Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Lululemon Athletica (NASDAQ:LULU).And retail traders should know.We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with LULU, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.So how do we know what these investors just did? Today, Benzinga's options scan ...

Core Insights - The holiday season has become chaotic for small retailers like Loftie due to import tariffs on Chinese goods disrupting their supply chains [1][2] - Small businesses are facing significant challenges in managing inventory levels, with many operating at dangerously low stock ahead of peak shopping periods [3][4] Supply Chain Disruptions - Loftie has reduced its inventory to about 10% of what is needed due to tariff uncertainties and supply chain disruptions [2] - The fluctuation in tariffs, including a potential increase to 180%, forced Loftie to consider shifting production to Thailand, but ultimately, the higher costs led them to remain with Chinese manufacturers [3] Impact on Retailers - November and December typically account for one-third of annual profits for U.S. retailers, making inventory management critical during this period [4] - Other small businesses, like Lo & Sons, also faced challenges in balancing inventory and supplier changes, leading to low stock levels [4][5] Financial Strain on Small Retailers - Operating margins for small retailers with total assets under $50 million have dropped to negative 20.7%, with 36% at high risk of bankruptcy compared to 12% of larger retailers [6] - The uncertainty caused by tariffs has prevented small businesses from placing purchase orders, exacerbating their inventory issues [5][6]

Total sales grew 7% and comparable store sales increased 1% Net income was $105 million, and diluted EPS was $1.63 Excluding certain expenses associated with bankruptcy acquired leases: Adjusted EBIT margin increased 60 basis points Adjusted EPS increased 16% to $1.80 Increasing full year Adjusted EPS guidance to $9.69 to $9.89; guidance excludes anticipated expenses associated with bankruptcy acquired leases BURLINGTON, N.J., Nov. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Burlington Stores, Inc. (NYSE: BURL), a nati ...

Burlington Stores, Inc. (NYSE:BURL) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer’s game plan for the week. Cramer said that the company is the weakest among its other two peers. He commented: “Plenty of apparel on Tuesday… Burlington Stores reports. It’s part of the big three… off-price, including TJX and Ross Stores. It probably hurts Burlington that the other two reported already, and they were terrific. As my mother always said, comparisons are odious, but Burlington is the weakest of the three.” Stock market ...

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE:ANF) is one of the stocks on Jim Cramer’s game plan for the week. Cramer did not show much enthusiasm around the company’s upcoming report, as he said: “Plenty of apparel on Tuesday. Abercrombie & Fitch reports in the AM. That’s a total crapshoot. It’s not for the squeamish. Call me squeamish.” Photo by Adam Nowakowski on Unsplash Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE:ANF) provides apparel, accessories, and personal care items for men, women, and kids. During the April 29 episode ...

Core Viewpoint - Dell Technologies Inc. is highlighted as a stock to watch, with expectations that it will perform well despite potential challenges related to semiconductor prices [1]. Group 1: Company Overview - Dell Technologies Inc. offers a range of products including storage systems, servers, networking gear, consulting services, laptops, desktops, workstations, and accessories [2]. Group 2: Market Sentiment - There is skepticism in the market regarding Dell's ability to manage rising raw material costs, particularly semiconductors, but there is confidence in the company's leadership and sourcing capabilities [1]. - The company is expected to continue performing strongly in the data center and enterprise sectors, suggesting a positive outlook for its stock ahead of the upcoming quarterly report [1].

Group 1 - The Gap, Inc. reported a strong quarterly performance, beating earnings expectations by 3 cents with earnings of 59 cents per share and higher-than-expected revenue [1] - The company achieved a 5% growth in same-store sales, surpassing analysts' expectations of 3.1% [1] - Management raised the full-year forecast for both revenue growth and operating margin, contributing to a positive market reaction with the stock rising in after-hours trading [1] Group 2 - The Gap, Inc. operates in the apparel, accessories, and personal care market, with brands including Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta [2]

Financial Performance - The Buckle, Inc. reported a net income of $48.7 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2025, translating to $0.97 per share, compared to $44.2 million or $0.89 per share in the same quarter of fiscal 2024 [4][5] - For the 39-week fiscal period ended November 1, 2025, net income was $128.9 million, or $2.57 per share, up from $118.3 million, or $2.37 per share, for the same period in the previous year [5] Sales Growth - Net sales for the 13-week fiscal quarter increased by 9.3% to $320.8 million, compared to $293.6 million in the prior year [2] - Comparable store net sales rose by 8.3% for the same quarter, while online sales increased by 13.6% to $53.0 million [2][3] Year-to-Date Performance - For the 39-week period, net sales increased by 7.2% to $898.7 million from $838.5 million in the previous year [3] - Comparable store net sales for the 39-week period rose by 6.3%, with online sales up by 11.6% to $142.9 million [3] Operational Insights - The company operates 444 retail stores across 42 states, a slight decrease from 445 stores at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2024 [6] - The total assets of the company as of November 1, 2025, were reported at $1,078.4 million, an increase from $976.3 million a year earlier [10]

Group 1 - Baron Opportunity Fund reported a 5.44% return in Q3 2025, underperforming against the Russell 3000 Growth Index's 10.41% and the S&P 500 Index's 8.12% [1] - The underperformance was attributed to disappointing results from certain portfolio holdings and the strong performance of mega-cap stocks not included in the fund [1] - The letter provided a detailed update on AI and highlighted the fund's top 5 holdings for 2025 [1] Group 2 - Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) had a one-month return of 3.46% and a 52-week gain of 17.52%, closing at $268.56 per share with a market capitalization of $3.986 trillion on November 19, 2025 [2] - The fund's non-ownership of Apple Inc. accounted for 43% of its underperformance in the IT sector year-to-date [3] - Apple Inc. reported revenue of $102.5 billion in the September quarter, reflecting an 8% year-over-year increase [4]

Core Insights - Xcel Brands, Inc. reported a total revenue of $1.1 million for Q3 2025, a decrease of approximately $0.8 million (42%) compared to Q3 2024, primarily due to a decline in net licensing revenue and cautious consumer spending [3][7] - The company is focused on returning to profitability and aims to achieve 100 million social media followers across its brand portfolio [2] Financial Performance - Total revenue for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2025, was $3.8 million, representing a decrease of approximately $3.3 million (47%) from the prior year's nine-month period [7] - Direct operating costs and expenses decreased by approximately $3.6 million (36%) to $6.3 million for the current nine months, reflecting cost reduction measures [8] - The net loss attributable to Xcel Brands stockholders for Q3 2025 was approximately $7.9 million, or $(2.02) per share, compared to a net loss of $9.2 million, or $(3.92) per share, for the prior year quarter [5][24] - Non-GAAP net loss for Q3 2025 was approximately $1.3 million, or $(0.34) per share, showing an improvement from a net loss of approximately $1.3 million, or $(0.57) per share, for the prior year quarter [6][11] Cost Management - Direct operating costs and expenses for Q3 2025 were $2.2 million, a decrease of approximately $0.7 million (23%) from the prior year quarter [4] - The company has reduced its direct operating expenses to an expected run rate of approximately $9 million per annum [4][9] Impairment and Debt - During Q3 2025, the company recognized a $5.5 million non-cash impairment charge related to its investment in the Isaac Mizrahi brand [4][9] - The balance sheet at September 30, 2025, reflected stockholders' equity of approximately $16.6 million and $12.5 million of term loan debt [12][26] Future Outlook - Management anticipates that upcoming launches of new brands will drive revenue growth in Q4 2025 and beyond [3][7] - The company aims to leverage its expertise in livestream shopping and social commerce to enhance its market position [14]