Key Takeaways URBN's retail comps rose 4.8%, with all three brands seeing positive store and digital sales.Wholesale revenues climbed 24.2%, led by Free People and FP Movement's sharp gains.Store expansion and strong full-price sales drove both segment growth and profitability.Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN) began fiscal 2026 with strong results across retail and wholesale. Retail comparable sales rose 4.8% year over year, with mid-single-digit positive gains in digital channel sales and sales from retail stor ...

What's Driving the Outperformance? A strong stock as of late has been Urban Outfitters (URBN) . Shares have been marching higher, with the stock up 9.6% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $76.5 in the previous session. Urban Outfitters has gained 36.6% since the start of the year compared to the 6.2% move for the Zacks Retail- Wholesale sector and the -10.1% return for the Zacks Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry. Urban Outfitters has a Value Score of B. The stock's Growth and Momentu ...

Core Insights - Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN) reported strong results in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, with total net sales in the Retail segment increasing by 6.4% year over year and comparable net sales rising by 4.8% [1][9] Retail Segment Performance - Both stores and digital channels experienced positive comparable sales, with stores outperforming digital channels [2] - Anthropologie led the segment with a 6.9% increase in retail comparable sales, marking its 10th consecutive quarter of growth, driven by increased traffic and successful lifestyle expansion [3] - Free People achieved a 3.1% increase in retail comparable sales, with notable performance from FP Movement, which saw a 6% increase in retail comps and 16% total retail growth [4] - Urban Outfitters returned to positive global retail comparable sales for the first time in several quarters, rising by 2.1%, with Europe showing a significant 14% increase [5][9] Future Outlook - URBN anticipates mid-single-digit retail comparable sales growth in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, supported by growth at Anthropologie and Free People, and low-single-digit growth at Urban Outfitters [6] - The company plans to open 64 new stores, indicating a focus on expansion and innovation within the retail segment [6] Stock Performance and Valuation - URBN shares have increased by 44.3% over the past three months, outperforming the Zacks Retail-Apparel and Shoes industry's growth of 25.9% [7] - The stock is currently trading at $72.14, which is 4.8% below its 52-week high of $75.80, with technical indicators suggesting a continued uptrend [10] - URBN's forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio stands at 1.04X, lower than the industry average of 1.69X, indicating a favorable valuation [11] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for URBN's current fiscal-year sales and earnings per share suggests year-over-year growth of 8.5% and 22.2%, respectively [12]

Core Insights - Investors should conduct a thorough analysis of a company's financial background rather than relying solely on real-time stock numbers to make informed investment decisions [1] - The interest coverage ratio is a critical metric that indicates a company's ability to meet its interest obligations, with a higher ratio suggesting better financial health [4][5] Company Performance - Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN) has an impressive interest coverage ratio and has gained 56.2% over the past year, with a projected EPS growth of 22.2% [10][12] - Ingredion Incorporated (INGR) also shows strong performance with a Zacks Rank of 2, a VGM Score of A, and a projected EPS growth of 6.8%, having risen 11% in the past year [10][12] - The Walt Disney Company (DIS) carries a Zacks Rank of 2 and has a projected EPS growth of 16.3%, with a stock increase of 29% in the past year [10][13] - Hudbay Minerals Inc. (HBM) has a robust interest coverage ratio and is projected to have an EPS growth of 43.8%, with shares rising 20.4% in the past year [10][15] Investment Strategy - A favorable investment strategy includes selecting stocks with an interest coverage ratio above the industry average, a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2, and a VGM Score of A or B for optimal results [8][11] - Additional criteria for stock selection include a minimum price of $5, strong historical and projected EPS growth compared to the industry median, and substantial trading volume [9][10]

For those looking to find strong Retail-Wholesale stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Booking Holdings (BKNG) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Retail-Wholesale sector should help us answer this question.Booking Holdings is one of 204 individual stocks in the ...

Core Insights - Urban Outfitters (URBN) is currently rated as a Strong Buy (1) while Boot Barn (BOOT) holds a Hold (3) rating, indicating a stronger earnings outlook for URBN compared to BOOT [3] - Value investors utilize various metrics to identify undervalued companies, including P/E ratio, P/S ratio, earnings yield, and cash flow per share [4] Valuation Metrics - URBN has a forward P/E ratio of 14.58, significantly lower than BOOT's forward P/E of 27.33, suggesting URBN may be undervalued [5] - The PEG ratio for URBN is 1.21, while BOOT's PEG ratio is 2.01, indicating URBN's expected earnings growth is more favorable [5] - URBN's P/B ratio stands at 2.75 compared to BOOT's 4.63, further supporting URBN's valuation advantage [6] Earnings Outlook - URBN is experiencing an improving earnings outlook, which enhances its attractiveness as a value investment compared to BOOT [7]

