Core Insights - Ralph Lauren Corporation has shown strong performance in a challenging apparel market, with a stock increase of 33% for 2025, outperforming the S&P 500 [1] - The company is expected to achieve steady margin expansion, with a commitment to 150 basis points over three years, which is viewed positively by investors [1] - Ralph Lauren possesses a competitive advantage, referred to as a "moat," which is a significant factor for long-term investment considerations [1] Company Overview - Ralph Lauren Corporation designs and sells a variety of products including apparel, footwear, accessories, home products, and fragrances across multiple luxury and lifestyle brands [2]

Group 1: LVMH Performance - LVMH reported H1 2025 revenue of €39.81 billion (approximately $46.6 billion), a 4% decrease from €41.68 billion in the same period last year [3] - Operating profit fell to €9.01 billion, down 15% from €10.65 billion year-on-year [3] - Net profit decreased by 22% to €5.70 billion from €7.27 billion in the previous year [3] Group 2: Richemont Performance - Richemont's total sales for Q1 2025 reached €5.41 billion (approximately $6.33 billion), up from €5.27 billion year-on-year [4] - Jewelry sales increased to €3.91 billion from €3.66 billion, while watch sales decreased to €0.82 billion from €0.91 billion [4] Group 3: Hermès Performance - Hermès reported H1 2025 revenue of €8.03 billion (approximately $9.4 billion), an increase from €7.50 billion in the same period last year [5] - Operating profit rose to €3.33 billion from €3.15 billion year-on-year [5] - Net profit for the group was €2.25 billion, down from €2.37 billion in the previous year [5] Group 4: Kering Performance - Kering's H1 2025 revenue was €7.59 billion (approximately $8.8 billion), down from €9.02 billion year-on-year [6] - Operating profit decreased to €1.00 billion from €1.57 billion [6] - Net profit attributable to the group fell to €0.47 billion from €0.88 billion [6][7] Group 5: EssilorLuxottica Performance - EssilorLuxottica reported adjusted revenue of €14.02 billion for H1 2025, up from €13.29 billion year-on-year [8] - Adjusted operating profit increased to €2.53 billion from €2.43 billion [8] - Adjusted net profit rose to €1.80 billion from €1.75 billion [8] Group 6: Other Companies Performance - Lao Feng Xiang reported H1 2025 revenue of ¥33.36 billion (approximately $4.68 billion), a 16.52% decrease year-on-year [9] - PVH Corp. reported Q2 2025 revenue of $2.17 billion, up from $2.07 billion year-on-year [10] - Swatch Group's H1 2025 net sales were CHF 3.06 billion (approximately $3.83 billion), down 11.2% from the previous year [11] - Tapestry reported Q4 2025 net sales of $1.72 billion, up from $1.59 billion year-on-year [12] - Ralph Lauren's Q1 2025 net sales were $1.72 billion, up from $1.51 billion [13] - Prada Group reported H1 2025 revenue of €2.74 billion (approximately $3.21 billion), an 8% increase year-on-year [15] - Signet Jewelers reported Q2 2025 sales of $1.54 billion, up from $1.49 billion year-on-year [16] - Puig reported H1 2025 revenue of €2.30 billion (approximately $2.69 billion), a 5.9% increase year-on-year [17] - Hugo Boss reported H1 2025 sales of €2.00 billion (approximately $2.34 billion), down from €2.03 billion [18] - Pandora reported Q2 2025 revenue of DKK 7.07 billion (approximately $1.11 billion), up from DKK 6.77 billion [19] - Capri Holdings reported Q1 2025 revenue of $797 million, down from $848 million [20] - Burberry reported Q1 2025 retail revenue of £433 million (approximately $586 million), down 6% year-on-year [21] - Ermenegildo Zegna Group reported H1 2025 revenue of €0.93 billion (approximately $1.09 billion), down from €0.96 billion [23] - Zhou Dasheng reported H1 2025 revenue of ¥4.60 billion (approximately $645 million), a 43.92% decrease year-on-year [24] - Salvatore Ferragamo reported H1 2025 revenue of €0.47 billion (approximately $0.55 billion), down 9.4% year-on-year [25] - Fossil Group reported Q2 2025 net sales of $220 million, down from $260 million [26]

