Abercrombie & Fitch soars 25% even as retailer slashes profit outlook due to tariffs

Core Viewpoint - Abercrombie & Fitch's shares surged despite a lowered profit outlook due to tariffs impacting the business by $50 million, with the company adjusting its earnings per share forecast downward while raising its revenue outlook for 2025 [1][2]. Financial Performance - The company reported a net income of $80.4 million, or $1.59 per share, for the first quarter, compared to $114 million, or $2.14 per share, a year earlier [3]. - Revenue for the first quarter reached $1.10 billion, an increase of approximately 8% from $1.02 billion a year earlier, marking a record high for the fiscal first quarter [4][5]. - Earnings per share exceeded expectations at $1.59 compared to the anticipated $1.39, while revenue also surpassed forecasts of $1.07 billion [5]. Outlook Adjustments - The company revised its full-year earnings per share expectation to a range of $9.50 to $10.50, down from $10.40 to $11.40 [1]. - Abercrombie raised its 2025 revenue growth outlook to 3% to 6%, up from a previous estimate of 3% to 5% [2]. - The operating margin forecast was cut to a range of 12.5% to 13.5%, down from 14% to 15% [2]. Brand Performance - The Hollister brand led the performance with a growth of 22%, achieving its best-ever first quarter net sales, while Abercrombie brand net sales decreased by 4% compared to a 31% sales growth in 2024 [4].