Lululemon stock rating maintained at Buy by Truist despite guidance cut

Published 05/09/2025, 14:12
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Investing.com - Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) received a reiterated Buy rating and $290.00 price target from Truist Securities despite the company’s second-quarter results and reduced full-year guidance. According to InvestingPro data, LULU currently trades at a P/E ratio of 13.88x, suggesting potential value opportunity despite recent headwinds.

The athletic apparel retailer reported second-quarter revenue of $2.53 billion, slightly below analyst expectations of $2.54 billion, with comparable sales in the Americas declining 3% on a constant currency basis, worsening from the 1% decline in the first quarter. Despite these challenges, InvestingPro analysis shows the company maintains strong financial health with a current ratio of 2.27x, indicating robust liquidity.

Lululemon’s gross margins of 58.5% exceeded forecasts of 57.6% but fell approximately 110 basis points year-over-year, with product margins decreasing 80 basis points, including a 60 basis point impact from increased markdowns that exceeded the company’s prior expectations.

The company reported earnings per share of $3.10, surpassing the $2.86 estimate, though Truist noted that approximately 63% of the earnings beat came from a stock-based compensation accrual reversal that contributed $0.15 to EPS.

Lululemon lowered its fiscal year 2025 sales guidance to $10.85-$11 billion (representing 3-4% growth versus previous 5-7% guidance) and reduced its EPS outlook to $12.77-$12.97 from $14.58-$14.78, citing continued pressure in the Americas, deceleration in China, approximately $240 million in pressure from incremental tariffs, and increased markdown expectations.

In other recent news, Lululemon Athletica Inc. has issued weaker-than-expected guidance for the third quarter and the full fiscal year 2026. The company projected third-quarter earnings per share between $2.18 and $2.23, falling short of the $2.90 consensus, with anticipated revenue ranging from $2.47 to $2.5 billion, below the expected $2.56 billion. This guidance has led several analyst firms to lower their price targets for Lululemon. Piper Sandler reduced its target to $165, citing fatigue in the casual wear segment, while Bernstein lowered its target to $220 due to a slowdown in the U.S. market and potential challenges in China. Additionally, Needham adjusted its price target to $192 following the disappointing guidance but maintained a Buy rating. TD Cowen also decreased its target to $220, attributing the change to the impact of recent tariff adjustments. These developments reflect the challenging environment Lululemon is navigating, as it addresses both domestic and international market dynamics.

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