Group 1: Uber Freight and AI Integration - Uber Freight announced upgrades to its AI capabilities to enhance logistics efficiency and simplify operations [1][6] - The transportation management system (TMS) now allows clients to track the entire order-to-cash journey, providing a unified platform for quicker decision-making [6][10] - New features include automated data-gathering for bid awards, enabling real-time comparisons of costs and services, which aims to reduce decision-making time and costs for clients [8][9] Group 2: Google and PayPal Partnership - Google and PayPal have entered a multi-year partnership to enhance digital commerce through AI, focusing on improving transaction experiences [4][3] - The partnership aims to leverage PayPal's payment solutions and Google’s AI capabilities to foster agentic commerce while ensuring secure transactions [4][2] - The collaboration is expected to have significant implications for the technology and e-commerce sectors if executed effectively [3] Group 3: Ethosphere's AI in Retail - Ethosphere raised $2.5 million in a pre-seed round to develop AI technology that captures in-store conversations for feedback [11][12] - The technology aims to enhance customer service by providing actionable insights to employees and managers based on real interactions [12][13] - Ethosphere's approach focuses on empowering retail employees to improve customer experiences and drive sales [15] Group 4: Ralph Lauren's Conversational AI - Ralph Lauren introduced a conversational AI chatbot named Ask Ralph to enhance customer engagement and provide personalized styling recommendations [16][17] - The chatbot aims to create a richer e-commerce experience, allowing consumers to interact as they would with a stylist in-store [17][18] - The technology is powered by Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI platform, reflecting a shift in consumer shopping habits [19][20] Group 5: Inspectorio's Paramo - Inspectorio launched Paramo, an AI-native intelligence layer designed to unify supply chain management systems [21][22] - The system aims to create a single source of truth for data, enhancing risk detection and compliance while streamlining sourcing processes [23][25] - Paramo is positioned to help brands and retailers adapt to a complex supplier landscape by increasing agility and operational intelligence [25]

Company Overview - Ralph Lauren (RL) currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B, indicating potential for strong performance in the momentum investing strategy [3] - The company has a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), which is associated with a historical track record of outperforming the market [4] Price Performance - Over the past week, RL shares have increased by 1%, while the Zacks Textile - Apparel industry has decreased by 0.2% [6] - In a longer time frame, RL's shares have risen by 14.81% over the past quarter and 69.94% over the last year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500, which has moved 11.2% and 19.34% respectively [7] Trading Volume - The average 20-day trading volume for RL is 569,889 shares, which serves as a useful indicator of market interest and price movement [8] Earnings Outlook - In the past two months, 6 earnings estimates for RL have been revised upwards, while none have been revised downwards, leading to an increase in the consensus estimate from $13.63 to $14.77 [10] - For the next fiscal year, 5 estimates have also moved upwards with no downward revisions [10] Conclusion - Given the positive price trends, strong earnings outlook, and favorable momentum indicators, RL is positioned as a strong candidate for investors seeking momentum stocks [12]

Core Insights - Ralph Lauren Corporation (RL) has experienced a significant stock price increase of 69.4% over the past year, outperforming the industry which declined by 16.3% and the broader Consumer Discretionary sector and S&P 500 which gained 22.7% and 17.8% respectively [1][8]. Company Strategy and Performance - The company's strategic plan, "Next Great Chapter: Accelerate Plan," emphasizes brand elevation, consumer centricity, and operational agility, contributing to its competitive edge in the luxury lifestyle market [3]. - Ralph Lauren is expanding in high-potential markets, particularly in Asia, while reinforcing its core regions to ensure diversified revenue streams [3][10]. - Digital transformation is a key growth strategy, with digital sales increasing by 19% in North America, 11% in Europe, and 35% in Asia during Q1 FY26 [4][8]. Revenue and Margin Outlook - Ralph Lauren anticipates revenue growth in the low-to-mid single digits for FY26, supported by a weaker U.S. dollar and sustained momentum in Asia and Europe [11]. - The company projects operating margin expansion due to expense leverage, strategic pricing initiatives, and improved gross margins, despite ongoing tariff and inflationary pressures [12][14]. - In Q2 FY26, revenue growth is expected to be in the high single digits on a constant-currency basis, with additional support from foreign exchange movements [13]. Valuation and Investment Rationale - Ralph Lauren is currently trading at a forward P/E multiple of 20.41X, which is higher than the industry average of 11.43X, indicating strong investor expectations for growth [15]. - The company's solid fundamentals and strategic execution support its premium valuation, making it an attractive investment opportunity [17].

