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It’s ‘Hard to Have Conviction’ in Lululemon Stock Right Now, According to Analysts. Should You Sell LULU Here?
Yahoo Finance· 2025-10-22 16:10
Core Insights - Lululemon Athletica has experienced significant stock declines in 2025, underperforming the S&P 500, with a year-to-date drop of 54% compared to a 13% gain for the index [3][4] Company Overview - Lululemon Athletica is a Canadian multinational company known for premium athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories, originally focused on yoga but has expanded into running, training, and lifestyle segments for both genders [1] - Founded in 1998 in Vancouver, the company operates over 700 stores across North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific regions [2] Financial Performance - In Q2 2025, Lululemon reported earnings per share of $3.10, exceeding analyst expectations of $2.87, while total revenue increased 7% year-over-year to $2.53 billion, slightly below the consensus estimate of $2.54 billion [5] - Comparable sales rose 1%, driven by international markets, particularly China, while the U.S. segment showed flat performance due to soft apparel demand [6] - Operating income decreased by 3% to $524 million, with gross margins contracting by 110 basis points to 58.5% due to increased supply chain and tariff costs [6] - Inventories increased by 21% year-over-year to $1.7 billion, attributed to higher stock builds and slower domestic sell-through [6] Market Dynamics - The company's underperformance is attributed to soft U.S. demand and margin pressures, although rising international revenue suggests a potential recovery path [4] - Digital sales accounted for 39% of total revenue, indicating strong online engagement despite challenges in the retail environment [7] - The balance sheet remains robust, with $1.2 billion in cash and $393 million in available revolving credit capacity [7]