In the midst of a major corporate turnaround, Gucci revealed a creative vision for its future this week in Milan https://t.co/nsNiVE0gjJ ...

Updated 3:05 p.m. ET Sept. 25 MILAN – Brunello Cucinelli on Thursday afternoon firmly rejected a short-seller’s allegations of irregularities in the company’s business activities in Russia. This, however, was not enough to avoid a sharp decline in its shares on the Italian Stock Exchange. More from WWD Trading was suspended earlier in the day and, after resuming, shares closed down 17.3 percent to 85.08 euros. Morpheus Research, which is betting Cucinelli’s stock will fall, issued a report alleging the ...

Brunello Cucinelli shares fell after short seller Morpheus Research alleged that the luxury Italian cashmere brand is misleading investors about its Russian business and engaging in “aggressive discounting” https://t.co/06SrVUeEAt ...

Group 1: Samsonite Group - Samsonite stock has seen a significant increase in short interest, spiking over 500% in the last month, despite a 3.75% rise in stock price [3][5] - The company has experienced a 123% increase in stock value over the last five years, driven by demand for travel [3] - Year-over-year revenue and earnings have been declining for several quarters, indicating potential long purchase cycles for its products [5] Group 2: Burberry Group - Burberry stock has increased by 25% this year, but short interest has risen about 75% in the last month, while the stock has decreased by 8.5% recently [6][7] - The company is undergoing a brand overhaul under new CEO Joshua Schulman, aiming to restore its identifiable Britishness [7] - Factors such as "luxury fatigue" and geopolitical uncertainty may impact the luxury market, despite potential catalysts from lower interest rates [8] Group 3: Fury Gold Mines - Fury Gold Mines stock has surged 78% in 2025, with a 303% increase in short interest over the last month, although this remains a small percentage of the overall float [10][11] - The company is in the exploration stage and is currently unprofitable, making it less attractive for short-term investors compared to other mining options [11] - Analysts have given Fury a Buy rating with a price target of $1.40, indicating a potential increase of over 110% [11]

Core Insights - Macquarie Asset Management's "Macquarie Large Cap Growth Fund" reported a positive return of 11.24% in Q2 2025, but underperformed the Russell 1000 Growth Index, which returned 17.84% [1] Group 1: Fund Performance - The Fund's Institutional Class shares achieved an absolute return of 11.24% in Q2 2025 [1] - The Russell 1000 Growth Index outperformed the Fund with a return of 17.84% during the same period [1] Group 2: LVMH Moët Hennessy - Louis Vuitton - LVMH Moët Hennessy - Louis Vuitton, Société Européenne (OTC:LVMUY) had a one-month return of 6.44% but lost 9.07% over the last 52 weeks [2] - As of September 19, 2025, LVMH's stock closed at $120.15 per share, with a market capitalization of $303.8 billion [2] - The Fund exited its position in LVMH due to concerns about ongoing post-pandemic normalization and the difficulty in identifying growth catalysts [3] Group 3: Hedge Fund Interest - LVMH was held by 2 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q2 2025, unchanged from the previous quarter [4] - The Fund acknowledges LVMH's potential but suggests that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential and less downside risk [4]

Group 1: American Express Strategy - American Express is focusing on retaining affluent, adventure-seeking customers aged 25 to 44 by tailoring offerings [1] - The company has introduced a new $400 annual credit for reservations through Resy, enhancing dining experiences for cardholders [2] - Card members utilizing Resy credit have increased their spending at U.S. Resy restaurants by 25% since the benefit was launched [3] Group 2: Targeting Younger Generations - Gen Z and millennials now account for 35% of all U.S. consumer spending for American Express, up from 19% in 2019 [4] - Tapestry, the parent company of luxury brands Coach and Kate Spade, is also targeting these demographics, anticipating they will represent over 70% of the market by 2030 [4] - Gen Z's spending power is projected to reach $12 trillion in the next five years, indicating their significant influence on future product offerings [5] Group 3: Long-term Customer Loyalty - Brands that successfully connect with Gen Z and millennials are positioning themselves for lasting customer loyalty and future growth [6]

