Welcome back to market on close. Shares of Nike are higher today after Wells Fargo upgraded shares to overweight from equal weight and raised its price target to $75 from 60 bucks. Wells Fargo saying visibility into its sales and margins is finally improving and it said it has been in a negative estimate revision cycle for 3 years but it will reverse over the next 6 to9 months.Shares are up almost 7% this week but down 13% on the year. So, it's time now for Options Corner and I'm joined by Alex Coffee, host ...

Core Insights - lululemon athletica inc. (LULU) and Kontoor Brands Inc. (KTB) represent contrasting segments in the apparel industry, with lululemon focusing on innovation and premium performance, while Kontoor emphasizes heritage and everyday comfort [1][3] Company Overview - lululemon has established itself as a leader in the activewear and athleisure market, leveraging a loyal customer base, direct-to-consumer model, and premium pricing strategy [2] - Kontoor Brands, known for iconic labels like Wrangler and Lee, dominates the denim and casualwear market, relying on decades of craftsmanship and mass-market appeal [2] Business Models and Strategies - lululemon's long-term investment case is supported by brand strength, innovation, and disciplined global expansion, maintaining a dominant position in premium activewear [4] - The company focuses on continuous product innovation and understanding consumer needs, expanding into casual and emerging lifestyle categories [5] - Kontoor Brands offers a value-driven investment case, built on its portfolio of denim labels and disciplined execution, appealing to value-conscious consumers [8] Market Position and Performance - lululemon's premium activewear model faces margin pressures due to macroeconomic challenges, while Kontoor Brands shows solid growth and resilience [9] - In the past three months, Kontoor Brands' stock outperformed lululemon, with a total return of 4.1% compared to lululemon's decline of 12.4% [20] Financial Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for lululemon's fiscal 2025 sales suggests a year-over-year growth of 3.7%, while EPS indicates a decline of 11.8% [14] - In contrast, Kontoor Brands' estimates imply year-over-year growth of 19.4% for sales and 12.5% for EPS [17] Valuation Insights - lululemon trades at a forward P/E multiple of 13.13X, below its 5-year median of 29.57X, while Kontoor Brands trades at a forward P/E of 12.75X, with a 5-year median of 11.86X [22] - lululemon's premium pricing reflects its innovation strength, whereas Kontoor Brands offers a more attractive value opportunity despite solid fundamentals [25] Investment Outlook - Kontoor Brands is viewed as the more attractive investment option due to its stronger short-term stock momentum and disciplined cost management [26][27] - lululemon remains a strong long-term growth story, but its elevated valuation and near-term margin pressures temper enthusiasm [26][29]

Growth investors focus on stocks that are seeing above-average financial growth, as this feature helps these securities garner the market's attention and deliver solid returns. However, it isn't easy to find a great growth stock.In addition to volatility, these stocks carry above-average risk by their very nature. Also, one could end up losing from a stock whose growth story is actually over or nearing its end.However, the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond ...

This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback Dive Brief:Columbia Sportswear Company named Peter Bragdon and Joe Boyle co-presidents effective Wednesday, the company announced. They will continue to report to chairman and CEO Tim Boyle, a member of the founding family of the brand.The leadership shakeup is part of the Portland, Oregon-based brand’s long-term succession plans. While Bragdon and Joe Boyle will now oversee commercial opportunities for the brand, Tim Boyle will maintain ...

Group 1 - Nike Inc's shares have increased by 2%, trading at $65.49, following an upgrade from Wells Fargo to "overweight" with a new price target of $75, up from $60, due to stabilizing sales and improving visibility as part of a strategic turnaround [1] - The stock is on track for its third consecutive daily gain and is currently at its highest level this month, although it remains down 12.8% year to date, indicating a potential recovery sentiment among traders [2] - The Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) for Nike is at 0.51, placing it in the 1st percentile, suggesting that short-term traders are exhibiting a more bullish outlook than usual [3] Group 2 - Options for Nike appear to be affordable, as indicated by the Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 33%, which is in the 16th percentile of annual readings, reflecting a favorable trading environment [3]

Core Insights - Ralph Lauren Corporation's "Next Great Chapter: Drive" strategy focuses on brand elevation and global expansion through three pillars: elevating the lifestyle brand, driving core and high-potential categories, and winning in key cities [1] Financial Performance - In Q2 fiscal 2026, revenues increased by 14% year over year to $2.01 billion, with strong growth across North America, Europe, and Asia [2][9] - The company's growth model emphasizes premium storytelling and higher-quality, full-price sales, reducing reliance on promotions [2] Consumer Engagement - The brand's marketing efforts, including campaigns at major events like Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, generated billions of impressions and attracted 1.5 million new customers [3] - Integration of AI-powered personalization tools, such as "Ask Ralph," enhances digital engagement and conversion rates [3] Operational Efficiency - Strategic supply chain diversification and cost management have supported margin expansion despite inflation and tariffs [4] - A strong balance sheet and disciplined expense control position the company to capture further market share in the premium and luxury lifestyle market [4] Stock Performance - Ralph Lauren's shares have increased by 47.3% year to date, outperforming the industry's decline of 19.3% [5] - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 21.0X, compared to the industry average of 15.74X [7]

Key Points On Holding's Q3 earnings and sales beat Wall Street estimates. Sales in Asia doubled during the quarter. The company's premium positioning is paying off. 10 stocks we like better than On Holding › After enduring a difficult year, the stock price for Swiss athletic-wear company On Holding (NYSE: ONON) is suddenly up sharply, climbing almost 19% this week. What's going on? On Nov. 12, the company reported extremely strong third-quarter financial results. Net sales increased 24.9% over ...

Group 1 - Jim Cramer discussed NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) as part of a broader conversation on stocks related to AI spending and turnarounds [1][2] - Cramer expressed strong enthusiasm for NIKE's CEO Elliott Hill, highlighting his deep understanding of the sports apparel industry and athletic enthusiasm [2][3] - Cramer acknowledged the challenges of NIKE's turnaround but suggested that those not holding the stock might regret it in the future [2][4] Group 2 - Cramer noted that if Elliott Hill can address the issues in China, it would significantly benefit NIKE [4] - The article mentions that while NIKE has potential as an investment, there are AI stocks that may offer higher returns with limited downside risk [5]

Core Viewpoint - Under Armour, Inc. (NYSE:UA) is undergoing a turnaround, but recent earnings and guidance indicate challenges ahead, leading to mixed sentiments among analysts and investors [2][3]. Financial Performance - For the fiscal second quarter, Under Armour reported revenue of $1.33 billion and earnings per share of $0.04, both slightly exceeding analyst expectations [2]. - The company's full-year revenue guidance indicates a drop of 4.5%, which is steeper than the analyst estimate of 4% [2]. - The third quarter revenue guidance suggests a decline of 6.5%, significantly worse than the analyst estimate of 4.1%, and the profit per share guidance of $0.04 falls short of the $0.06 estimate [2]. Market Sentiment - Jim Cramer noted that Under Armour's stock struggles are partly due to money managers focusing on short-term cycles, typically 90 days [2]. - Cramer expressed belief in a potential turnaround for Under Armour, suggesting that significant improvements could be seen in three quarters [3].

Tall running shoes, faster innovation: Inside Elliott Hill’s push to turn around Nike https://t.co/R3ZiP8gJo4 ...