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lululemon(LULU) - 2026 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue increased by 7% or 8% on a constant currency basis to $2.4 billion in Q1 [9][25] - Gross margin increased by 60 basis points to 58.3% compared to the previous year [9][27] - Earnings per share were $2.6, exceeding expectations [9] - SG&A expenses were $943 million, or 39.8% of net revenue, compared to 38.1% in the same period last year [28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Men's revenue increased by 8%, while women's revenue increased by 7% [26] - Accessories and other categories grew by 8% [26] - Comparable sales increased by 1% overall [25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue in North America grew by 3% or 4% in constant currency, with Canada seeing a 9% increase [25][10] - In China Mainland, revenue increased by 21% or 22% in constant currency, with comparable sales up by 8% [25][11] - The Rest of World segment saw a revenue increase of 16% or 17% in constant currency [25][11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to maximize existing markets while expanding into new ones, with recent store openings in Denmark and Turkey [12] - Plans to enter Italy as a new company-operated market and Belgium and The Czech Republic under a franchise model later this year [12] - The focus remains on product innovation and community engagement through brand activations [16][18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in navigating the current environment, citing a strong balance sheet with $1.3 billion in cash and no debt [19] - The company is maintaining its revenue guidance for the full year, expecting growth of 7% to 8% [12][31] - Management acknowledged the cautious consumer behavior in the U.S. but noted market share gains in the premium athletic wear segment [11][72] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $430 million of stock during the quarter, demonstrating confidence in long-term prospects [9] - Inventory increased by 23% in dollar terms, impacted by tariffs and foreign exchange [30] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you expand on the mitigation efforts regarding tariffs? - Management highlighted strategic price increases on select items and efficiency actions in sourcing as mitigation strategies [42][43] Question: What are the comp drivers and traffic trends? - Management noted a decline in store traffic but an increase in average transaction size, with no material changes in trends month to month [51][52] Question: How are tariffs impacting margins? - The company expects a decrease in operating margin due to tariffs, with mitigation efforts planned for the second half of the year [57][58] Question: What is the outlook for inventory and markdowns? - Management indicated that while markdowns have not yet been necessary, they are planning for potential increases due to macroeconomic concerns [64][82] Question: How is the competitive landscape affecting pricing strategies? - Management is monitoring promotional activity in the U.S. and anticipates a dynamic competitive market, particularly in the second half of the year [87][88]