Market Update
Stock Movers: Levi Strauss, WD-40, PriceSmart
Scott Peters
11 Jul, 2025
New York City
Levi Strauss & Co. increased 1.7% to $19.73 after the apparel and jeans company reported nearly a four-fold increase in quarterly earnings.
Consolidated revenue in the June quarter increased to $1.4 billion from $1.3 billion, net income jumped to $67 million from $18 million, and diluted earnings per share rose to 17 cents from 4 cents a year ago.
For the six-month period, revenue edged higher to $3 billion from $2.8 billion, net income soared to $202 million from $7.3 million, and diluted earnings per share advanced to 51 cents from 2 cents a year ago.
Geographically, in the Americas, net revenues increased 5% on a reported basis and 9% on an organic basis.
Organic revenue in the U.S. grew 7%, and the Levi’s® brand sales were up 9% globally.
The company's annual revenue guidance is based on the U.S. tariff rate of 30% on imports from China and 10% for the rest of the world for the remainder of the year and excludes the discontinued operations of Dockers.
The company revised higher annual revenue growth to between 1% and 2%, up from the previous estimate of a decline between 1% and 2%.
The organic net revenue growth range was raised to an increase between 4.5% and 5.5%, up from the previous range between 3.5% and 4.5%.
Gross margin expansion was revised to 80 basis points, lower than the previous estimate of up to 100 basis points, due to a 20-basis-point impact from tariffs, including cost control measures.
The company revised its adjusted diluted earnings per share higher by 5 cents to between $1.25 and $1.30, up from the previously estimated range between $1.20 and $1.25.
The company returned approximately $51 million to shareholders through dividends in the second quarter, an 8% increase from a year ago, representing a dividend of $0.13 per share.
As of June 1, the company had $560 million remaining under its current share repurchase authorization.
The company declared an increase in the dividend to $0.14 per share for the third quarter, totaling approximately $55 million, payable on August 8.
WD-40 Co. declined 2.1% to $224.90, and the maintenance products maker reported a 5% rise in its earnings in the fiscal third quarter ending in June.
Consolidated revenue in the quarter increased to $156.9 million from $155 million, net income inched higher to $21 million from $19.8 million, and diluted earnings per share rose to $1.54 from $1.46 a year ago.
For the six-month period, revenue edged higher to $456.5 billion from $434.6 billion, net income soared to $69.8 million from $52.9 million, and diluted earnings per share advanced to $5.13 from $3.88 a year ago.
The company guided full-year net sales growth to narrow to between 6% and 9%, or $600 million and $620 million, after adjusting for estimated translation impacts of foreign currency.
Gross margin for the full year continues to be expected to be between 55% and 56%.
The company estimated the income tax rate to be around 22.5%.
The diluted earnings per share estimate was revised higher to between $5.30 and $5.60 based on an estimated 13.5 million weighted average shares outstanding.
This new range reflects anticipated growth of between 12% and 18% compared to 2024.
The company’s board of directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.94 per share payable on July 31 to stockholders of record on July 18.
PriceSmart Inc. increased by 0.7% to $107.70 after the warehouse club operator reported an 8% rise in its earnings in the fiscal third quarter ending in June.
Consolidated revenue in the June quarter inched higher to $1.3 billion from $1.2 billion, net income increased to $35.1 million from $32.5 million, and diluted earnings per share rose to $1.14 from $1.08 a year ago.
For the nine-month period, revenue advanced to $3.8 billion from $3.6 billion, net income soared to $166.3 million from $109.8 million, and diluted earnings per share edged higher to $3.80 from $3.62 a year ago.
Japan Explores Future with Less Reliance On U.S. Markets and Defense
Akira Ito
11 Jul, 2025
Tokyo
Stocks in Tokyo struggled to advance amid escalating trade tensions with the U.S. and persistent worries about the domestic economic growth outlook.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average eased 0.1% and extended weekly loss to 0.2%, and the Topix index edged higher 0.5% and extended weekly gain to 0.3%.
The U.S. president announced a 25% tariff on Japanese goods effective August 1 and targeted Brazil, Canada, and the European Union with renewed threats of higher import duties.
Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reiterated his stance against the additional tariff and signaled the need to reduce reliance on the U.S. for exports and defense.
After nearly three months, bilateral negotiations between Japan and the U.S. have remained inconclusive and yielded no results, and investors are worried that the prolonged talks could hamper Japan's exports to the U.S.
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average decreased 0.1% to 39,624.01, and the Topix added 0.5% to 2,827.22.
Technology stocks led Friday's market advance, reflecting ongoing strength in overnight trading in New York.
Tokyo Electron Ltd. increased 0.9% to ¥26,990.0, Advantest Corp. gained 0.8% to ¥11,340.0, and Disco Corp. edged up 1% to ¥43,430.0.
Shipping companies were in focus after Houthi attacks sank a Greek cargo ship in the Red Sea this week, doubling the insurance for ocean transport carriers.
