MONCLER HIRE: Marisa Pucci is joining Moncler as chief communications officer Americas, WWD has learned. She will be based at Moncler Americas’ regional headquarters in New York and will report to regional president Tommaso De Vecchi, and to international chief brand officer Rod Manley. Manley joined in January last year from Burberry, as reported. More from WWD Pucci was previously chief communications and image officer at Christian Dior, America, which she joined 13 years ago. Prior to Dior, she held ...

Core Insights - Carter's, Inc. announced preliminary net sales results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2025, indicating a comparison with the previous fiscal year [1] Group 1: Preliminary Net Sales Results - The fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 consisted of 14 weeks, compared to 13 weeks in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 [1] Group 2: Investor Conference Participation - The company will participate in an upcoming investor conference, details of which were not specified in the announcement [1] Group 3: Management Team Addition - An addition to the company's management team was announced, although specific details regarding the new member were not provided [1]

Core Insights - Puma has appointed Nadia Kokni as the new vice president of global brand marketing, succeeding Richard Teyssier, effective January 1 [1][2] - Kokni's role encompasses brand strategy, creative direction, integrated marketing, and communications, reporting to Chief Brand Officer Maria Valdes [1][2] - The appointment comes during a critical phase for Puma as it aims to enhance product creation and storytelling [4] Company Strategy - In October, Puma consolidated various functions, including brand marketing and product innovation, into a single global organization [2] - The marketing restructuring is part of a broader "reset phase" aimed at positioning Puma among the top three global sports brands [6] - Sales for Q3 declined by 10.4% year-over-year, attributed to the ongoing strategic overhaul [6] Leadership Background - Kokni previously served as senior vice president of global marketing and communications at Hugo Boss, focusing on brand transformation and digital initiatives [3] - Her experience includes roles at competitors such as Adidas, JD Sports, Tommy Hilfiger, and H&M [3] Marketing Initiatives - Puma launched its largest global campaign to date, featuring humorous ads aimed at diverse audiences, developed by its lead creative agency Adam&eveDDB [4] - The campaign is part of a strategic effort to create stronger brand narratives and deepen consumer connections [4][5] Future Outlook - CEO Arthur Hoeld indicated that Puma's turnaround may take time, with 2027 set as a target for returning to healthy growth [6]

Group 1: Legal Context and Implications - The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on the legality of tariffs imposed by President Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which could result in nearly $150 billion in refunds to importers if deemed illegal [1][2] Group 2: Companies Challenging Tariffs - Major corporations such as Costco, Revlon, EssilorLuxottica, Bumble Bee Foods, Yokohama Tire, and Kawasaki Motors have filed lawsuits against the U.S. government, contesting the IEEPA-based tariffs and seeking refunds [2] Group 3: Tariff Categories - The tariffs under the IEEPA fall into three categories: 1. Fentanyl-linked tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada 2. Broad "reciprocal" tariffs aimed at reducing trade deficits 3. Punitive levies against countries for non-trade political reasons [2] Group 4: Industries Exempt from Tariffs - Pharmaceuticals, energy, agricultural commodities, services, and aircraft/aerospace industries are largely exempt from U.S. tariffs due to their critical nature and potential impact on public health and international commerce [3] Group 5: Countries and Industries Affected by Tariffs - **China and Hong Kong**: Consumer electronics, machinery, medical devices, chemicals, toys with a tariff rate of 10% [4] - **Taiwan**: Semiconductors and chipmakers with a tariff rate of 20% [4] - **Mexico**: Autos and auto parts with no tariff for USMCA-compliant goods, but 25% for non-USMCA goods [4] - **Canada**: Metals and energy products with no tariff for USMCA-compliant goods, but 25% for non-USMCA goods [4] - **European Union and UK**: Autos and machinery with a tariff rate of 15% on most EU goods, and 10%-25% on UK goods depending on the product [4] - **Japan and South Korea**: Autos and machinery with reduced tariffs to about 15% [4] - **Southeast Asia**: Apparel and footwear with tariffs ranging from 19% to 20% [4]

Core Viewpoint - NIKE, Inc. is facing challenges in its growth trajectory, particularly due to dependence on the Chinese market and declining sales, but analysts believe its path to profitable growth remains intact despite recent setbacks [2][3]. Group 1: Financial Performance - RBC Capital Markets has lowered its price target for NIKE to $78 from $85 while maintaining an Outperform rating, indicating confidence in the company's long-term growth potential [2]. - NIKE's footwear sales in China have declined by 20% in the fiscal second quarter, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of decline in a previously strong market [5]. - Despite an 8%–10% cut in earnings estimates, RBC still anticipates approximately $3 in earnings per share (EPS) by FY28 [2]. Group 2: Market Challenges - The company's reliance on China for manufacturing, which accounts for roughly 18% of its footwear production, has become a significant concern as the relationship has historically been beneficial [3]. - The pressure from Greater China, weakness at Converse, and US tariffs are negatively impacting NIKE's margins [2]. - Outsourced manufacturing has led to issues such as technology transfer and brand dilution, with Nike shoes being among the most counterfeited globally [4]. Group 3: Investment Sentiment - Recent share price declines have brought NIKE's valuation closer to historical averages, and insider buying activity is seen as a positive indicator for potential recovery [2].

