Down 51.9% YTD, Is Lululemon Stock a Buy Ahead of December 11?

Core Viewpoint - Lululemon Athletica is experiencing significant challenges in 2025, with a year-to-date stock decline of 51.9%, driven by slowing U.S. sales and changing consumer preferences in the athletic apparel market [1] Group 1: Sales and Consumer Behavior - Lululemon's products, once trendsetters, are now perceived as predictable, leading to decreased customer visits and purchase frequency [2] - The company is facing a cautious consumer environment, particularly in discretionary spending on performance wear [1] Group 2: Competitive and External Pressures - Increased competition from both premium brands and emerging challengers is intensifying market pressures on Lululemon [3] - Recent tariff changes have negatively impacted profitability, particularly as a significant portion of U.S. online orders is fulfilled from Canada, which has seen the elimination of the $800 de minimis threshold [3] Group 3: Financial Performance and Projections - Lululemon's Q3 revenue is projected to be between $2.47 billion and $2.5 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 3% to 4%, a slowdown from the 7% growth in the first half of fiscal 2025 [6] - Management is implementing pricing adjustments, vendor negotiations, and cost-cutting initiatives to address ongoing cost pressures and slowing demand, although these measures may take time to positively impact financials [5] Group 4: Stock Performance and Market Sentiment - Despite a recent stock gain of approximately 10.7% over the past month, historical trends indicate that Lululemon shares have declined following earnings announcements in the last three quarters [4] - Options traders are anticipating a potential post-earnings stock movement of around 10.1%, which is lower than the average four-quarter movement of 17.1% [4]