Seipel emphasized what he called a differentiated positioning within off-price retail: Citi Trends is “the only off-price retailer specifically focused on African-American customers,” with assortments intended to deliver styles, brands, and trends at compelling prices for an underserved demographic. He described the customer base as loyal and high-frequency, supported by neighborhood proximity and word-of-mouth traffic.Citi Trends described itself as an off-price retailer specializing in family apparel, acc ...

Core Insights - Stitch Fix, Inc. (SFIX) reported a strong start to fiscal 2026, with Revenue per Active Client (RPAC) reaching $559, a 5.3% year-over-year increase, marking the seventh consecutive quarter of growth [1][8] - Average Order Value (AOV) rose nearly 10% this quarter, indicating the ninth consecutive period of year-over-year growth, attributed to a reimagined client experience [1][8] - The company closed the fiscal first quarter with 2.3 million active clients, reaching the high end of expectations, while management emphasized a disciplined approach to rebuilding the active client base [3][8] Financial Performance - The improvement in RPAC reflects increased spending per active client, supporting Stitch Fix's ability to capture a greater share of wallet from its existing client base [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates year-over-year earnings growth of 9.1% for the current year and 56.7% for the next year [12] Competitive Landscape - Designer Brands, Inc. (DBI) reported a 3.2% decline in net sales but improved profitability with gross profit increasing to $339.6 million [5] - GAP, Inc. (GAP) posted net sales of $3.9 billion, a 3% year-over-year increase, but faced pressure on profitability with a gross margin decline to 42.4% [6] Market Position - Stitch Fix's shares have gained 28.3% in the past six months, outperforming the industry's rise of 12%, and currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [7] - From a valuation perspective, SFIX trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 0.5, significantly lower than the industry's average of 1.98 [10]

This story was originally published on Retail Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Retail Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Just days after Lululemon announced CEO Calvin McDonald would step down, Elliott Investment Management has acquired a more than $1 billion stake in the company and is pushing for former Ralph Lauren executive Jane Nielsen to become CEO of the activewear brand, according to a person familiar with the matter. Nielsen served as Ralph Lauren’s chief operat ...

Industry Overview - The Zacks Shoes and Retail Apparel industry is facing persistent pressures from higher input and freight costs, supply-chain inefficiencies, and elevated selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses related to digital and store investments, which are negatively impacting margins [1][5] - The industry is also affected by currency volatility, geopolitical uncertainty, and evolving trade and tariff policies, alongside a softer consumer backdrop and a tight labor market [1][5] Consumer Demand Trends - Demand for activewear, footwear, and wellness-focused products remains strong, driven by a broader shift towards healthier lifestyles [2][6] - Companies are leveraging this trend through product innovation, expanded athleisure assortments, and enhanced e-commerce and omnichannel capabilities [2][6] E-Commerce Investments - Digital channels are a major growth engine for the athleisure market, with brands expanding their reach through websites and social media [7] - Investments in faster delivery, supply-chain efficiency, and fulfillment enhancements are sharpening competitive edges, while physical stores are being reimagined to create a seamless omnichannel experience [7] Industry Performance - The Zacks Shoes and Retail Apparel industry has underperformed the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector and the S&P 500 over the past year, with a collective decline of 18.9% [12] - The industry's current Zacks Industry Rank is 180, placing it in the bottom 25% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating dull prospects for the near term [9][10] Valuation Metrics - The industry is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 26.34X, compared to the S&P 500's 23.44X and the sector's 18.19X [13] - Over the last five years, the industry's P/E ratio has ranged from a high of 38.15X to a low of 20.83X, with a median of 27.10X [13] Key Companies - **Steven Madden**: Positioned for durable upside through a strategic shift towards higher-margin direct-to-consumer channels, with a focus on online and owned-store growth [17][18] - **NIKE**: Set to benefit from its Consumer Direct Acceleration strategy, focusing on sports and product innovation while reducing reliance on promotions [20][22] - **Adidas**: Poised for growth due to strong demand and improved margins from price increases and a better channel mix [24][25] - **Wolverine**: Focused on brand structure and efficiency improvements, with a strong emphasis on direct-to-consumer business [28][29] - **Caleres**: Improving investment case supported by strong brand momentum and cost discipline, with a focus on inventory management [32][33]

Core Insights - Ararat Capital Management reduced its stake in Gildan Activewear by 137,548 shares, amounting to a decrease of approximately $4.9 million, leaving it with 217,685 shares valued at $12.6 million as of September 30 [2][10] - Gildan's third-quarter revenue reached a record $911 million, although net earnings fell to $120.2 million from $131.5 million year-over-year, indicating cyclical challenges in the core business [10] - The completion of the HanesBrands acquisition is expected to double Gildan's scale and introduce at least $200 million in run-rate cost synergies, transforming Gildan into a broader global powerhouse [9][10] Company Overview - Gildan Activewear is a leading global manufacturer of basic apparel, focusing on high-volume, high-quality activewear and hosiery, with a strong portfolio of recognized brands [5][8] - The company's market capitalization is $10.9 billion, with a trailing twelve months (TTM) revenue of $3.4 billion and net income of $475.1 million [4] - Gildan's competitive advantages include operational efficiency, extensive distribution, and vertical integration across multiple geographies [5][8] Investment Position - Ararat Capital's stake in Gildan now represents 6.7% of its assets under management (AUM), ranking as its fifth-largest position [3][10] - Gildan's shares have increased by approximately 17% over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500, which rose nearly 13% in the same period [3]

