What's Driving the Record Gross Margin at Urban Outfitters This Year?

Core Insights - Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN) reported a strong start to fiscal 2026, with gross profit rising 19.8% year over year to a record $489.1 million, resulting in a gross margin of 36.8%, an expansion of 278 basis points from the prior year [1][9] - The company achieved a core margin increase of 204 basis points, driven by lower markdowns in the Retail segment and reduced delivery costs [2] - Operating income surged 72% to $128.2 million, with the operating margin increasing 340 basis points to 9.6% of sales, supported by strong full-price selling and disciplined inventory management [3] Financial Performance - Management expects the second-quarter gross margin to improve by 50-100 basis points year over year, with confidence in achieving a 10% operating margin goal for fiscal 2026 [4] - URBN's shares have rallied 38.4% in the past three months, outperforming the broader Retail-Wholesale sector and the S&P 500 index [6] - The stock is currently trading 10.3% below its 52-week high of $75.80, with technical indicators showing strong performance [9][10] Valuation and Estimates - URBN is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 0.99, below the industry average of 1.65, indicating potential for investors [13] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings has been revised upward, with current fiscal year estimates at $4.96 per share, reflecting year-over-year growth of 22.2% [15] - Sales estimates for the current and next fiscal years are pegged at $6.02 billion and $6.42 billion, implying year-over-year growth of 8.5% and 6.6%, respectively [17]