Core Insights - Zumiez Inc. reported a 6.5% increase in comparable sales in North America for the nine-week period ending January 3, 2026, compared to the same period in the previous year [1][2] - The company has adjusted its fourth quarter fiscal 2025 net sales guidance to a range of $287 million to $290 million, down from the previous range of $291 million to $296 million, primarily due to weaker international sales [3] - Earnings per share (EPS) guidance for the quarter has been raised to between $1.05 and $1.10, up from the prior range of $0.97 to $1.07, attributed to improved product margins and expense management [3][4] Sales Performance - North America comparable sales increased by 6.5%, while international comparable sales, including Europe and Australia, decreased by 8.9% during the same period [2] - The Women's category experienced the highest growth in comparable sales, followed by Men's, Accessories, and Hardgoods, while Footwear was the only category with negative sales [2] Management Commentary - CEO Rick Brooks expressed satisfaction with the North American sales growth and highlighted a 600-basis point improvement in European product margins due to a focus on full-price selling [4] - The company aims to build on its recent progress in fiscal 2026 and enhance shareholder value in the coming years [4] Company Overview - Zumiez operates 727 stores as of January 3, 2026, with 568 in the United States, 46 in Canada, 85 in Europe, and 28 in Australia, under various brand names including Zumiez, Blue Tomato, and Fast Times [5]

Net Sales Increase of 23.2% to $1.5 Billion; Comparable Sales Increase of 14.5% Increases Fourth Quarter and Full Year Fiscal 2025 Outlook PHILADELPHIA, PA, Jan. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Five Below, Inc. (NASDAQ: FIVE) ("Five Below" or the "Company") today announced net sales results for the quarter-to-date period from November 2, 2025 through January 3, 2026 ("Holiday Period"). Net sales for the Holiday Period increased by 23.2% to $1.47 billion from $1.19 billion in the comparable nine-week period fro ...

Key Takeaways American Eagle posted Q3 revenue of $1.4B, up 6%, with comparable sales rebounding to positive 4%.American Eagle,s operating income hit $113M, topping guidance despite a $20M tariff headwind.American Eagle saw Aerie comps jump 11%.American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO) , a multi-brand specialty retailer with a presence in the U.S. and international markets, is gaining traction from steady progress under its Powering Profitable Growth Plan. Targeted investments in digital capabilities, automatio ...

GameStop on Wednesday unveiled a compensation package worth roughly $35 billion for CEO Ryan Cohen, hinging on a turnaround that requires him to lift the struggling video game retailer’s market value more than tenfold and sharply boost its profit.Hitting the targets will require a significant shift at GameStop, as the brick-and-mortar store operator has been losing millions in revenue in recent years with gamers turning to the web for purchases.The company’s annual revenue has plummeted more than 35% since ...

The new year brought a new person into the CEO's office.The weather might be prohibitively cold and miserable, but it's awfully warm where Camping World (CWH +12.78%) stock has pitched its tent. Investors were cheered by the specialty retailer's awarding of large piles of stock to two of its new leaders. With the morale boost this provided, Camping World's shares rose by nearly 13% across the day. Skin in the gameWith the turn of the year came new leadership at the top of Camping World. High-profile co-foun ...

Key Takeaways Five Below posted 14.3% comps growth, with gains across departments, customers and income cohorts.FIVE's ticket growth was driven by AUR gains, whole-price strategy and higher average basket size.Net sales rose 23.1% y/y, topping $1B for a second straight quarter as traffic gains accelerated.Five Below, Inc.’s (FIVE) resilient demand trend is supported by sustained customer engagement across its store base. The company’s merchandising execution and in-store experience are driving repeat visits ...

Core Viewpoint - American Century Investments Small Cap Value Fund reported a strong performance in the third quarter of 2025, with equities rising and the US Federal Reserve reducing interest rates for the first time this year [1] Fund Performance - The investor class of the fund returned 4.69% in the third quarter, while the Russell 2000 Value Index returned 12.60% [1] Company Focus: Bath & Body Works, Inc. - Bath & Body Works, Inc. (NYSE:BBWI) was highlighted as a key investment, with a one-month return of 5.55% but a significant decline of 43.26% over the last 52 weeks [2] - As of January 2, 2026, Bath & Body Works, Inc. shares closed at $20.74, with a market capitalization of $4.276 billion [2] Investment Rationale - The fund initiated a position in Bath & Body Works, Inc. due to its high margins and potential for rapid growth, believing that the company's low valuation is temporary [3] - Strong free cash flows are expected to mitigate risks while waiting for strategic initiatives to take effect [3] Hedge Fund Interest - Bath & Body Works, Inc. was held by 49 hedge fund portfolios at the end of the third quarter, a decrease from 56 in the previous quarter [4] - While the company shows potential, the fund suggests that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential with less downside risk [4]

