Core Viewpoint - Telsey Advisory Group analyst Dana Telsey maintains an Outperform rating on Levi Strauss & Co with a price forecast of $23.00, anticipating a slight increase in EPS for Q1 FY2025 [1] Financial Performance - Levi Strauss is expected to report Q1 FY2025 EPS of $0.28, an increase from $0.26 last year, aligning with consensus estimates [1] - Revenue for Q1 FY2025 is projected to decline by 1.3% year-over-year to $1.537 billion, slightly below the consensus estimate of $1.542 billion [2] - For FY2025, reported revenue is expected to decline by 1%-2% from $6.355 billion in FY2024, while organic revenue is projected to grow by 3.5%-4.5% [3] Margins and Profitability - Gross margin is estimated to improve by 180 basis points to 60.0%, slightly exceeding the 59.9% consensus [2] - Operating margin is expected to reach 10.4%, up from 9.0% last year, in line with consensus projections [2] - Levi's EBIT margin projections indicate potential upside, despite conservative revenue and EPS forecasts due to foreign exchange headwinds [6] Strategic Initiatives - The company is streamlining operations by exiting non-core businesses, including Denizen and European footwear, and preparing to sell Dockers to enhance profitability and reduce revenue volatility [7] - Levi expects tariffs to provide a competitive advantage, with less than 1% of imports coming from China, down from historical levels of 15%-16% [4] Market Position - The company rebounded in Q4 FY2024 with strong revenue growth after previous misses, achieving record gross margins without increased promotions [5] - Levi is well-positioned long-term, benefiting from a stabilizing U.S. denim market, growing direct-to-consumer sales, and product innovation [6]

Core Insights - Wall Street analysts forecast Levi Strauss (LEVI) to report quarterly earnings of $0.28 per share, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 7.7%, while revenues are expected to be $1.54 billion, indicating a decline of 1% compared to the previous year [1] Earnings Estimates - Over the last 30 days, there has been no revision in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter, indicating stability in analysts' forecasts [2] - Changes in earnings estimates are crucial for predicting investor reactions, with empirical studies showing a strong correlation between earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock performance [3] Revenue Projections - Analysts estimate 'Geographic Revenues- Americas' at $735.66 million, a year-over-year change of -0.1% [5] - 'Geographic Revenues- Europe' is projected to reach $411.06 million, reflecting a decline of 2.8% from the year-ago quarter [5] - The consensus estimate for 'Geographic Revenues- Other Brands' stands at $109.58 million, indicating a year-over-year increase of 0.5% [5] - 'Geographic Revenues- Asia' is expected to be $280.87 million, showing a decline of 2.8% year-over-year [6] Stock Performance - Levi Strauss shares have experienced a change of -1% in the past month, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -5.3% move, suggesting a relatively stable performance [7] - With a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), LEVI is anticipated to closely follow overall market performance in the near term [7]

Company Overview - Levi Strauss & Co is an American clothing company known for its denim jeans, particularly the Levi's brand, and was founded in 1853 [3] - The company re-entered public markets in 2019, trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol LEVI [1] Stock Performance - The stock debuted at an opening price of $22 but is currently trading below $19, indicating struggles to gain momentum over the past five years [2] - LEVI is valued at $7 billion with a Forward PE of 14, holding Zacks Style Scores of "A" in Growth, "D" in Momentum, and "C" in Value [4] Recent Earnings - In Q4, Levi Strauss reported better-than-expected earnings, beating EPS by 4%, but guided for FY25 earnings below consensus, projecting adjusted EPS between $1.20 and $1.25 compared to the $1.36 expected by analysts [5] - Revenue is expected to decline by 1% to 2% year-over-year, despite improvements in profitability with a 13.4% adjusted EBIT margin and a 61.3% gross margin [6] Earnings Estimates - Since the earnings report, analysts have lowered earnings estimates for the current quarter by 15%, from $0.33 to $0.28, and for the current year by 8%, down from $1.39 to $1.27 [7] - Projections for the next year have also been adjusted downward by 5%, now at $1.39 from $1.47 [7] Technical Analysis - The stock is trading below its IPO debut price, which is a troubling sign indicating negative growth and lack of investor confidence [8][10] - Current trading levels show the stock below the 200-day moving average at $19 but above the 50-day moving average at $17.80 [9] Summary of Challenges - Levi Strauss faces significant challenges with its stock performance, recent earnings reports, and downward revisions to earnings estimates suggesting a lack of investor confidence [10]

