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Victoria's Secret Finds Its Groove Again Heading Into The Holidays
Benzinga· 2025-12-08 17:20
Core Viewpoint - Victoria's Secret & Co is experiencing strong performance in Q3 and is gaining momentum heading into the holiday season, driven by higher full-price sales and improving customer demand across its brands and channels [1] Q3 Performance - Victoria's Secret reported an 8% same-store sales gain, exceeding expectations, with notable strength in both Victoria's Secret and PINK brands across North America and internationally, in stores and e-commerce [2] - The topline beat was attributed to a broader customer base and higher regular-price selling, which reduced promotional drag and improved gross margin above consensus [2] Black Friday Trends - Strong Black Friday store traffic, supported by a site-wide 40% discount, led to an upward revision of full-year guidance, with fiscal 2025 revenue forecast raised to $6.484 billion from $6.395 billion and EPS lifted to $2.65 from $2.10 [3] - Fiscal 2026 EPS is now projected at $2.80 [3] Strategic Initiatives - The "Path to Potential" strategy is highlighted as a key driver of results, focusing on four pillars: reasserting bra leadership, refocusing PINK, expanding beauty, and refining brand projection and go-to-market strategies [4][8] Product Innovation - North American bra sales grew in the mid-single digits, with successful new products like Body By Victoria FlexFactor and Very Sexy franchises [5] - PINK returned to growth with double-digit revenue gains, driven by apparel and a rebound in intimates following successful collaborations [5] Beauty Segment Opportunity - The beauty category is identified as an under-penetrated growth opportunity, valued near $1 billion in North America, with only about 40% of Victoria's Secret customers currently purchasing beauty products [6] - Management plans to scale this category and focus on giftable SKUs for the holiday season [6] Fourth-Quarter Outlook - Fourth-quarter revenue guidance is set at $2.17 billion to $2.20 billion, reflecting 4% to 6% growth, with a gross margin guide of 37.0% to 38.0% [7] - Inventory is expected to exit the fourth quarter up in the mid-teens, influenced by growth, tariffs, and a shift towards ocean freight [7] Market Position - The company is positioned to regain market share and margins through disciplined merchandising, stronger storytelling, and a growing customer base [8] Stock Performance - Victoria's Secret shares were up 1.29% at $49.68, trading near its 52-week high of $50.21 [9]