Is lululemon's Earnings Outlook Still Aligned With Its Growth Story?

Core Insights - lululemon athletica inc. (LULU) is recalibrating its growth story as it faces challenges in the U.S. market, with second-quarter fiscal 2025 EPS of $3.10 exceeding estimates, while revenues of $2.53 billion fell slightly short [1] - The company has lowered its revenue and EPS guidance for fiscal 2025 due to increased tariff-related costs and soft trends in the U.S. market, projecting revenues of $10.85-$11 billion and EPS of $12.77-$12.97, indicating a decline from fiscal 2024 [2] - The product mix is a core challenge, with management acknowledging that some product categories have become stale, leading to weaker customer engagement [3] Financial Performance - In the second quarter of fiscal 2025, lululemon's revenues improved year over year, but the bottom line declined due to soft margins [1] - The company expects a gross margin reduction of 300 basis points in fiscal 2025, translating to a $240 million impact, primarily due to tariff pressures [5] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2025 earnings implies a year-over-year decline of 8.4%, while fiscal 2026 suggests a growth of 3.2% [14] Product Strategy - lululemon aims to boost new style penetration from 23% to 35% by spring 2026 and is fast-tracking innovation to address product cycle missteps [3] - New product launches like Daydrift and BeCalm are intended to reignite customer excitement, although the benefits may not fully materialize until fiscal 2026 [4] International Growth - International markets remain a bright spot, with revenues in China rising 25% and the Rest of the World increasing by 19%, supported by store expansion [5] - Despite U.S. weaknesses, international growth is expected to help offset some of the challenges faced domestically [5] Competitive Landscape - lululemon faces increasing competition from traditional fashion players like Ralph Lauren and Guess, who are also adjusting their strategies in the athleisure space [6] - Ralph Lauren reported a strong first-quarter fiscal 2026 with revenues rising 14% year over year, while Guess experienced a decline in revenues but is focusing on cost controls and digital expansion [7][8] Stock Performance - lululemon's shares have declined by 56.7% year to date, compared to the industry's decline of 27.9% [11] - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 10.89X, which is lower than the industry average of 11.43X [12]