Core Insights - The Retail-Wholesale sector is expected to show growth in sales and earnings, influenced by consumer sentiment and spending trends [1][2] - Anticipated top-line growth of 5.6% year-over-year and bottom-line growth of 12.6% for the second quarter of 2025 [2] Company Performance - Walmart Inc. (WMT) is positioned for stability and growth with a Zacks Rank of 2 and an Earnings ESP of +1.26%, expecting a 9% increase in earnings per share [9][11] - Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF) has a Zacks Rank of 3 and an Earnings ESP of +2.62%, with a consensus estimate suggesting a 9.2% decrease in earnings per share [12][13] - Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN) holds a Zacks Rank of 3 and an Earnings ESP of +3.60%, with a consensus estimate indicating a 16.1% increase in earnings per share [14][15] - Burlington Stores, Inc. (BURL) has a Zacks Rank of 3 and an Earnings ESP of +6.06%, with a consensus estimate suggesting a 5.8% increase in earnings per share [16][17] Market Trends - Retail earnings are influenced by consumer preferences shifting towards essentials and value-oriented products due to inflation [4] - Retailers focusing on competitive pricing and product diversification are likely to see improved foot traffic and conversion rates [4] - E-commerce growth and omnichannel capabilities are critical for retail success, with companies enhancing online shopping experiences [6] - Efficient inventory management is essential for profitability, with advanced analytics aiding in stock optimization [7]

Core Insights - Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN) reported strong fiscal 2026 results with retail comparable sales increasing by 4.8% year over year, driven by positive gains in both digital and retail store sales [1][10] - The company experienced significant growth in wholesale revenues, which rose by 24.2%, led by Free People's 25.6% growth and FP Movement's 78% surge [4][10] Retail Performance - Anthropologie achieved a 6.9% retail comparable sales growth, marking its 10th consecutive quarter of growth, supported by strong performance in both stores and digital channels [2] - Free People recorded a 3.1% retail comp, with FP Movement delivering a 6% retail comp and 16% total retail growth [2] - Urban Outfitters saw its first positive global retail comp in several quarters at 2.1%, with Europe up 14%, despite a 4% decline in North America [3] Wholesale Performance - Wholesale revenues increased significantly, with Free People's growth at 25.6% and FP Movement's at 78%, attributed to strong full-price sales and new label introductions [4][10] - The focus on aligned partnerships and brand integrity contributed to improved profitability [4] Future Outlook - For the fiscal second quarter, URBN anticipates mid-single digit retail comps for Anthropologie and Free People, low single digit growth for Urban Outfitters, and low double digit wholesale gains [5] - The company plans to open 64 new stores in fiscal 2026, emphasizing innovation and strategic wholesale growth to maintain momentum [5] Competitive Landscape - Key competitors include Steven Madden, Ltd. (SHOO) and Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK), with SHOO experiencing a decline in wholesale revenues while Deckers reported a 26.7% increase in wholesale net sales [6][7][8] Valuation and Estimates - URBN shares have gained 42.5% year to date, contrasting with the industry's decline of 12.9% [9] - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 15.02X, below the industry average of 17.56X, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate indicating a year-over-year earnings growth of 21.9% for fiscal 2026 [11][12]

Core Viewpoint - Urban Outfitters (URBN) has shown strong stock performance, with a 9.6% increase over the past month and a 36.6% gain since the start of the year, outperforming both the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector and the Zacks Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry [1] Financial Performance - Urban Outfitters has consistently beaten earnings estimates, reporting an EPS of $1.16 against a consensus estimate of $0.81 in its last earnings report [2] - For the current fiscal year, Urban Outfitters is projected to achieve earnings of $4.96 per share on revenues of $6.02 billion, reflecting a 22.17% increase in EPS and an 8.51% increase in revenues [3] - The next fiscal year is expected to see earnings of $5.45 per share on revenues of $6.42 billion, indicating a year-over-year change of 9.91% in EPS and 6.64% in revenues [3] Valuation Metrics - Urban Outfitters currently trades at 15.1 times the current fiscal year EPS estimates, below the peer industry average of 17.9 times [7] - On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock trades at 13.9 times, compared to the peer group's average of 7.5 times [7] - The stock has a PEG ratio of 1.26, which does not place it among the top echelon of stocks from a value perspective [7] Zacks Rank and Style Scores - Urban Outfitters holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), supported by a solid earnings estimate revision trend [8] - The stock has a Value Score of B, a Growth Score of B, and a Momentum Score of D, resulting in a combined VGM Score of B [6][9] - The combination of a Zacks Rank of 2 and Style Scores of A or B suggests potential for Urban Outfitters shares in the near future [9]

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]

Group 1 - Booking Holdings (BKNG) is outperforming the Retail-Wholesale sector with a year-to-date return of 13.9%, compared to the sector's average gain of 4% [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BKNG's full-year earnings has increased by 5% in the past quarter, indicating improved analyst sentiment [4] - Booking Holdings holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), suggesting a positive earnings outlook and potential to beat the market in the near term [3] Group 2 - Urban Outfitters (URBN) has also shown strong performance with a year-to-date return of 26.8% and a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [5] - Urban Outfitters' consensus estimate for current year EPS has risen by 6.7% over the past three months [5] - Booking Holdings is part of the Internet - Commerce industry, which has gained an average of 7.7% this year, while Urban Outfitters belongs to the Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry, which has declined by 12.3% [6]

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]