Needham analysts downgraded Nike stock on slow turnaround progress, while China "has become a puzzle that management is struggling mightily to put back together.†...

Core Viewpoint - G-III Apparel Group reported mixed third-quarter fiscal 2026 results, with net sales missing estimates while earnings per share exceeded expectations, leading to a revised positive outlook for the fiscal year despite ongoing tariff pressures [2][3]. Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for the third quarter were $1.90, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.60, but down 26.6% from $2.59 in the same quarter last year [5]. - Net sales decreased by 9% year over year to $988.6 million, falling short of the consensus estimate of $1,011 million [5]. - Gross profit declined 11.7% year over year to $381.5 million, with gross margin decreasing by 120 basis points to 38.6% [6]. - Adjusted EBITDA fell 28.4% year over year to $124.9 million, with the adjusted EBITDA margin down 340 basis points to 12.6% [7]. Financial Position - As of the end of the fiscal third quarter, G-III Apparel had cash and cash equivalents of $184.1 million and total debt of $10.6 million, with total stockholders' equity at $1.79 billion [8]. - Inventory increased by 3% year over year to $547.1 million [8]. Fiscal 2026 Guidance - The company revised its fiscal 2026 guidance, projecting net sales of $2.98 billion, down from a previous estimate of $3.02 billion, and net income between $121 million and $126 million [10][11]. - Adjusted net income is expected to be between $125 million and $130 million, with adjusted EPS forecasted at $2.80 to $2.90 [12]. - The projected gross tariff impact is now $135 million, with $65 million expected to remain unmitigated [9]. Market Sentiment - Since the earnings release, there has been a downward trend in estimates, with the consensus estimate shifting down by 16.18% [14]. - G-III Apparel currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating expectations for above-average returns in the coming months [16].

Core Viewpoint - Nike's stock has experienced slight declines due to concerns over slowing demand in China, juxtaposed with the company's brand renewal efforts amid a challenging consumer discretionary market [1] Group 1: Stock Performance and Predictions - Nike's stock traded at $60.01 at the time of the AI price prediction analysis, with a projected average price of $57.80 over the next two months, indicating a modest decline [3][7] - The AI model suggests that if Nike's global brand turnaround continues and consumer demand rebounds, the stock could reach $95–$100 by 2030 [3] Group 2: Company Strategy and Market Conditions - Nike is focusing on inventory normalization and premium product storytelling under CEO John Donahoe, aiming to recover from a year of slow growth and market share loss [4] - Recent earnings highlighted the impact of heavy discounting and soft wholesale orders, but management remains optimistic about achieving mid-single-digit growth by the second half of fiscal 2026 [4] Group 3: Technical Indicators and Market Sentiment - Technical indicators show cooling momentum, with RSI levels near neutral suggesting consolidation rather than a significant downturn, aligning with the AI's short-term dip projection [5] - Sentiment around Nike has improved since mid-2025, driven by a refreshed design pipeline and stabilization in China’s consumer spending trends [6]

Core Insights - Under Armour, Inc. has gained significant market interest in early 2026, particularly from Canadian Fairfax Financial Holdings, which has acquired a 22.2% stake in the company [1] Company Summary - Fairfax Financial Holdings' investment indicates confidence in Under Armour's potential for a turnaround in the apparel sector [1] - The company's strategy focuses on identifying mispriced securities and understanding the financial drivers behind its performance, which may lead to favorable investment opportunities [1]

Core Insights - The short-direct linkage model is significantly enhancing business growth for merchants on the Kuaishou e-commerce platform, providing an 80% increase in exposure compared to relying solely on live streaming [1] - During the year-end shopping festival, merchants leveraging short video content achieved substantial traffic surges and business transformations, exemplified by the merchant @QipinYang, which saw a 260% increase in daily live streaming exposure and over 400% growth in daily GMV [1][10] Group 1: Business Performance - The merchant @QipinYang successfully utilized short video content and commercialized short video traffic to achieve explosive growth in both exposure and sales, with short video contributions accounting for 52% of live streaming exposure [1][10] - The first product launched by @QipinYang, a men's Polo shirt, achieved sales of over 100,000 units in a month, while their cotton pants reached daily sales of 5000-6000 units during peak shopping events, accumulating over 10 million in GMV during promotions [2] - The company focuses on a single product strategy, emphasizing high-quality, cost-effective cotton pants, which has allowed it to differentiate itself from competitors [2] Group 2: Marketing Strategy - @QipinYang's marketing strategy includes daily releases of approximately 5 short videos, primarily during peak user traffic times, which drives 60%-70% of their live streaming traffic [3][6] - The company operates a professional short video team to enhance content quality and efficiency, transitioning from casual to professional video production [7] - The team has achieved a new customer conversion rate of 16% through targeted advertising, indicating the effectiveness of their marketing efforts [8] Group 3: Future Plans - In 2025, @QipinYang plans to increase investment in short video content and account matrix strategies to further expand its e-commerce presence, targeting seasonal products and diversifying its offerings [7] - The company aims to produce more engaging content, including short dramas that subtly integrate products, to drive sales and enhance the synergy between content and commerce [10]