Strategy & Transformation - The biggest challenge is making the pace of change coherent for everyone in the company, ensuring they can take change in digestible ways [1][21][22] - Chanel emphasizes a long-term mindset, focusing on sustainability and inclusion, viewing it as integral to the company's values for the last 100 years [27][30] - The company is committed to being an "island of coherence," leading with integrity and standing for the right things in the world [25][26] Business Performance & Investment - Chanel doubled its business to almost $20 billion in the three years before 2024, experiencing unprecedented growth [39] - Despite a 4% revenue decrease last year, Chanel continues to invest record amounts in retail expansion and client experience, with similar investments planned for this year and 2025 [34][35] - In 2024, Chanel invested $1.8 billion in retail expansion [34] Market Dynamics & Expansion - The personal goods luxury market is a huge sector, greater than $400 billion today, and tripled in size in the last 20 years [35] - Luxury sector experienced explosive growth between 2019 and 2023, growing more than 30% [36] - China is a very important market for Chanel, with over 127 boutiques and continued investment in new openings and client engagement [41][42][43] Sustainability & Social Impact - Chanel is one of the luxury brands that have set a commitment for net zero by 2040 [29] - The company is setting up a B2P hub to encourage recycling and upcycling of leather, Kashmir, wool, and silk for the entire sector [29] - Chanel's corporate foundation dedicates $125 million a year to 267 partners in 50 countries, impacting 9 to 10 million women and girls annually [28] Diversity & Inclusion - Women make up 76% of Chanel's workforce and 96% of its clients, with 60% of the top team being women [28]

Group 1: Retail Developments at Kansai International Airport - Kansai International Airport is introducing new retail tenants, including luxury brands Moncler and Gentle Monster, as part of the ongoing renovation of Terminal 1 [2][6] - A total of 23 new stores will be opened, featuring international luxury names such as Burberry, Loewe, Issey Miyake, Omega, and Tiffany [6] - Moncler and Gentle Monster will be making their first appearances at a Japanese airport, enhancing the luxury shopping experience [7][8] Group 2: Food and Beverage Contracts - A key food and beverage contract has been awarded to Switzerland-based Avolta, marking its entry into the Japanese market with a space of 5,400 square feet (500 square meters) [3] - Avolta will introduce four F&B concepts, including Wolfgang Puck, Crystal Jade, and Fresh by Avolta, aiming to complement the airport's existing offerings [9] - Additionally, three more F&B stores will be opened, including new concepts from Kamameshi & Matcha Tsumugi and Kobe beef steak from Kobist [10] Group 3: Airport Operations and Passenger Statistics - Kansai International Airport processed 31.8 million passengers in 2024, with 25 million being international travelers [4] - The airport is a major gateway serving the cities of Kobe, Osaka, and Kyoto, located on an artificial island in Osaka Bay [4] - The ongoing renovations are part of a phased project that began in 2021, aimed at enhancing international flight capacity and passenger experience ahead of the Osaka/Kansai Expo 2025 [5]

Core Insights - Ralph Lauren Corporation (RL) has experienced a significant stock price increase of 69.4% over the past year, outperforming the industry which declined by 16.3% and the broader Consumer Discretionary sector and S&P 500 which gained 22.7% and 17.8% respectively [1][8]. Company Strategy and Performance - The company's strategic plan, "Next Great Chapter: Accelerate Plan," emphasizes brand elevation, consumer centricity, and operational agility, contributing to its competitive edge in the luxury lifestyle market [3]. - Ralph Lauren is expanding in high-potential markets, particularly in Asia, while reinforcing its core regions to ensure diversified revenue streams [3][10]. - Digital transformation is a key growth strategy, with digital sales increasing by 19% in North America, 11% in Europe, and 35% in Asia during Q1 FY26 [4][8]. Revenue and Margin Outlook - Ralph Lauren anticipates revenue growth in the low-to-mid single digits for FY26, supported by a weaker U.S. dollar and sustained momentum in Asia and Europe [11]. - The company projects operating margin expansion due to expense leverage, strategic pricing initiatives, and improved gross margins, despite ongoing tariff and inflationary pressures [12][14]. - In Q2 FY26, revenue growth is expected to be in the high single digits on a constant-currency basis, with additional support from foreign exchange movements [13]. Valuation and Investment Rationale - Ralph Lauren is currently trading at a forward P/E multiple of 20.41X, which is higher than the industry average of 11.43X, indicating strong investor expectations for growth [15]. - The company's solid fundamentals and strategic execution support its premium valuation, making it an attractive investment opportunity [17].

Group 1 - The Ferragamo family has expressed disinterest in any form of "extraordinary transactions" related to the luxury company [1]