Amer Sports Inc. (NYSE:AS) is one of the 14 Best Consumer Discretionary Stocks to Buy Right Now. On February 10, UBS increased its target price on Amer Sports by 3.4% to $60 (from $58), retaining its Buy recommendation on the stock ahead of the release of the company’s Q4 2025 earnings (which is scheduled for February 24). The firm thinks Amer Sports will likely meet Q4 earnings expectations, seeing no compelling reason for either a positive or negative surprise. This update marks the second straight mo ...

Core Viewpoint - Amer Sports Inc. is identified as a promising investment opportunity with strong growth potential over the next three years, supported by positive analyst ratings and market conditions [1][2][3]. Analyst Ratings - Deutsche Bank resumed coverage of Amer Sports with a Buy rating and a price target of $49, citing a favorable macroeconomic environment and improved weather conditions as key factors for expected strong performance through H1 2026 [1]. - UBS raised its price target for Amer Sports to $58 from $54 while maintaining a Buy rating, highlighting the resilience of the US consumer and the emerging Health & Wellness 2.0 trend as supportive of earnings potential [2]. - Wells Fargo increased its price target for Amer Sports to $45 from $40, maintaining an Overweight rating, and expressed optimism about the retail sector as it heads into 2026 [3]. Company Overview - Amer Sports Inc. is engaged in the design, manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of sports equipment, apparel, footwear, and accessories, operating through three segments: Technical Apparel, Outdoor Performance, and Ball & Racquet Sports [4].

Core Viewpoint - Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. (ASO) is a notable retailer in the sporting goods and outdoor recreational products sector, facing challenges but showing signs of improvement in sales and profitability [1][3][6]. Company Performance - ASO has experienced subdued comparable growth in the third quarter, which is a trend across the retail industry, but its performance has been weaker than competitors [3]. - The company has returned to positive earnings growth, driven by strong gains in gross margins, indicating effective cost management and increased profitability [4][6]. - The current stock price of ASO is $54.02, reflecting a 1.78% increase, with a daily rise of $0.95 [4]. Stock Information - ASO's stock has shown volatility, trading between $52.82 and $54.36 today, with a yearly high of $61.25 and a low of $33.34 [5]. - The market capitalization of ASO is approximately $3.6 billion, and the trading volume is 411,174 shares, highlighting its significance in the retail market [5][6]. Analyst Insights - Truist Financial has set a price target of $57 for ASO, suggesting a potential increase of about 5.15%, reflecting optimism about the company's future performance despite retail sector challenges [2][6].

Core Insights - Dick's Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS) is a leading retailer in the sporting goods industry, competing with major retailers like Foot Locker and Academy Sports + Outdoors [1] - Telsey Advisory maintains an "Outperform" rating for DKS, despite adjusting the price target from $255 to $245, indicating a cautious outlook [2][6] - The stock price of DKS shows a slight increase of 1.83% to $210.51, reflecting positive market sentiment [2][6] Financial Performance - Dick's Sporting Goods raised its full-year outlook, demonstrating confidence in its core business despite strategic store closures [3][6] - The stock has shown volatility, trading between $203.57 and $211.39, with a yearly high of $254.60 and a low of $166.37 [4] - The company has a market capitalization of approximately $17.05 billion and a trading volume of 864,151 shares on the NYSE [5] Strategic Moves - The company plans to close select Foot Locker stores as part of a broader trend to streamline subsidiary brands [3] - Strategic decisions and market performance will be key factors for investors to monitor in the coming months [5]

Core Insights - Nike, Inc. is a leading global provider of athletic shoes, apparel, and sports equipment, focusing on sustainability and advanced sports technology [1][2] - The company has a market capitalization of $95.48 billion, reinforcing its position as a leader in the sportswear industry [2] Stock Performance - Nike's stock has faced pressure due to subdued consumer sentiment, declining 19.7% over the past 52 weeks and 16% over the past three months [3] - The stock reached a 52-week low of $52.28 in April but has since increased by 19.8% from that level [3] - Compared to the S&P 500 Index, which gained 19.6% and 9.8% over the same periods, Nike's stock is underperforming the broader market [4] - The stock has also underperformed the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY), which gained 21% over the past 52 weeks and 12.1% over the past three months [4] Financial Performance - For the first quarter of fiscal 2026, Nike's revenues increased by 1% year-over-year to $11.72 billion, despite facing market headwinds [5] - Gross profit declined by 6% annually to $4.94 billion, while inventories dropped by 2% to $8.10 billion [5] - The company returned approximately $714 million to shareholders in the first quarter [5] Analyst Outlook - Wall Street analysts expect Nike's EPS to drop 23.6% year-over-year to $1.65 for fiscal year 2026, which ends in May 2026 [6] - However, EPS is projected to increase by 50.3% to $2.48 in fiscal 2027 [6] - Nike has a solid history of surpassing consensus EPS estimates, having topped them in all four trailing quarters [6]