Core Insights - North America is the primary growth driver for Zumiez Inc. (ZUMZ), achieving a 10% year-over-year increase in comparable sales and an 8.6% rise in net sales to $202.8 million in Q3 of fiscal 2025, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of positive comps [1][9] Performance Summary - The strong performance in North America followed a successful back-to-school season, supported by merchandise assortments appealing to full-price customers, leading to growth in average unit retail (AUR), higher transaction values, and broad category strength, particularly in women's, hard goods, men's, and accessories [2][9] - North America's scale resulted in significant profitability benefits, with product margin expansion, occupancy cost leverage, and reduced shrink contributing to a notable increase in gross margin, alongside disciplined expense management that improved operating income year-over-year [3][9] Sales Momentum - Sales momentum continued into early Q4, with North America net sales increasing by 6.7% and comparable sales up by 7.8% during the first 31 days of the fiscal fourth quarter, driven by a strong Black Friday-Cyber Monday period [4] - Management anticipates comparable sales growth in North America of 4.5-6.5% for Q4, significantly outperforming international markets, which are expected to see low-single-digit declines [5] Valuation and Estimates - Zumiez shares have increased by 94.3% over the past six months, compared to the industry's growth of 15.8% [6] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 0.49X, significantly lower than the industry's average of 1.95X, and holds a Value Score of B [8] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Zumiez's fiscal 2025 earnings indicates a year-over-year increase of 911.1%, with fiscal 2026 estimates showing a 48.9% uptick, reflecting upward revisions in earnings estimates over the past 30 days [11]

Core Viewpoint - Bath & Body Works, Inc. (NYSE:BBWI) is experiencing a positive performance amid increased investor confidence in retail stocks, despite expectations of weaker fourth-quarter results due to tariffs [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Bath & Body Works saw a 3.23% increase in stock price, closing at $20.43, marking its third consecutive day of gains [1]. - The company is outperforming the specialty retail sector, which is experiencing a decline, and is also faring better than the broader market [1]. Group 2: Financial Expectations - For the fourth quarter, Bath & Body Works anticipates net sales to decline by high single digits compared to $2.79 billion in the same period last year, primarily due to the impact of higher tariffs on consumer spending [3]. - The expected earnings per share (EPS) for the fourth quarter is projected at $1.70, down from $2.09 in the same period last year [3]. - For the full year, the company is now targeting a low single-digit decline in net sales, a revision from a previous growth outlook of 1.5% to 2.7% [4]. - The full-year EPS is estimated to be $2.83, compared to $3.61 last year [4].

Company Overview - Bath & Body Works, Inc. is a leading specialty retailer in the North American personal care and home fragrance market, utilizing a multi-channel distribution strategy that includes retail stores, e-commerce, and international partnerships to enhance sales and brand recognition [5][8] - The company offers a variety of products, including home fragrance, body care, soaps, and sanitizers under the Bath & Body Works and White Barn brands [8] Financial Performance - For the trailing twelve months (TTM), Bath & Body Works reported revenue of $7.36 billion and a net income of $699 million, with a dividend yield of 3.6% [3] - The stock price as of November 12, 2025, was $22.40, reflecting a significant decline from a 52-week intraday high of $41.87 [3][9] - The company experienced a 1% year-over-year decline in net sales during the quarter, which contributed to a considerable drop in net income, attributed to lower discretionary spending and increased promotional activities [11] Recent Developments - Blueshift Asset Management, LLC disclosed a reduction in its holding of Bath & Body Works shares by 105,980 shares, valued at approximately $3.14 million, resulting in a remaining holding of 42,412 shares worth $1.09 million [2][11] - Following the sale, Bath & Body Works represented only 0.34% of Blueshift's total assets under management (AUM), indicating a diminished significance within the fund's portfolio [1][11] - The stock's performance has been notably poor, with a one-year total return of -27.15%, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 by 41.22 percentage points [7]