Kontoor Brands (KTB) could be a solid choice for investors given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This rating change essentially reflects an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.The Zacks rating relies solely on a company's changing earnings picture. It tracks EPS estimates for the current and following years from the sell-side analysts covering the stock through a consensus measure -- the Zacks Consensus Estimate.The power of a changing ea ...

Key Takeaways November CPI rose 2.7% year over year, below expectations, easing pressure on Federal Reserve policy meeting.AS expects 21.5% earnings growth next year, with current-year earnings estimates up 10.7% in the past 60 days.ROKU's current-year earnings growth tops 100%, and its earnings estimates jumped 83.3% over the past 60 days.The Federal Reserve cut interest rates in December but signaled only one rate cut in 2026, given that inflation remains high. However, a soft inflation reading for Novemb ...

Core Insights - The Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the third time in 2025, leading to a rally in U.S. stocks, which is seen as a relief for investors amid high inflation concerns [2][4] - The Fed is optimistic about inflation slowing to 2.4% and economic growth accelerating to 2.3% by the end of 2026, which is favorable for the broader market [3][7] Consumer Discretionary Stocks - **Brightstar Lottery PLC**: Expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 17.9%, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate improvement of 29.5% over the last 60 days, currently holding a Zacks Rank 2 [8] - **Las Vegas Sands Corp.**: Anticipated earnings growth rate is 30%, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate increase of 10.5% over the last 60 days, currently rated as a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) [9][10] - **Roku, Inc.**: Projected earnings growth rate exceeds 100%, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate improvement of 83.3% over the past 60 days, currently holding a Zacks Rank 2 [11] - **Kontoor Brands, Inc.**: Expected earnings growth rate is 12.5%, with a slight improvement of 0.7% in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the last 60 days, currently rated as a Zacks Rank 2 [12]

分组1 - The Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the third time this year, bringing the federal funds rate to a range of 3.5-3.75%, which has led to a rally in U.S. stocks [1][3][9] - The Fed's decision comes despite ongoing high inflation, indicating a shift in focus towards supporting economic growth [4][5] - The Fed projects inflation to slow to 2.4% and economic growth to accelerate to 2.3% by the end of 2026, which is seen as positive for the broader market [6] 分组2 - Brightstar Lottery PLC (BRSL) has an expected earnings growth rate of 17.9% for the current year, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate improvement of 29.5% over the last 60 days [7] - Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS) is expected to see a 30% earnings growth rate this year, with a 10.5% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 60 days [8] - Roku, Inc. (ROKU) is projected to have an earnings growth rate of over 100% for the current year, with an 83.3% improvement in earnings estimates over the past 60 days [10] - Kontoor Brands, Inc. (KTB) has an expected earnings growth rate of 12.5%, with a slight improvement of 0.7% in earnings estimates over the last 60 days [11]

Group 1 - Genesco Inc. will present at the 2025 KeyBanc Consumer Conference on December 11, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern time [1] - The presentation can be accessed through Genesco's investor relations page [1] Group 2 - Genesco Inc. is a footwear-focused company with over 1,240 retail stores and branded e-commerce websites [2] - The company operates distinct retail and lifestyle brands, including Journeys, Little Burgundy, Schuh, and Johnston & Murphy [2] - Genesco serves various demographics, including teens, kids, young adults, and affluent men and women in the U.S. and Canada [2] - The company was founded in 1924 and is based in Nashville, Tennessee [2]

Core Viewpoint - Investors are seeking growth stocks that can deliver above-average growth and exceptional returns, but identifying such stocks can be challenging due to their inherent risks and volatility [1] Group 1: Company Overview - Kontoor Brands (KTB) is highlighted as a recommended growth stock based on the Zacks Growth Style Score, which evaluates a company's real growth prospects beyond traditional metrics [2] - The company has a favorable Growth Score and a top Zacks Rank, indicating strong potential for growth investors [2] Group 2: Earnings Growth - Kontoor's historical EPS growth rate is 7.8%, but the projected EPS growth for this year is 12.5%, significantly outperforming the industry average of 1.7% [4] Group 3: Asset Utilization - Kontoor's asset utilization ratio (sales-to-total-assets ratio) is 1.27, indicating that the company generates $1.27 in sales for every dollar in assets, which is higher than the industry average of 1.16 [5] Group 4: Sales Growth - The company's sales are expected to grow by 19.3% this year, contrasting sharply with the industry average of 0% [6] Group 5: Earnings Estimate Revisions - There has been a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions for Kontoor, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year increasing by 0.8% over the past month [7] Group 6: Investment Potential - Kontoor has achieved a Growth Score of B and a Zacks Rank of 2 due to positive earnings estimate revisions, suggesting it is a solid choice for growth investors [9]

