American Eagle says it expects a big holiday, raises forecast after Sydney Sweeney campaign

Core Viewpoint - American Eagle has issued optimistic holiday guidance and raised its full-year forecast following better-than-expected quarterly results, with significant growth anticipated in comparable sales for the fiscal fourth quarter [1][2]. Financial Performance - The company expects full-year adjusted operating income to be between $303 million and $308 million, an increase from the previous range of $255 million to $265 million [2]. - American Eagle's reported net income for the third quarter was $91.34 million, or 53 cents per share, compared to $80.02 million, or 41 cents per share, a year earlier [2]. - Revenue for the quarter rose to $1.36 billion, up approximately 6% from $1.29 billion a year earlier [3][6]. Sales and Campaign Impact - Comparable sales companywide grew by 4%, surpassing the 2.7% expected by analysts, primarily driven by Aerie, which saw an 11% increase in comparable sales and a 13% rise in revenue [4]. - At American Eagle, where marketing campaigns were focused, comparable sales grew by only 1%, falling short of the 2.1% expected by analysts [4]. - The campaigns featuring Sydney Sweeney and Travis Kelce are attracting more customers and generating brand attention, but have not yet significantly impacted revenue [5]. Profitability Metrics - American Eagle's operating margin for the quarter was 8.3%, exceeding the 7.5% expected by analysts [5].