Analyst Deems Warby Parker's Google Tie-Up 'Emblematic of Long-Term Disruption'

Core Viewpoint - TD Securities analyst Oliver Chen maintains a Buy rating on Warby Parker, raising the price forecast from $20 to $24 due to a new collaboration with Google for AI-enabled smart glasses [1][2]. Group 1: Partnership with Google - Google is committing $75 million towards product development and commercialization, with the potential for an additional $75 million investment in Warby Parker stock [2]. - The partnership is seen as a strong signal of Warby Parker's commitment to innovation and its potential to disrupt the eyewear industry [3]. Group 2: Product Development and Market Potential - The AI-powered glasses initiative must leverage advanced, context-aware AI and integrate with tools like Google Maps, featuring stylish designs [4]. - The U.S. smart glasses market is estimated to reach $2-$4 billion by 2030, compared to Warby Parker's current revenue of approximately $800 million [5]. Group 3: Financial Outlook - The partnership is expected to improve customer lifetime value and encourage broader wearable tech development, reinforcing Warby's tech-forward approach [5]. - Warby Parker targets over 20% annual revenue growth, with gross margins in the 58% to 60% range and EBITDA margin gains of around 20% [6]. Group 4: Stock Performance - Warby Parker shares are trading higher by 3.05% to $20.96 [7].