Company Performance - Levi Strauss (LEVI) closed at $17.48, down 1.74% from the previous trading day, underperforming the S&P 500 which fell by 0.27% [1] - Over the last month, Levi's shares increased by 2.3%, lagging behind the Retail-Wholesale sector's gain of 8.91% and the S&P 500's gain of 4.27% [1] Earnings Projections - The upcoming earnings per share (EPS) for Levi Strauss is projected at $0.28, indicating a 7.69% increase year-over-year [2] - Revenue for the same quarter is estimated at $1.54 billion, reflecting a 1.04% decline compared to the previous year [2] Full Year Estimates - For the full year, earnings are projected at $1.27 per share and revenue at $6.27 billion, showing changes of +1.6% and -1.29% respectively from the prior year [3] - Recent analyst estimate revisions suggest a positive outlook for the company's business trends [3] Valuation Metrics - Levi Strauss has a Forward P/E ratio of 14.05, which is lower than the industry average of 14.97 [6] - The company has a PEG ratio of 1.83, compared to the industry average PEG ratio of 1.13 [6] Industry Context - The Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry, part of the Retail-Wholesale sector, holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 72, placing it in the top 29% of over 250 industries [7] - Strong individual industry groups, as measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, tend to outperform weaker groups by a factor of 2 to 1 [7]

Core Insights - Levi Strauss reported revenue of $1.84 billion for the quarter ended November 2024, marking a 12% increase year-over-year and exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.11% [1] - The company's EPS for the quarter was $0.50, up from $0.44 in the same quarter last year, surpassing the consensus estimate of $0.48 by 4.17% [1] Revenue Breakdown - Geographic Revenues in the Americas reached $995.40 million, exceeding the average estimate of $935.03 million, representing a 12.1% year-over-year increase [4] - European revenues were reported at $434.10 million, above the average estimate of $427.21 million, reflecting a 14.5% increase compared to the previous year [4] - Revenues from Other Brands totaled $123.70 million, compared to an average estimate of $482.02 million, showing a 9.5% year-over-year increase [4] - Asian revenues amounted to $286.50 million, surpassing the average estimate of $263.66 million, with a 9.4% increase year-over-year [4] - Total net revenues for Levi's Brands were $1.72 billion, exceeding the average estimate of $1.60 billion [4] Stock Performance - Levi Strauss shares have returned +6.1% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.7% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), indicating potential underperformance relative to the broader market in the near term [3]

Core Insights - Levi Strauss (LEVI) reported quarterly earnings of $0.50 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.48 per share, and up from $0.44 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of 4.17% [1] - The company achieved revenues of $1.84 billion for the quarter ended November 2024, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.11% and increasing from $1.64 billion year-over-year [2] - Levi Strauss has outperformed the S&P 500 with a 6.1% gain since the beginning of the year compared to the S&P 500's 3.2% gain [3] Earnings Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.30 on revenues of $1.6 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $1.36 on revenues of $6.45 billion [7] - The estimate revisions trend for Levi Strauss is currently unfavorable, resulting in a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell) for the stock, indicating expected underperformance in the near future [6] Industry Context - The Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry, to which Levi Strauss belongs, is currently in the top 25% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable outlook compared to the bottom 50% [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can be tracked by investors [5]

Core Insights - Levi Strauss issued disappointing guidance for the current fiscal year, expecting sales to decline between 1% and 2%, contrary to estimates of 3.7% growth [1] - The company anticipates adjusted earnings per share to be between $1.20 and $1.25, below the expected $1.37 [1] Financial Performance - For the fiscal fourth quarter, Levi reported net income of $182.6 million, or 46 cents per share, compared to $126.8 million, or 32 cents per share, a year earlier [2] - Adjusted net income was $202 million, or 50 cents per share, up from $179 million, or 44 cents per share, a year earlier [2] - Sales rose to $1.84 billion, a 12% increase from $1.64 billion a year earlier, with organic sales growing 8% [3] Market Trends - Sales in the Americas grew 12%, Europe increased 15%, and Asia expanded 9% during the quarter [7] - Direct-to-consumer sales increased 19%, accounting for 45% of total organic net sales [7] - Wholesale revenues grew 7% during the quarter, despite softness in the industry [7] Strategic Initiatives - CEO Michelle Gass has focused on cutting underperforming business segments and enhancing profitability [4] - The company has launched a marketing partnership with Beyoncé, which has positively impacted demand across the business [5] - Women's apparel now constitutes about 36% of Levi's overall business, with a goal to increase this to 50% over time [5] Supply Chain and Tariff Concerns - Levi sources products from 25 countries, with less than 1% coming from China, minimizing exposure to proposed tariffs [10] - The company imports about 5% of products from Mexico and none from Canada, reducing tariff risk [10] - Levi plans to work with suppliers to minimize consumer price impacts if tariffs are implemented [11][12]