Core Insights - The U.S. stock market reacted positively to the Federal Reserve's decision to lower its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to a range of 4-4.25%, aiming to stimulate growth while managing inflation [1][11] - The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 124.10 points (0.27%) to 46,142.42, the S&P 500 rose by 31.61 points (0.48%) to 6,631.96, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 209.40 points (0.94%) to 22,470.72 [2] Interest Coverage Ratio - Companies with strong interest coverage ratios are expected to benefit from lower borrowing costs, as these ratios indicate a firm's ability to meet interest obligations comfortably [3][6] - The interest coverage ratio is calculated as Earnings before Interest & Taxes (EBIT) divided by Interest Expense, and a ratio below 1 suggests potential default risk [5][8] - Companies highlighted for their strong interest coverage ratios include Stride, Inc. (LRN), Ralph Lauren Corporation (RL), Encompass Health Corporation (EHC), and The Progressive Corporation (PGR) [4][11] Company Performance and Projections - Stride, Inc. is projected to see sales and EPS growth of 11% and 5.9% respectively, with a stock price increase of 65.7% over the past year [14] - Ralph Lauren Corporation anticipates sales and EPS growth of 6% and 19.8% respectively, with a stock price increase of 69.4% over the past year [15] - Encompass Health Corporation expects sales and EPS growth of 10.2% and 18.3% respectively, with a stock price increase of 35.3% over the past year [16] - The Progressive Corporation projects sales and EPS growth of 16.4% and 26.8% respectively, although its stock price has declined by 6.7% over the past year [17] Investment Strategy - A successful investment strategy should include companies with an interest coverage ratio above the industry average, a favorable Zacks Rank, and a VGM Score of A or B [9][13] - Stocks that meet these criteria are likely to outperform in various market conditions, with a focus on those with strong historical EPS growth and substantial trading volume [10][12]

