% to $1.97 [6] Performance History - Abercrombie & Fitch has surpassed sales expectations for 11 consecutive quarters and has exceeded the Zacks EPS Consensus for nine straight quarters, with an average earnings surprise of 11.24% [4][8] - PVH has exceeded sales estimates for six straight quarters and has surpassed the Zacks EPS Consensus for 17 consecutive quarters, with an average earnings surprise of 13.47% [8] Valuation Metrics - Both ANF and PVH stocks are trading under 10 times forward earnings and below 2 times sales, earning an "A" Zacks Style Scores grade for Value [10] Investment Outlook - The upcoming Q2 reports and guidance for both companies will be critical for determining potential upside, with both currently holding a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [12]

Core Viewpoint - Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF) is set to report its second-quarter fiscal 2025 results on August 27, with expected revenues of $1.2 billion, indicating a 4.8% year-over-year growth [1][10]. Financial Performance - The consensus estimate for fiscal second-quarter earnings is $2.27 per share, reflecting a 9.2% decline from $2.50 in the prior year [2]. - Abercrombie's earnings have historically exceeded consensus estimates, with a 17.8% beat in the last reported quarter and an average earnings surprise of 11.2% over the past four quarters [2]. Earnings Predictions - The company has a positive Earnings ESP of +2.62% and a Zacks Rank of 3, indicating a likelihood of an earnings beat [3]. - Sales growth in the second quarter is anticipated to be driven by the Hollister brand and strong performance across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions [4][10]. Strategic Initiatives - Management is optimistic about future top-line performance due to brand positioning and strategic initiatives, including digital innovation and agile inventory management [5]. - Abercrombie is enhancing customer experience through improved delivery and product discovery, supported by investments in technology [6]. Sales Outlook - For the fiscal second quarter, ANF projects net sales to increase by 3-5% from $1.13 billion in the previous year, with a specific expectation of 4.1% growth [7]. - The Hollister brand is expected to grow by 6.1%, while the Abercrombie brand is projected to rise by 2.2% [7]. Cost Pressures - Elevated operating and freight costs are anticipated to impact margins, with operating margin expected to decline to 12-13% from 15.5% in the prior year [8][12]. - The company faces additional cost pressures from heightened tariffs, including a 10% duty on global imports and a 30% tariff on imports from China [9][11]. Market Performance - Abercrombie's shares have increased by 34.6% over the past three months, outperforming industry peers and the S&P 500 [14]. - The current share price of $98.46 is 42.3% below its 52-week high and 50.6% above its 52-week low, with a forward P/E ratio of 9.45X, lower than industry and S&P averages [17].

Core Insights - The National Football League (NFL) and Abercrombie & Fitch have entered a multi-year partnership, marking Abercrombie as the first official fashion partner of the NFL [1][3] Group 1: Partnership Overview - The partnership aims to redefine fan style by integrating athlete-led campaigns and player-designed apparel with a lifestyle assortment, blurring the lines between game day outfits and everyday wear for fans and players [2][4] - Abercrombie will activate its partnership across major NFL events, including international games and retail locations worldwide [2][3] Group 2: Strategic Goals - The NFL seeks to grow its fan base, particularly among female fans, who constitute nearly half of its audience, by merging fashion with sports [3][4] - Abercrombie's CEO emphasized the importance of this partnership in meeting the needs of an expanding audience and building fandom through fashion [4] Group 3: Marketing Initiatives - To celebrate the partnership, Abercrombie launched a national campaign called "Style Concierge," featuring NFL players known for their off-field style, representing the largest advertising investment in the sports sector for the brand [5][6] - The campaign will run across various platforms, including linear TV, CTV, HBO Max, and social media channels like Meta and TikTok [5] Group 4: Product Offerings - Abercrombie has introduced a range of men's and women's apparel, including hoodies, sweatshirts, t-shirts, and accessories representing all 32 NFL teams, available in select stores and online [8]

Core Insights - Analysts project Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) will report quarterly earnings of $2.27 per share, a decline of 9.2% year over year, with revenues expected to reach $1.19 billion, an increase of 4.8% from the same quarter last year [1] Earnings Estimates - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised downward by 0.3% over the past 30 days, indicating a collective reassessment by analysts [2] - Revisions to earnings estimates are crucial for predicting investor actions, as empirical research shows a strong correlation between earnings estimate trends and short-term stock price performance [3] Key Metrics Projections - Analysts estimate 'Net sales- Hollister' will reach $614.55 million, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 11.4% - 'Net sales- Abercrombie' is projected at $579.33 million, indicating a slight decline of 0.5% year over year - The estimated 'Comparable store sales - Total - YoY change' is 3.0%, down from 21.0% in the previous year [5] Comparable Store Sales - 'Comparable store sales - Hollister - YoY change' is expected to be 11.7%, down from 17.0% last year - 'Comparable store sales - Abercrombie - YoY change' is projected at -6.3%, a significant drop from 26.0% in the same quarter last year [6] Store Count - The consensus estimate for 'Number of stores - Total (EOP)' is 806, compared to 750 in the previous year [6] Stock Performance - Abercrombie shares have returned -1% over the past month, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite has increased by 1.1% - With a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), ANF is expected to perform in line with the overall market in the near future [7]