Financial Performance - Reported net revenues for Q4 2024 were $1.84 billion, an increase of 12% year-over-year, with organic net revenues up 8%[3] - For fiscal year 2024, reported net revenues were $6.4 billion, up 3% from FY 2023, with adjusted net income of $503 million, a 14% increase[9] - Net revenues for the three months ended December 1, 2024, were $1,839.7 million, an increase of 12.0% compared to $1,642.3 million for the same period in 2023[30] - Total net revenues for the twelve months ended December 1, 2024, were $6,355.3 million, a 2.9% increase from $6,179.0 million in the previous year[69] - Total net revenues for Levi's Brands increased by 12.2% to $1,716.1 million for the three months ended December 1, 2024, compared to $1,529.3 million for the same period in 2023[73] Earnings and Margins - Diluted EPS for Q4 2024 was $0.46, up from $0.32 in Q4 2023, while adjusted diluted EPS increased to $0.50 from $0.44[8] - Adjusted net income for the three months ended December 1, 2024, was $202.2 million, compared to $178.6 million in the prior year, reflecting a 13.5% increase[45] - Adjusted EBIT for the three months ended December 1, 2024, was $246.8 million, a 23.3% increase from $200.1 million in the same period in 2023[75] - The net income margin for the three months ended December 1, 2024, was 9.9%, an increase from 7.7% in the same period of 2023[45] - Adjusted EBIT for the twelve months ended December 1, 2024, was $649.9 million, up from $554.8 million in 2023, reflecting a 17.1% growth[39] Revenue Growth by Region - In the Americas, net revenues increased 12% on a reported basis and 9% on an organic basis, with the U.S. growing 6% organically[3] - Asia net revenues increased 9% on both a reported and organic basis, reflecting growth across channels[3] - Europe reported a 14.5% increase in revenues to $434.1 million for the three months ended December 1, 2024, compared to $379.0 million in the same period last year[69] - Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) organic net revenues rose by 13.7% to $789.2 million for the three months ended December 1, 2024, from $694.0 million in the previous year[71] Cost and Expenses - Gross margin rose 350 basis points to 61.3%, a company record, driven by lower product costs and higher full-price sales[8] - Selling, general and administrative expenses for the twelve months ended December 1, 2024, were $3,246.2 million, up from $3,051.9 million in 2023, reflecting a 6.4% increase[30] - The company reported a restructuring charge of $14.0 million for the three months ended December 1, 2024, compared to $1.0 million for the same period in 2023[30] - The company incurred $188.7 million in restructuring charges related to Project Fuel for the year ended December 1, 2024[56] Cash Flow and Assets - Net cash provided by operating activities increased significantly to $898.4 million, compared to $435.5 million in the previous year, marking an increase of approximately 106.5%[33] - Cash and cash equivalents increased to $690.0 million as of December 1, 2024, from $398.8 million as of November 26, 2023[27] - Total assets increased to $6,375.5 million as of December 1, 2024, from $6,053.6 million as of November 26, 2023[27] - The company reported a significant net change in operating assets and liabilities of $350.5 million for the year ended December 1, 2024, compared to a negative change of $108.5 million in the previous year[33] Impairments and Charges - The company incurred $116.9 million in goodwill and other intangible asset impairment for the year ended December 1, 2024, compared to $90.2 million in the prior year[33] - Goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges for the year ended December 1, 2024, amounted to $117.9 million, with significant charges related to Beyond Yoga®[43] - Property, plant, equipment, and right-of-use asset impairment charges for the year ended December 1, 2024, included $11.1 million related to discontinued technology projects[41] Shareholder Returns - The company returned $289 million to shareholders in FY 2024, a 45% increase over the prior year, including dividends and share repurchases[11] - For the year ended December 1, 2024, adjusted diluted earnings per share was $1.25, up from $1.10 in 2023, representing a 13.6% increase[51] Strategic Initiatives - The company is evaluating strategic alternatives for the Dockers business, including potential sale or other transactions[82] - The divestiture of the Denizen brand resulted in a revenue decrease of $33.2 million for the year ended December 1, 2024[80] - The footwear divestiture contributed a revenue decrease of $63.2 million for the year ended December 1, 2024[80]

Table of Contents UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 _____________________________ FORM 10-K (Mark One) ☑ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 or ☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the Fiscal Year Ended December 1, 2024 Commission file number: 001-06631 _____________________________ LEVI STRAUSS & CO. (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) (State or ...

Levi Strauss (LEVI) ended the recent trading session at $18.40, demonstrating a +1.21% swing from the preceding day's closing price. This move outpaced the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.05%. At the same time, the Dow lost 0.17%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.4%.The jeans maker's stock has climbed by 6.94% in the past month, exceeding the Retail-Wholesale sector's gain of 6.79% and the S&P 500's gain of 5.75%.Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Levi Strauss in its ...