How These French Founders Built A Warby Parker Competitor That’s Even More Affordable https://t.co/tkMhPOAmGB https://t.co/ymlFVEMVSF ...

How These French Founders Built A Warby Parker Competitor That’s Even More Affordable https://t.co/YQ0U2zbFAJ https://t.co/YQ0U2zbFAJ ...

Core Insights - The collaboration between Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) and OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation aims to enhance accessibility to eyeglasses for low vision patients, reflecting Singapore's commitment to inclusive healthcare [1][5] - The initiative simplifies the process for eligible patients to collect their prescribed eyewear directly from the Spectacle Hut store at SingHealth Campus, integrating dispensing support into the vision care pathway [2][4] Company Overview - Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) was established in 1989 and is the designated national center for specialized ophthalmological services, managing approximately 400,000 outpatient visits and 40,000 major eye surgeries annually [6][8] - SNEC offers a comprehensive range of eye treatments across ten subspecialties, addressing various eye conditions from comprehensive to tertiary levels [7] Partnership Details - The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation has donated 600 pairs of eyeglasses, including 400 high-plus reading glasses and 200 ophthalmic frames, to provide patients with a wider range of options [3] - This partnership is aligned with Singapore's SG60 theme, emphasizing community-responsive healthcare and addressing the needs of an aging population [5] Industry Impact - The initiative represents a new coordination between clinical care and retail expertise, enhancing the patient experience and quality of life for low vision patients [4] - The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation is dedicated to eliminating uncorrected poor vision globally and is a key partner in the World Health Organization's SPECS 2030 initiative [9]

Financial Performance - National Vision reported revenue of $486.42 million for the quarter ended June 2025, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 7.7% [1] - The earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was $0.18, up from $0.15 in the same quarter last year, indicating a positive trend in profitability [1] - The reported revenue exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $468.11 million by 3.91%, showcasing a strong performance against market expectations [1] Key Metrics - Adjusted comparable store sales growth was 5.9%, significantly higher than the two-analyst average estimate of 2.8% [4] - Net revenue from the Owned & Host segment, Eyeglass World, was $49.11 million, surpassing the average estimate of $47.15 million, although it represented a slight year-over-year decline of 0.8% [4] - Net revenue from the Owned & Host segment, America's Best, reached $416.78 million, exceeding the average estimate of $405.28 million, with a year-over-year growth of 9.2% [4] Stock Performance - Over the past month, shares of National Vision have returned -5.4%, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's increase of 1.2% [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Business Model & Strategy - The company is building a Warby Parker competitor with a focus on affordability [1] Industry & Competition - The company operates in the eyewear industry and competes with Warby Parker [1]

Company Overview - French founders built an affordable Warby Parker competitor [1] Business Model - The company offers more affordable eyewear options [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net revenue for Q1 2025 increased by 5.7% to $510 million, driven by adjusted comparable store sales growth of 5.5% [30][33] - Adjusted operating income rose by 21.8% to $41.3 million, with adjusted diluted earnings per share increasing to $0.34 from $0.29 a year ago [15][34] - Adjusted operating margin increased by 110 basis points to 8.1% [33] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - America's Best comparable store sales grew by 5.9%, building on a 1.2% increase in the previous year [14] - Eyeglass World achieved a comparable store sales increase of 3.1%, marking its best quarter since 2021 [14] - All three target customer segments delivered double-digit comparable sales growth [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced a positive shift in customer demographics, with higher income groups showing increased spending, offsetting declines from lower income consumers [12][60] - The company opened nine new America's Best stores while closing three, resulting in a net increase in store count [31] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on segmentation, personalization, and digitization in its messaging, product offerings, and customer experience [11][20] - A new strategy has been implemented to target three key customer cohorts, which represent about half of the customer base but a disproportionately large percentage of sales [12] - The company is enhancing its pricing structure and product assortment to better align with customer profiles [21][23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ongoing transformation strategy and the positive response to recent initiatives [16][20] - The company raised its guidance for the year based on strong Q1 results, anticipating continued momentum despite potential consumer demand uncertainties [16][38] - Management acknowledged the challenges posed by tariffs but believes they can mitigate the impact through pricing actions and cost reduction efforts [37][39] Other Important Information - The company is transitioning leadership, with Alex Wilkes set to succeed Reade Fahs as CEO [8][17] - The company has implemented remote exam capabilities in approximately two-thirds of its store base [15] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the expected run rate for ticket growth in the coming quarters? - Management indicated that ticket expansion has been positive, with no degradation in conversion rates, suggesting there is still room for growth [49][51] Question: How is revenue growth decomposed between managed care and customer pay? - Management noted that both segments are contributing to growth, with managed care customers responding positively to new premium products [52] Question: Can you provide insights on the cadence of Q1 performance and income demographics? - Management reported a strong January, a peculiar two-week period in February, and a strong recovery in March, with higher income customers trading into the brand [59][60] Question: What is the impact of tariffs on product costs? - Management confirmed that the estimated impact of tariffs for the year is between $10 million to $15 million, which they believe can be mitigated through pricing actions [74] Question: How is the recruitment and retention of optometrists being managed? - Management reported healthy retention and recruitment rates, particularly among students, with no significant cost increases anticipated [85]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net revenue increased by 5.7% to $510 million, driven by adjusted comparable store sales growth of 5.5% [30][12] - Adjusted operating income rose by 21.8% to $41.3 million, with adjusted diluted earnings per share increasing to $0.34 from $0.29 [14][35] - Gross margin improved due to higher average ticket growth, with cost applicable to revenue decreasing by 30 basis points to 40.2% [32][33] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - America's Best comparable store sales grew by 5.9%, while Eyeglass World saw a 3.1% increase, marking its best quarter since 2021 [13][12] - All three target customer segments delivered double-digit comparable store sales growth, indicating strong performance across the board [12][11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced a shift towards higher-income customers, with managed care customers showing resilience amid economic challenges [58][11] - Customer transactions increased by 0.7%, recovering from previous declines, indicating a positive trend in customer engagement [31] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on segmentation, personalization, and digitization to enhance customer experience and drive sales [20][10] - A new strategy targeting underdeveloped customer segments aims to expand the addressable market and improve profitability [11][10] - The leadership transition is positioned to maintain momentum in the ongoing transformation strategy [6][19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the transformation strategy, noting strong initial results from new initiatives [15][20] - The company is cautious about predicting consumer demand due to macroeconomic uncertainties but remains optimistic about its strategic direction [15][39] - Management highlighted the importance of cost efficiency measures in response to potential tariff impacts [38][40] Other Important Information - The company plans to open approximately 30 to 35 new stores while closing seven America's Best stores as part of its real estate management strategy [39][31] - Investments in remote exam technology and a new ERP system are expected to enhance operational efficiency [36][28] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the expected run rate for ticket growth in the coming quarters? - Management indicated that ticket expansion has been positive, with no degradation in conversion rates, suggesting further growth potential [48][50] Question: How is revenue growth split between managed care and customer pay? - Management noted that both segments are contributing to growth, with premium products appealing to managed care customers [51][52] Question: Can you provide insights on the traffic increase during the quarter? - The increase in traffic was attributed to better engagement with target customer segments, particularly managed care and progressive customers [97][98] Question: What is the impact of tariffs on product costs? - Management confirmed that tariffs could result in $10 million to $15 million in incremental costs, but they believe these can be mitigated through pricing actions [72][38] Question: How is the company addressing recruitment and retention of optometrists? - Management reported healthy retention rates and effective recruitment strategies, particularly among new graduates [82][81]

