Urban Outfitters (NasdaqGS:URBN) FY 2026 Conference January 12, 2026 08:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsTricia Smith - CEOMelanie Marein-Efron - CFOConference Call ParticipantsAdrienne Yih - Director and Senior Equity AnalystAdrienne YihThere we go. Okay, great. Good morning, everybody. Happy New Year. My name is Adrienne Yih. I'm the retail analyst from Barclays, and I couldn't be happier to kick off another year. I love having you at the 8:00 A.M. slot because you always have good news, certainly for the pas ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Urban Outfitters reported a record holiday sales growth of 9% for the period ending December 31, driven by a 5% retail segment comp, with all brands showing positive comps [3][4] - The company anticipates gross profit margin improvement of approximately 25 basis points for the quarter, slightly below the initial expectation of 50-100 basis points for the year [5] - FP Movement achieved an impressive 18% comp growth during the holiday period, while Nuuly reported a remarkable 43% sales growth [6][43] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Urban Outfitters led the retail segment with a 9% comp growth, followed by Free People at 5% and Anthropologie at 3%, which was lower than anticipated due to increased promotional activity [4][5] - Nuuly's growth trajectory remains strong, with a 41% increase in average active subscribers contributing to its 43% sales growth [6][43] - Wholesale also performed well, achieving a 13% growth during the holiday period, driven by Free People and FP Movement [6] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The consumer market appears resilient, with low unemployment, growing wages, and a positive stock market contributing to consumer confidence [11][12] - The company serves a middle-income and above customer base, which is currently feeling optimistic about their purchasing power [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on attracting new customers while maintaining its core customer base, with positive data indicating success in this strategy [18][19] - There is an emphasis on increasing engagement and improving product relevancy by expanding categories such as denim, shoes, and beauty [20] - Urban Outfitters is working on margin recapture and has made significant improvements in its pricing architecture to protect margins [39][40] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the consumer's resilience heading into 2026, with expectations of continued strong performance [48] - The company is optimistic about leveraging AI to enhance creative processes and operational efficiency in the future [49] Other Important Information - The company is managing tariff impacts by negotiating with vendors and adjusting pricing strategies to minimize cost pass-through to consumers [25][26] - Inventory management remains disciplined, aligning growth with sales to ensure product freshness [27] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is the consumer sentiment affecting sales? - Management noted that the consumer feels good, with low unemployment and rising wages contributing to a positive outlook [11][12] Question: What are the expectations for Urban Outfitters' margin recovery? - Urban Outfitters is expected to approach break-even for fiscal year 2026, with significant opportunities for margin recapture in North America [38][40] Question: How is the company addressing tariff challenges? - The company is focused on managing costs and negotiating with vendors to mitigate tariff impacts while maintaining product quality [25][26]

Core Insights - Urban Outfitters reported revenue of $1.33 billion for the quarter ended April 2025, reflecting a 10.7% increase year-over-year and a surprise of +3.37% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.29 billion [1] - Earnings per share (EPS) reached $1.16, significantly higher than the $0.69 reported in the same quarter last year, resulting in an EPS surprise of +43.21% compared to the consensus estimate of $0.81 [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Urban Outfitters' shares have returned +22.7% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +12.7% change [3] - The company has a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), indicating potential underperformance relative to the broader market in the near term [3] Retail Operations - The number of stores for Free People was 237, slightly above the four-analyst average estimate of 236 [4] - Urban Outfitters had 257 stores, exceeding the average estimate of 254 [4] - Anthropologie's store count matched the average estimate of 241 [4] Comparable Store Sales - Comparable store sales increased by 4.8% year-over-year, surpassing the average estimate of 3.4% [4] Net Sales by Brand - Urban Outfitters' net sales were $273.51 million, exceeding the average estimate of $259.71 million, with a year-over-year change of +1.2% [4] - Anthropologie's net sales reached $569.93 million, above the average estimate of $555.86 million, reflecting an +8.3% year-over-year change [4] - Nuuly's net sales were $124.35 million, significantly higher than the average estimate of $103.98 million, marking a +59.6% year-over-year increase [4] - Free People's net sales were $353.11 million, slightly below the average estimate of $362.51 million, with a +10.8% year-over-year change [4] Wholesale and Subscription Operations - Net sales from wholesale operations were $74.64 million, exceeding the average estimate of $70.28 million, with a +24.2% year-over-year change [4] - Subscription operations generated $124.35 million in net sales, surpassing the average estimate of $97.99 million [4]