Core Insights - Gildan Activewear Inc. has completed the acquisition of HanesBrands Inc., establishing itself as a global leader in the apparel industry [1][2] - The acquisition is expected to double Gildan's scale and enhance its capabilities in activewear and innerwear, providing a strong platform for innovation and growth [2] Company Overview - Gildan is a prominent manufacturer of everyday basic apparel, offering products such as activewear, underwear, socks, and intimates to a diverse customer base including wholesale distributors and global lifestyle brands [3] - The company markets its products under a variety of owned brands, including Gildan, Hanes, and Champion, across multiple regions including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America [3] Manufacturing and ESG Practices - Gildan operates large-scale, vertically integrated manufacturing facilities primarily located in Central America, the Caribbean, North America, and Asia [4] - The company is committed to industry-leading labor, environmental, and governance practices, which are integral to its long-term business strategy and ESG initiatives [4] Integration and Synergies - Gildan aims to achieve at least $200 million in run-rate cost synergies from the integration of HanesBrands, emphasizing the importance of a seamless and collaborative integration process [2]

All right, welcome back everybody. Black Friday is in full swing this morning and our next guest is powering many of those sales. Harley Finkelstein is the president of Shopify.And Harley, thank you for coming in today. >> Great to be here. >> You've got data that is not just up to the hour, but up to the almost minute.>> We do. Yeah, we have we have uh minute minutes to minute data. Right now, as we talked about, we have about 12% of all US e-commerce on Shopify.Obviously, most people think that we support ...

Core Insights - American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO) is anticipated to show revenue growth in its third-quarter fiscal 2025 results, with a consensus estimate of $1.32 billion, reflecting a 2.3% increase year-over-year [1] - The earnings consensus estimate stands at 43 cents per share, indicating a 10.4% decline from the previous year, although it has seen a slight increase in the last 30 days [2] Sales Performance - AEO's sales performance is expected to benefit from brand strength, particularly at Aerie, and positive demand in categories such as intimates, soft dressing, sleepwear, and activewear [3] - The company has made significant investments in digital channels, store optimization, and marketing campaigns, which are likely to support top-line growth [4] Cost and Profitability Challenges - AEO faces challenges from a tough operating environment, including weak consumer sentiment and inflation, which may impact profitability [5] - Increased costs related to selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses, advertising, and tariffs are expected to weigh on the company's profitability for the quarter [6] Earnings Prediction - The Zacks model indicates a strong likelihood of an earnings beat for AEO, supported by a positive Earnings ESP of +1.55% and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [7] Valuation and Stock Performance - AEO's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio is 15.27X, which is below the industry average of 16.62X, suggesting it offers compelling value for investors [10] - The stock has experienced a significant increase of 82.6% over the past six months, outperforming the industry, which saw a decline of 0.7% [10]

Core Viewpoint - Gildan Activewear Inc. is positioned positively in the market with strong analyst recommendations and solid financial metrics ahead of its upcoming quarterly earnings report Group 1: Earnings Expectations - Wall Street anticipates earnings per share of $0.98 and revenue of approximately $914.9 million for Gildan Activewear's upcoming quarterly earnings [1][6] Group 2: Analyst Recommendations - The stock has garnered a consensus "Buy" recommendation from eight brokerages, including two "hold" ratings, three "buy" ratings, and three "strong buy" ratings [2] - National Bankshares increased their price target for GIL from C$91.00 to C$92.00, maintaining an "outperform" rating [3] - TD Securities raised their price objective from C$60.00 to C$67.00, assigning a "buy" rating [3] Group 3: Financial Metrics - GIL has a P/E ratio of approximately 18.89, a price-to-sales ratio of about 2.72, and an enterprise value to sales ratio of around 3.29, indicating a balanced valuation [4] - The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of approximately 1.39 and a current ratio of about 3.87, suggesting strong liquidity [5] - GIL offers an earnings yield of about 5.29%, making it an attractive option for investors [5]

Core Insights - Figs (FIGS) is valued at $1.33 billion and operates as a direct-to-consumer healthcare apparel and lifestyle brand, offering a range of products including scrubs, lab coats, activewear, and masks [1] - The stock has shown strong technical momentum, reaching a two-year high of $8.24 on October 22, and has gained 30% over the past year [4][3] Company Overview - Figs designs and sells healthcare apparel and non-scrub offerings, including sports bras, performance leggings, and loungewear, primarily through its website and mobile app [1] - The company has a 100% "Buy" technical rating from Barchart, indicating strong market confidence [4][5] Stock Performance - Since the Trend Seeker "Buy" signal was issued on October 15, the stock has appreciated by 5.28% [2] - Figs has achieved 9 new highs and a 17.25% gain in the last month, with a current trading price of $8.11 and a 50-day moving average of $7.09 [5] - The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 71.24, suggesting the stock is in a strong upward trend [5]