lululemon(US:LULU) Finbold·2025-12-13 15:16Core Viewpoint - Lululemon's stock surged 9.6% following a leadership change and a stronger-than-expected quarterly report, indicating renewed optimism about the company's turnaround prospects [1][4]. Leadership Change - Long-time CEO Calvin McDonald will step down on January 31, 2024, after a tenure that saw revenue triple, but concerns arose regarding the brand's slow adaptation to North American consumer preferences [4]. Financial Performance - Lululemon reported Q3 revenue of $2.56 billion, a 7% year-over-year increase, surpassing expectations by 3%, primarily driven by growth in Asia and Europe [6]. - Profitability exceeded expectations with an EPS of $2.59, despite a year-over-year decline, and the company upgraded its full-year guidance to sales of $10.96–$11.05 billion and EPS of $12.92–$13.02 [7]. Market Dynamics - Sales in the Americas have been sluggish, with comparable sales flat in Q1 and declining thereafter, ending the year down 1%, while the latest quarter saw a 2% decline in America's sales and a 5% drop in comparable store sales [5]. - In contrast, international markets have become the main growth driver, with revenue in Asia and Europe climbing 33% and comparable store sales increasing 18% [6]. Investor Sentiment - The stock is supported by influential investors, including Michael Burry, who added 50,000 shares of Lululemon [3]. - Wall Street analysts maintain a 'Hold' rating on Lululemon, with a consensus favoring holding the stock, and an average 12-month price target of $199.56, indicating a modest decline from the recent closing price [8].