Core Insights - Kontoor Brands reported third-quarter revenue growth that met Wall Street expectations, but the market reacted negatively due to concerns over profitability and cost pressures [1] - The company highlighted strong contributions from Helly Hansen and market share gains for Wrangler, while addressing challenges in the Lee segment, particularly in China [1] - CEO Scott Baxter acknowledged lower operating margins and shipment timing shifts that impacted overall performance [1] Financial Performance - Revenue for Q3 was $853.2 million, slightly below analyst estimates of $857.1 million, representing a 27.3% year-on-year growth [6] - Adjusted EPS was $1.44, beating analyst estimates of $1.40 by 3.2% [6] - Adjusted EBITDA was $134.3 million, exceeding estimates of $125.4 million, with a margin of 15.7% [6] - The company reaffirmed its full-year revenue guidance at $3.11 billion and slightly raised its Adjusted EPS guidance to $5.50 [6] - Operating margin decreased to 7.5% from 14.7% in the same quarter last year [6] - Market capitalization stands at $4.01 billion [6] Analyst Insights - Analysts raised questions regarding the impact of shipment timing shifts at Wrangler, with CFO Joseph Alkire noting solid demand but a shift in order flow to Q4 [6] - Pricing strategies were discussed, with coordination with retail partners to address tariffs, indicating competitive positioning across markets [6] - Concerns about organic revenue growth guidance and inventory planning were addressed, with management emphasizing brand strength and digital momentum [6] - Project Jeanius is expected to realize $50 million in gross savings by 2025, with full savings anticipated in 2026 [6] - Management suggested that the Lee segment may stabilize and return to growth by late 2026, with synergies from Helly Hansen expected to be realized in 2026 [6]

Group 1 - The article highlights positive developments in the Wrangler brand, challenges faced by the Lee brand, and significant restructuring expenses [1] - The acquisition of Long-only investment is noted to have a full impact on the quarter, focusing on operational evaluations and long-term earnings potential [1] - Quipus Capital emphasizes a buy-and-hold investment strategy, prioritizing operational aspects over market-driven dynamics [1] Group 2 - The article indicates that most recommendations from Quipus Capital will be holds, reflecting a cautious approach in a bullish market [1] - A small fraction of companies are deemed suitable for a buy recommendation at any given time, underscoring a selective investment strategy [1]

Core Viewpoint - Kontoor Brands (KTB) has received an upgrade to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which significantly influence stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Impact - The Zacks rating system is based on changes in earnings estimates, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [4][6]. - Institutional investors often rely on earnings estimates to determine a company's fair value, leading to stock price fluctuations based on their buying or selling actions [4]. Company Performance and Outlook - The upgrade for Kontoor suggests an improvement in the company's underlying business, which could lead to higher stock prices as investors respond positively [5][10]. - Kontoor is projected to earn $5.48 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2025, with a 2.9% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past three months [8]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with a strong historical performance, particularly for Zacks Rank 1 stocks, which have averaged a +25% annual return since 1988 [7][9]. - The upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places Kontoor in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, indicating a strong potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10].

Core Insights - Kontoor Brands reported Q3 revenue of $853 million, a 27% increase, impacted by a shift in shipment timing [1][2] - Operating income decreased by 35% to $64 million, while adjusted operating income rose by 14% to $122 million [1] - Net income fell by 48% to $37 million compared to the previous year [2] Revenue by Brand - Wrangler brand generated global revenue of $471 million, a 2% increase, with a 3-point impact from shipment timing [3] - Lee brand's global revenue was $187 million, an 8% decrease, affected by proactive inventory management in China [4] - Helly Hansen achieved global revenue of $193 million, with US revenue at $40 million and international revenue at $153 million [5] Full Year Outlook - Kontoor Brands anticipates full-year revenue at the high end of the previous outlook range of $3.09 to $3.12 billion, reflecting a 19% to 20% increase [6] - Adjusted gross margin is expected to be approximately 46.4%, an increase of 130 basis points from the previous year [6]