There were 1,394 unusually active options in Wednesday’s options trading. Of these, 894 (64%) were calls, while 500 (36%) were puts. That’s a bullish indicator for stocks. The fourth-highest Vol/OI (volume-to-open-interest) ratio yesterday was the Oct. 17 $35 call for Amer Sports (AS), the fast-growing sporting goods conglomerate, whose brands include Salomon, Wilson, Arc’teryx, and Louisville Slugger. More News from Barchart The call option’s volume was 24,835, 109.89 times higher than the open intere ...

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Amer Sports Inc. has high hopes for its Arc’teryx brand — and Wall Street approves of its star-power status. The parent of Arc’teryx, Salomon and Wilson Sports, among other brands, held its first Investor Day meeting last week since its initial public offering where chief executive officer Jie Zheng said Amer is expected to “deliver another very strong third quarter results across all three segments, led by continued exceptional growth from Salomon Softgoods and an Arc’teryx acceleration.” More from WWD ...

Group 1 - Nike stock advanced early Thursday due to an upgrade and price target hike from RBC Capital, which upgraded the stock to outperform from sector perform [1] - RBC Capital anticipates a "steeper revenue recovery" for Nike compared to most Wall Street estimates, attributing this to new product contributions and sales [1] - The sporting goods company also owns slower-growing brands such as Wilson and Louisville Slugger [2]

Amer Sports rose after the sporting goods company lifted its sales outlook for the quarter, citing strong momentum at its Salomon and Arc’teryx brands https://t.co/QpMFDwAIIK ...

Today, investors will closely monitor the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ release of its preliminary benchmark revision to payrolls for the year through March. The figure is expected to show another downward revision to March payrolls, suggesting the labor market was weakening well before the recent spell of sluggish job growth. Wells Fargo, Comerica Bank, and Pantheon Macroeconomics economists expect the revision to show that the March payroll count was nearly 800,000 lower than currently estimated, or about 6 ...

Core Insights - lululemon athletica inc. (LULU) is focusing on China as a key growth market, aiming to enhance its brand visibility and store presence in the region [1][3][5] Expansion Strategy - Under the Power of Three x2 strategy, lululemon plans to increase its store count in China to 200, up from 154 as of Q1 FY25 [2][10] - The company is engaging customers through events and leveraging digital platforms like Tmall, WeChat, and Douyin for broader consumer engagement [2][5] Financial Performance - In Q1 FY25, lululemon's revenues in Mainland China increased by 22% in constant currency, with comparable sales growing by 8% [3][10] - Management forecasts revenue growth of 25-30% in Mainland China for fiscal 2025, driven by innovative product offerings [4] Competitive Landscape - Key competitors in China include adidas AG and NIKE, Inc., both of which are also expanding their presence and adapting strategies to the local market [6][7][8] - NIKE reported revenues of $1.5 billion in Greater China for Q4 FY25, reflecting a 20% decline on a currency-neutral basis, indicating challenges in the market [8] Valuation and Earnings Estimates - lululemon's shares have declined by 48% year-to-date, compared to the industry's decline of 25.2% [9] - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 13.41X, higher than the industry average of 11.46X [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a year-over-year earnings dip of 2.3% for fiscal 2025, with a projected growth of 7.3% for fiscal 2026 [12]

Dick’s Sporting Goods raised its full-year outlook, a welcome sign of strong consumer demand as the retailer prepares to acquire sneaker chain Foot Locker https://t.co/0MEDTeGK88 ...

Core Viewpoint - The sporting goods sector is experiencing increased demand driven by consumer enthusiasm for active lifestyles, prompting companies to compete for market share. An analyst has raised the outlook for Dick's Sporting Goods, citing confidence in its operating leverage and market share gains [1]. Company Performance - Analyst Joseph Feldman maintained an Outperform rating for Dick's Sporting Goods and increased the price forecast from $220 to $255, reflecting strong demand for athletic apparel, footwear, fitness, and outdoor gear [2][3]. - Dick's is gaining market share through a national brand mix, differentiated private labels, attractive store locations, and an expanding e-commerce platform enhanced by new technologies [3]. Financial Projections - Feldman expects Dick's to deliver solid earnings growth in 2025 and accelerate further in 2026, even before considering the planned acquisition of Foot Locker, which is anticipated to unlock long-term value [4]. - For Q2 2025, EPS is modeled at $4.30, with comparable store sales holding at 3.5%, and operating margin contraction expected to be narrower than previous projections [5]. - For the full year 2025, the EPS estimate is maintained at $14.40, with a comparable store sales growth of 3.0% and an operating margin of 10.9% [5]. Market Dynamics - Tariffs are noted as a headwind, particularly affecting private-label goods sourced from China, but Dick's improved pricing tools and diversified sourcing strategy are expected to mitigate the impact [6]. - The company is expected to outperform the broader sporting goods category and continue gaining market share, indicating confidence in its growth trajectory [6].

Core Viewpoint - Amer Sports, Inc. reported strong second-quarter results, with adjusted earnings per share of 6 cents, surpassing analyst expectations of 3 cents, and quarterly sales of $1.24 billion, reflecting a 23% year-over-year increase, exceeding the forecast of $1.18 billion [1][2]. Financial Performance - The company achieved adjusted earnings per share of 6 cents, beating the consensus estimate of 3 cents [1]. - Quarterly sales reached $1.24 billion, representing a 23% increase year-over-year, compared to the expected $1.18 billion [1]. Brand Performance - The Salomon brand significantly contributed to the outperformance, with omni-channel sales increasing by 28%, operating profit rising by 35% year-over-year, and margins expanding over 700 basis points [3]. - Technical Apparel growth was in line with expectations, showing a 15% increase in comparable sales but slower sequential growth [4]. Market Outlook - Analyst Brooke Roach maintained a Buy rating on Amer Sports with a price target of $45, noting strong results and a raised annual outlook despite tariff challenges [2]. - Management's guidance for third-quarter revenue is above consensus, indicating continued momentum [4]. Regional Insights - Greater China showed positive momentum, and direct-to-consumer (DTC) strength was highlighted as a key factor [4]. - The team is looking for more details on revenue drivers by geography and channel, particularly focusing on the sustainability of growth in China and the Americas [6].