Group 1: Market Overview - The U.S. equity markets are experiencing a downtrend due to President Trump's proposed tariffs on imported goods from 14 countries, including Japan and South Korea, set to take effect in August [1] - The sudden shift in tariff policy has increased market uncertainty and financial turmoil, prompting policymakers to take action to protect their economies [1] Group 2: Investment Strategies - Investors are turning to momentum stocks as a strategy to achieve sustained profits amid market volatility [2] - Momentum investing is based on the principle of "buying high and selling higher," capitalizing on established trends in stock prices [3] Group 3: Momentum Strategy Implementation - A screening strategy has been developed to identify momentum anomaly stocks, focusing on the top 50 stocks with the best percentage price change over the last 52 weeks [5] - The strategy also includes selecting stocks that are among the 10 worst performers over the past week to identify those experiencing a short-term pullback [6] - Stocks with a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) and a Momentum Style Score of B or better are prioritized for selection, indicating a higher probability of success [7] Group 4: Selected Stocks - Urban Outfitters, Inc. has seen a 63.6% increase in stock price over the past year but a 4.2% decline in the past week, with a Momentum Score of B [8] - Royal Gold, Inc. has experienced a 22% increase in stock price over the past year but a 9.8% decline in the past week, holding a Momentum Score of A [9] - Kodiak Gas Services has seen a 25.3% increase in stock price over the past year but a 3.8% decline in the past week, also with a Momentum Score of A [10]

Core Insights - Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN) reported record first-quarter sales of $1.33 billion for fiscal 2026, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 10.7% with all five brands achieving positive comparable sales [1][9] - The company's operating profit surged by 71.8% to $128.2 million, moving closer to its long-term goal of a 10% operating margin [1] Sales Performance - Free People led the sales growth with an 11% increase, driven by retail and wholesale gains, including a 3.1% rise in retail comparable sales and a 25.6% increase in wholesale revenue [2] - Nuuly, the apparel rental subscription service, added over 110,000 subscribers year-over-year, surpassing 380,000 subscribers, resulting in a 59.5% revenue increase for the brand [4] - Anthropologie achieved its 10th consecutive quarter of double-digit operating profit growth, supported by a 6.9% retail comparable sales increase [6] Brand Developments - The Urban Outfitters brand recorded a 2.1% global retail comparable sales increase, with a notable 14% gain in Europe, which offset a 4% decline in North America [7] - The company opened 43 new locations under Free People and FP Movement over the past year, with expectations of mid-single-digit retail comparable gains in the upcoming fiscal quarter [3] Financial Outlook - URBN projects high-single-digit sales growth for the fiscal second quarter, with an anticipated gross margin improvement of 50-100 basis points for the year [8] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for URBN's earnings has been revised upward, indicating year-over-year growth of 22.2% for the current fiscal year and 9.9% for the next fiscal year [16] Stock Performance - URBN shares have rallied 40% in the past three months, outperforming the Zacks Retail-Apparel and Shoes industry's growth of 18.9% [10] - The stock is currently trading 6.8% below its 52-week high, with technical indicators suggesting a continued uptrend [11] Valuation Metrics - URBN is considered a compelling value play, trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 1.02, below the industry average of 1.77 [12]

Group 1 - Booking Holdings (BKNG) is a notable stock within the Retail-Wholesale sector, which consists of 204 individual stocks and currently holds a Zacks Sector Rank of 11 [2] - The Zacks Rank system focuses on earnings estimates and revisions, with Booking Holdings currently holding a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating an improving earnings outlook as the consensus estimate for its full-year earnings has increased by 2% over the past 90 days [3] - Year-to-date, Booking Holdings has gained approximately 16.5%, significantly outperforming the average return of 4% for Retail-Wholesale companies [4] Group 2 - Booking Holdings is part of the Internet - Commerce industry, which includes 36 stocks and is currently ranked 64 in the Zacks Industry Rank, with an average gain of 6.6% year-to-date, indicating BKNG's superior performance [5] - In contrast, Urban Outfitters, another outperforming stock in the Retail-Wholesale sector, has returned 32.2% year-to-date, while its industry, Retail - Apparel and Shoes, has declined by 14.9% [4][6] - Investors in the Retail-Wholesale sector should monitor both Booking Holdings and Urban Outfitters for their strong performance trends [6]

Consumer Sentiment and Economic Outlook - U.S. consumer sentiment declined in June, with the Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index dropping by 5.4 points to 93.0 from 98.4 in May, indicating growing unease among households [1] - The Present Situation Index fell 6.4 points to 129.1, while the Expectations Index slipped 4.6 points to 69.0, reflecting concerns over job security and economic challenges [2] Trade Policies and Geopolitical Tensions - Ongoing concerns over trade policies, particularly tariffs, are a primary driver behind the decline in consumer confidence, as they are perceived as threats to economic stability [3] - Escalating geopolitical tensions have further weighed on consumer outlook [3] Company Performance and Positioning - Companies like Sprouts Farmers Market, Urban Outfitters, Costco, and BJ's Wholesale Club are better positioned to navigate shifts in consumer behavior despite the overall decline in consumer confidence [4][9] - Sprouts Farmers Market focuses on product innovation, competitive pricing, and a commitment to fresh, natural, and organic products, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate indicating sales growth of 13.7% and EPS growth of 35.5% for the current financial year [6][7] Urban Outfitters' Strategy - Urban Outfitters leverages its multi-brand strength and digital reach, with major brands showing momentum across channels, and a Zacks Consensus Estimate suggesting sales growth of 8.5% and EPS growth of 22.2% [11][12] Costco's Membership Model - Costco effectively navigates market fluctuations through strategic investments and a customer-centric approach, with a focus on high membership renewal rates and competitive pricing, expecting sales growth of 8.1% and EPS growth of 12% [12][13] BJ's Wholesale's Growth Drivers - BJ's Wholesale emphasizes membership growth and digital innovations, enhancing omnichannel capabilities and targeting high-growth regions, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate indicating sales growth of 5.5% and EPS growth of 6.2% [14][15]