Economic Overview - Wall Street resumed its rally following a 25 basis points rate cut by the Federal Reserve, with the Dow and Nasdaq reaching record highs, indicating regained investor confidence [1][3] - The Federal Reserve raised its GDP forecast for the year, reflecting a positive sentiment in the economy as inflation has eased substantially [1][6] Rate Cuts and Economic Impact - The Federal Reserve's recent rate cut to a range of 4-4.25% is aimed at addressing concerns over a struggling labor market and a slowing economy, with expectations of two more rate cuts this year [3][5][9] - Lower borrowing costs are anticipated to benefit the broader economy, particularly in consumer discretionary sectors [6][9] Consumer Discretionary Stocks - Boyd Gaming Corporation (BYD) has an expected earnings growth rate of 5.2%, with a 4.9% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the last 60 days [7] - Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) is projected to have a 13.7% earnings growth rate, with a 3% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate [8] - Ralph Lauren Corporation (RL) shows a strong expected earnings growth rate of 19.8%, with an 8.4% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate [10] - Hasbro, Inc. (HAS) has an expected earnings growth rate of 21.5%, with a notable 14.6% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate [11] - Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (LOPE) is expected to see a 12.8% earnings growth rate, with a 3.7% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate [12][13]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Textile – Apparel industry is currently facing challenges due to persistent inflation, supply-chain disruptions, and high selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses, which are impacting profitability [1][5] - The industry includes companies that manufacture, design, distribute, and sell apparel, footwear, and accessories for men and women, operating through various distribution channels [3] Current Trends - Consumer caution and a focus on value are evident as inflation and macroeconomic uncertainty lead to muted demand, straining the textile and apparel sector [4] - Persistent cost pressures from elevated input and labor costs, rising SG&A, and freight and tariff volatility are causing ongoing margin pressure [5] - Digital and AI-driven transformation is becoming a key growth driver, with companies leveraging these technologies to improve efficiency and connect with consumers [6] - Brand strength is increasingly important, with companies positioning themselves as lifestyle curators to maintain premium pricing and appeal to younger shoppers [7] Industry Performance - The Zacks Textile – Apparel industry ranks 191, placing it in the bottom 22% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating dim near-term prospects [8] - The industry's consensus earnings estimate has declined by 8.6% since June 2025, reflecting a negative aggregate earnings outlook [9] - Over the past year, the industry has underperformed the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector and the S&P 500, declining by 16.6% compared to the sector's and S&P 500's growth of 23.9% and 19.8%, respectively [10] Valuation Metrics - The industry is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 11.25X, significantly lower than the S&P 500's 23.36X and the sector's 19.98X [13] Notable Companies - **Ralph Lauren Corporation (RL)**: Focused on brand elevation and digital ecosystems, with a Zacks Rank of 2. The consensus EPS estimate has increased by 8.4% to $14.77, and shares have rallied 36.3% in the past six months [16][17] - **Hanesbrands Inc. (HBI)**: Engaging in a transformation centered on innovation and cost discipline, with a Zacks Rank of 2. The consensus EPS estimate has risen by 24.5% to $0.66, and shares have increased by 3.5% [20][21] - **Guess?, Inc. (GES)**: Advancing a global growth strategy with a focus on brand elevation and operational agility, holding a Zacks Rank of 2. The consensus EPS estimate has jumped by 8.1% to $1.60, with shares surging 36.1% [24][25] - **PVH Corp. (PVH)**: Revitalizing core brands through marketing and international expansion, with a Zacks Rank of 3. The consensus EPS estimate has increased by $0.02 to $0.84, and shares have jumped 28.8% [28][29]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a low- to mid-single-digit revenue growth expectation for FY26 at constant currency [8][9]. Core Insights - The company expects overall revenue to grow at a mid-single-digit CAGR over the next three years, with Asia projected to grow at high single digits and EMEA at mid-single digits, while North America has a more cautious outlook [9]. - Management anticipates operating margin expansion of 100-150 basis points by FY28, with gross margin expected to maintain moderate annual growth driven by pricing optimization and supply chain efficiency [9][12]. - The company emphasizes a differentiated positioning strategy, maintaining a leading position in menswear and focusing on brand storytelling to counter price competition [10]. - Significant growth potential exists, with current market shares in high-end and luxury accessible markets being under 2%, indicating room for expansion [10]. - The company is leveraging AI and digitalization to enhance supply chain resilience and product appeal, with a focus on demand forecasting and predictive procurement [11]. - In response to inflation, the company plans to implement price increases and cost optimization strategies, aiming to save over $400 million [12]. Summary by Sections Revenue Growth and Financial Guidance - The company projects a mid-single-digit CAGR for overall revenue over the next three years, with specific growth rates for different regions [9]. - Management expects operating margin to expand by over 300 basis points since the last Investor Day, with further improvements anticipated [9]. Market Position and Competitive Strategy - The company has maintained its leadership in menswear and is focusing on brand differentiation amidst competitive pricing pressures [10]. - Current market shares in high-end segments indicate substantial growth opportunities [10]. Technological Advancements - The company is advancing its AI capabilities to improve supply chain management and product design, enhancing overall operational efficiency [11]. Cost Management and Pricing Strategy - The company plans to counter inflation through strategic price increases and cost-saving initiatives, with a target of saving over $400 million [12].

Group 1 - Ralph Lauren outlined new three-year targets for mid-single-digit sales growth and 100–150 basis points of operating margin expansion, with a 16% margin outlook not seen as a ceiling [1] - Growth is expected to be driven by strong performance in Asia and Europe, along with gains in women's apparel, handbags, and an expanded store footprint in APAC and EMEA [1] - Bank of America Securities noted that the updated plan reflects the company's previous successful strategy and highlights potential for gross margin improvement [2] Group 2 - Key drivers for growth include continued pricing power through higher average unit retail (AUR), easing input costs like cotton, and productivity gains in supply chain and inventory management [3] - A new $400 million cost savings program has been initiated, split between gross margin and SG&A, following a similar initiative from fiscal 2022 to 2025 [4] - Ralph Lauren's second-half guidance may be conservative, with stable consumer demand trends and opportunities in the women's category, particularly in handbags [5] Group 3 - In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, Ralph Lauren reported a 14% increase in revenue to $1.72 billion, exceeding the consensus estimate of $1.64 billion, and adjusted EPS of $3.77, surpassing forecasts of $3.43 [6] - For fiscal 2026, the company projects low- to mid-single-digit revenue growth at constant currency [6] - Analyst Christopher Nardone identified upside risks from faster sales recovery and cost savings, while downside risks include weakness in wholesale and global macro headwinds [7]