Financial Performance - Net revenues for Q1 2025 increased by 5.7% to $5103 million, compared to $483 million in Q1 2024[12, 16] - Adjusted comparable store sales growth was 55% in Q1 2025, driven by higher ticket prices and a slight increase in traffic[12, 18] - Adjusted operating income increased to $413 million in Q1 2025, compared to $339 million in Q1 2024[12, 23] - Adjusted diluted earnings per share increased to $034 in Q1 2025, compared to $029 in Q1 2024[12, 27] Store Network - The company's store count grew by 30%, ending the period with 1237 stores[20] - Nine new America's Best stores were opened, while nine Fred Meyer stores and three America's Best stores were closed[20] Brand Performance - America's Best saw adjusted comparable store sales growth of 59% in Q1 2025, compared to 12% in Q1 2024[21] - Eyeglass World experienced adjusted comparable store sales growth of 31% in Q1 2025, compared to -50% in Q1 2024[21] Financial Outlook for Fiscal Year 2025 - The company estimates net revenue between $1919 billion and $1955 billion for fiscal year 2025, including an estimated $35 million contribution from the 53rd week[44, 38] - Adjusted comparable store sales growth is projected to be between 15% and 35% for the 52 weeks ending December 27, 2025[44] - Adjusted operating income is expected to be between $81 million and $92 million, including an estimated $3 million contribution from the 53rd week[44, 43] - Adjusted diluted EPS is projected to be between $059 and $067, assuming approximately 79 million shares[44]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2024, sales increased by 3.9% to $437.3 million, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of positive adjusted comparable store sales [11][12] - Adjusted operating income rose to $3.2 million, while adjusted diluted earnings per share was a loss of $0.04 [13][61] - For the full year 2024, net revenue increased by 3.8% to $1.823 billion, with adjusted diluted earnings per share at $0.52, exceeding prior guidance [14][63] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted comparable store sales for Q4 were up 1.5%, driven by America's Best's growth of 2%, while Eyeglass World's comparable store sales declined by 1.7% due to Hurricane Helene [11][12] - Managed care sales comped high single digits throughout the year, contributing to approximately 40% of total revenues [14][22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced a decline in cash-pay sales, which was offset by strong managed care sales [12][14] - The impact of weather and consumer sentiment was noted, particularly in February, leading to a cautious outlook for the near term [25][26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on transforming its business by enhancing customer segmentation and personalizing messaging to attract higher-value customers [21][23] - A strategic shift is underway to target managed care customers, who now represent a significant portion of the customer base [22][34] - Investments in technology and operational efficiencies are being prioritized to improve customer experience and drive profitability [18][42] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the early results from transformation initiatives, despite recent negative traffic trends [25][26] - The company is preparing for a wider range of scenarios in its guidance due to uncertainties in consumer sentiment and weather impacts [26][70] Other Important Information - The company announced a leadership change with the appointment of a new CFO, Chris Laden, effective March 31 [9][10] - The company is implementing a comprehensive review of its store fleet, with plans to take action on 43 stores through fiscal year 2026 [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: How has the company factored in resources and risks from the pivot to a more moderate middle-income consumer? - Management indicated that this segment is already a significant part of the current customer base, and efforts are focused on enhancing the customer experience for these groups [78][80] Question: Can you provide context on recent performance trends and their impact on guidance? - Management acknowledged strong performance in January but noted choppy trends in the last two weeks of February, leading to a more conservative guidance approach [86][87] Question: What is the plan for remote rollout in 2025? - The company plans to continue opening remote-enabled stores where laws allow and integrate remote capabilities as part of its ongoing operations [92][95] Question: How is managed care expected to impact top-line guidance in 2025? - Managed care is projected to grow at high single digits, contributing significantly to the overall revenue, while cash-pay consumers face more challenges [108][110] Question: Can you elaborate on the drivers of comparable store sales in 2025? - Management expects growth to come equally from traffic and average ticket increases, with positive trends observed from recent initiatives [100][102]