Nippon Yusen KK inched higher 1.5% to ¥5,177.0, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. gained 1.7% to ¥4,790.0, and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. advanced 1.5% to ¥2,045.0.
Japan Explores Future with Less Reliance On U.S. Markets and
Akira Ito
11 Jul, 2025
Tokyo
Stocks in Tokyo struggled to advance amid escalating trade tensions with the U.S. and persistent worries about the domestic economic growth outlook.
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average eased 0.1% and extended weekly loss to 0.2%, and the Topix index edged higher 0.5% and extended weekly gain to 0.3%.
The U.S. president announced a 25% tariff on Japanese goods effective August 1 and targeted Brazil, Canada, and the European Union with renewed threats of higher import duties.
Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reiterated his stance against the additional tariff and signaled the need to reduce reliance on the U.S. for exports and defense.
After nearly three months, bilateral negotiations between Japan and the U.S. have remained inconclusive and yielded no results, and investors are worried that the prolonged talks could hamper Japan's exports to the U.S.
Japan Indexes and Stocks
The Nikkei 225 Stock Average decreased 0.1% to 39,624.01, and the Topix added 0.5% to 2,827.22.
Technology stocks led Friday's market advance, reflecting ongoing strength in overnight trading in New York.
Tokyo Electron Ltd. increased 0.9% to ¥26,990.0, Advantest Corp. gained 0.8% to ¥11,340.0, and Disco Corp. edged up 1% to ¥43,430.0.
Shipping companies were in focus after Houthi attacks sank a Greek cargo ship in the Red Sea this week, doubling the insurance for ocean transport carriers.
Nippon Yusen KK inched higher 1.5% to ¥5,177.0, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. gained 1.7% to ¥4,790.0, and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. advanced 1.5% to ¥2,045.0.
China Indexes Extend Weekly Gains to 2% Amid Hopes of Stimulus and Earnings Growth
Li Chen
11 Jul, 2025
Hong Kong
Stocks in Hong Kong and mainland China advanced on Friday and extended weekly gains amid hopes of improved earnings and policy support.
The Hang Seng index gained more than 1.5%, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 index advanced more than 1%, amid expectations of improving earnings in the manufacturing sector and Internet-based platform operators.
For the week, the Hang Seng index gained 2.2% and the CSI index advanced to 2.7%, and the benchmark indexes reached new three-month highs.
Investors moved on from constantly changing U.S. trade policy and arbitrary threats from the U.S. president.
The key U.S. trade partners—China, Japan, the European Union, Canada, and Mexico—have resisted aggressive import taxes announced by the Trump administration.
But the ensuing business uncertainty has disrupted international trade and roiled global financial markets.
Investors in China are dialing down expectations for economic growth in the second half, as exporters face headwinds and reduced profitability.
Investors are hoping that a Politburo meeting later in the month may provide additional fiscal stimulus, but for now policymakers are resisting the move.
China Indexes and Stocks
The Hang Seng index increased 1.6% to 24,408.41, and the CSI 300 index rose 1.1% to 4,053.58.
China Mengniu Dairy Company Ltd. jumped 3.5% to HK$16.48 after the company confirmed it repurchased HK$6.35 million worth of its shares on Thursday.
Alibaba Group Holding advanced 3.3% to HK $106.70, Tencent Holding 1.5% to HK $505.00, and Meituan edged down 1.2% to HK $122.40.
China Indexes Extend Weekly Gains to 2% Amid Hopes of Stimulus and Earnings Growth
Li Chen
11 Jul, 2025
Hong Kong
Stocks in Hong Kong and mainland China advanced on Friday and extended weekly gains amid hopes of improved earnings and policy support.
The Hang Seng index gained more than 1.5%, and the mainland-focused CSI 300 index advanced more than 1%, amid expectations of improving earnings in the manufacturing sector and Internet-based platform operators.
For the week, the Hang Seng index and the CSI index advanced to new three-month highs as investors moved on from constantly changing U.S. trade policy and arbitrary threats from the U.S. president.
The key U.S. trade partners—China, Japan, the European Union, Canada, and Mexico—have resisted aggressive import taxes announced by the Trump administration.
But the ensuing business uncertainty has disrupted international trade and roiled global financial markets.
Investors in China are dialing down expectations for economic growth in the second half, as exporters face headwinds and reduced profitability.
Investors are hoping that a Politburo meeting later in the month may provide additional fiscal stimulus, but for now policymakers are resisting the move.
China Indexes and Stocks
The Hang Seng index increased 1.6% to 24,408.41, and the CSI 300 index rose 1.1% to 4,053.58.
China Mengniu Dairy Company Ltd. jumped 3.5% to HK$16.48 after the company confirmed it repurchased HK$6.35 million worth of its shares on Thursday.
Alibaba Group Holding advanced 3.3% to HK $106.70, Tencent Holding 1.5% to HK $505.00, and Meituan edged down 1.2% to HK $122.40.