HENCHEL GREGORY J sold $4.4M of ANF

Jefferies maintains a 'buy' rating for Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF), citing strong brand momentum, pricing power, and disciplined discounting. The retailer reported 8% sales growth for its namesake brand and 2% for Hollister in Q2. AUR increased by a mid-single-digit percentage, and gross margin expanded by 850 basis points. The company expects continued growth and margin expansion.

Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) reported Q2 revenue and earnings above expectations, raising its fiscal 2026 outlook. The company cited brand momentum, merchandise execution, and disciplined inventory management. Management also filed a shelf registration for $98.65M of Class A stock tied to its employee stock ownership plan. Analysts project revenues of $5.9B and earnings of $504.8M by 2029, with some indicating a 10% potential downside.

Zumiez (ZUMZ) reported $209M revenue, down 2.5% YoY, missing estimates. Guidance missed significantly. Stock down 19.4% to $13.46. Lululemon (LULU) reported $2.42B revenue, down 4.3% YoY, missing estimates. Guidance also missed. Stock down 18.9% to $98.79. Urban Outfitters (URBN) reported $1.66B revenue, up 10.4% YoY, beating estimates. Mixed quarter. Stock down 8.6% to $75.86.

Tilly's (TLYS) reported $163.5M revenue, up 8.1% YoY, beating estimates and raising guidance. Its stock rose 18.1%. Lululemon (LULU) reported $2.42B revenue, down 4.3% YoY, missing estimates and guidance, with its stock falling 18.7%. Gap (GAP) reported $3.65B revenue, down 2% YoY, missing estimates but raising full-year EPS guidance, with its stock up 3.5%. Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) reported $1.27B revenue, up 4.8% YoY, beating estimates and raising guidance, with its stock up 34.8%.

Several retail stocks fell after August's Producer Price Index rose 5.4% YoY, driven by energy costs, and Brent crude oil surpassed $100/barrel, raising inflation concerns. Affected companies include Zumiez (ZUMZ, -4%), Macy's (M, -4.3%), Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF, -3.9%), and Victoria's Secret (VSXY, -4.2%). America's Car-Mart (CRMT, -4.8%) also declined, trading 96% below its 52-week high.

Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) shares rose 39% after reporting record Q2 sales of $1.27B, beating estimates. The company raised its FY2026 outlook, increased share buyback target to $500M, and forecast Q3 earnings of $2.90-$3.20 per share.