Sydney Sweeney Made American Eagle Stock a Star in 2025. Should You Keep Buying AEO in 2026?

Core Insights - American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) has emerged as the top-performing apparel retail stock of the year due to decisive execution and cultural relevance translating into financial performance [1] - The company reported better-than-expected quarterly results, provided bullish holiday guidance, and raised its full-year outlook, driven by a successful marketing campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney [2] - The campaign effectively attracted Gen Z consumers, leading to a reassessment of the stock's growth trajectory by Wall Street, with American Eagle shares posting a year-to-date gain of 59.87% [3] Company Overview - American Eagle is a global specialty retailer based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, offering trend-driven apparel, accessories, and personal care products through its American Eagle® and Aerie® brands [5] - The company has a market capitalization of approximately $4.5 billion and operates in nearly 80 countries via its websites, with over 260 international locations through licensees across about 30 countries [6] Stock Performance - American Eagle's stock has shown significant momentum, climbing nearly 61.4% over the past 52 weeks, accelerating 172.5% in the last six months, and surging 39.5% in the past month, indicating aggressive repricing as investors respond to improving fundamentals [7]