Core Viewpoint - Amer Sports Inc. is considered one of the best stocks to buy and hold for the next decade, with a Buy rating and a price target of $42 set by Truist analyst Joseph Civello, driven by its niche focus and strong connections to higher-income consumers [1][3]. Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Truist initiated coverage of Amer Sports with a Buy rating and a price target of $42 [1]. - Wells Fargo analyst Ike Boruchow maintained a Buy rating on Amer Sports with a price target of $40 [3]. Group 2: Company Overview - Amer Sports designs, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells sports equipment, apparel, footwear, and accessories internationally [3]. - The company operates through three segments: Technical Apparel, Outdoor Performance, and Ball & Racquet Sports [3]. Group 3: Growth Drivers - The company's growth is attributed to its focus on niche areas and relatively limited brand awareness in the US [1]. - Higher price points and geographic concentration outside of the US position Amer Sports to outperform in an industry facing tariff pressures [2].

Economic Growth Forecast - The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta upgraded its economic growth forecast by 0.3 percentage points, predicting a 3.4% annualized gain in GDP during Q3 [3] Consumer Spending Trends - Consumer spending, which accounts for approximately 70% of economic growth, has remained steady despite rising price pressures, a slowdown in hiring, and an increase in unemployment to 4.3% [3] - Spending surged early in the year due to consumers anticipating price increases from high U.S. tariffs, but this trend has waned since May, leading to a modest slowdown in spending [4] Retail Sales Performance - Retail sales exceeded forecasts in August, rising by 0.6% for the third consecutive month, despite job market weaknesses and declining consumer sentiment [7] - Nine out of 13 categories of goods saw gains, with e-commerce sales increasing by 2% and sales at clothing stores and sporting goods shops rising by 1% and 0.8%, respectively [7] Impact of Tariffs - Import taxes have negatively impacted sales, particularly in categories vulnerable to tariffs, such as sports equipment, electronics, and clothing [5] - One in four small businesses reported that tariffs and rising costs have led them to increase prices, indicating consumer anxiety regarding import taxes fueling price gains [6]

Core Insights - Expedia Group (EXPE) is set to report its second-quarter 2025 results on August 7, with expected revenues of $3.71 billion, reflecting a 4.39% increase year-over-year, and earnings estimated at $4.14 per share, indicating a 17.95% rise from the previous year [1][3]. Financial Performance Expectations - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EXPE's second-quarter 2025 revenues is $3.71 billion, a 4.39% increase from the same quarter last year [1]. - The consensus for earnings is $4.14 per share, which is a $0.01 increase over the past 30 days and represents a 17.95% increase year-over-year [1]. Recent Performance Trends - EXPE has surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in three of the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 5.48% [2]. - The company anticipates gross bookings growth of 2-4% and revenue growth of 3-5%, with a one-point benefit from the Easter shift and a two-point foreign exchange headwind [3][9]. Market Dynamics - The performance in the second quarter is expected to be influenced by ongoing challenges in the U.S. market, resilience in international markets, and cost optimization efforts [3]. - Domestic travel softness and reduced inbound flows may have impacted B2C performance due to EXPE's significant U.S. market exposure [4]. Segment Performance - The B2B segment is expected to be a key growth driver, likely maintaining double-digit momentum supported by expanded partnerships and strength in the APAC region [5]. - Advertising revenues are projected to show robust growth, aided by increased partner participation and new advertising solutions, with AI-driven tools enhancing platform adoption [6]. Operational Efficiency - Management expects adjusted EBITDA margin expansion of 75-100 basis points year-over-year, driven by operational efficiency initiatives and cost discipline measures, including restructuring actions affecting approximately 4% of employees [7].