lululemon(LULU) The Motley Fool·2025-04-02 08:30Core Viewpoint - Lululemon Athletica has faced significant stock price declines in 2024 and early 2025, attributed to changing fashion trends and previous product missteps, particularly the Breezethrough leggings launch [1][2] Financial Performance - Lululemon reported a fiscal fourth-quarter revenue increase of 13% year over year, reaching 6.14, surpassing analyst expectations [7] - Revenue growth was particularly strong in international markets, with China seeing a 46% increase in sales, while U.S. revenue grew by only 5% [8] - The company forecasts fiscal 2025 revenue between 11.3 billion, indicating growth of 5% to 7%, with projected EPS ranging from 15.15 [11] Consumer Insights - A consumer survey indicated that U.S. households are spending less due to economic fears and inflation, leading to slower traffic in the athleisure segment [4] - Despite economic concerns, consumers have responded positively to new product launches, suggesting a potential turnaround in customer engagement [5] Growth Strategy - Lululemon is focused on location expansion, having opened 18 new stores and optimized 16 existing ones, bringing the total store count to approximately 767 [6] - The company plans to increase its square footage by 10% this year, with new store openings globally, including a franchise model in select markets [6] Inventory and Margins - Gross margin improved by 100 basis points to 60.4%, indicating effective pricing strategies without heavy discounting [10] - Inventory levels increased by 9% year over year, which is below the 13% sales increase, suggesting healthy inventory management [10] Market Position - Lululemon's menswear category outperformed with a 12% revenue growth, while women's sales increased by 6% and accessories by 9% [9] - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of approximately 19.5, which is more attractive compared to Nike's 30 times forward P/E [14]