Market Update

Lululemon Athletica Inc. plunged 12.1% to $301.03, and the sports apparel retailer's results surpassed market expectations, but a weak outlook and tariff worries overshadowed the results. 

Revenue increased to $3.6 billion from $3.2 billion a year ago, net income jumped to $748.4 million from $669.45 million, and diluted earnings per share rose to $6.14 from $5.29 a year ago.

Improved results were driven by higher net revenue in all company segments: Americas, China, and the rest of the world.

Global comparable sales increased 3%, or 4% on a constant dollar basis.

Sales in the Americas region increased 7%, or 8% on a constant dollar basis, with comparable sales remaining flat in the quarter.

Sales in China surged 46%, or 48% on a constant dollar basis, with comparable sales advancing 26%, or 27% on a constant dollar basis.

Lululemon guided for fiscal 2025 revenue to be between $11.15 billion and $11.30 billion, or growth of only 5% to 7%, compared to $10.59 billion in 2024.

Diluted earnings per share are expected to be between $14.95 and $15.15 per share for the year, compared to $14.64 per share in 2024.

For the first quarter of 2025, the company estimated net revenue to be between $2.33 billion and $2.35 billion, or growth of 6% to 7%, compared to $2.21 billion a year ago, and diluted earnings per share between $2.53 and $2.58, compared to $2.54 in the same quarter a year ago.

China's net revenue was $425.0 million, or 12% of total revenue, compared to $290.7 million, or 9% of total revenue, in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Lululemon opened 13 new stores in China during the quarter, three net new stores in the Americas, and two new stores in its rest of the world segment.

Total company-operated stores at the end of the quarter increased to 747, compared to 711 for the same period in 2023.

During the quarter, the company repurchased 0.9 million shares for $332.2 million.


28 Mar, 2025

 

FedEx Corp. dropped 0.1% to $230.00 after the parcel delivery company reported increased revenue in the fiscal third quarter of 2025 ending in February.

Revenue increased to $22.16 billion from $21.74 billion, net income jumped to $909 million from $879 million, and diluted earnings per share rose to $3.76 from $3.51 a year ago.

The company guided for 2025 revenue to be slightly down from a year earlier and diluted earnings per share between $15.15 and $15.75, compared to $17.21 in 2024.

Capital spending is expected at $4.9 billion, compared to the prior forecast of $5.2 billion, with a priority on “investments in network optimization and efficiency improvement, including fleet and facility modernization and automation,” the company said in a release to investors.

FedEx is reaffirming its forecast of permanent cost reductions from the DRIVE transformation program of $2.2 billion; and effective tax rate of approximately 24.0% prior to the mark-to-market retirement plans accounting adjustments.

The company completed its $2.5 billion fiscal 2025 share repurchase plan with $0.5 billion in share repurchases via open market transactions during the quarter.

Approximately 1.8 million shares were repurchased, with the decrease in outstanding shares benefiting third quarter results by 12 cents per diluted share.

As of February 28, $2.6 billion remained available for repurchases under the company's 2024 stock repurchase authorization.

Cash on-hand as of February 28 was $5.1 billion.

The company is planning to spin off its freight segment, as its operating results decreased during the quarter due to lower fuel surcharges, reduced weight per shipment, and fewer shipments, partially offset by higher base yield.


24 Mar, 2025

 

FactSet Research Systems Inc. eased 0.4% to $431.12 after the enterprise solutions provider to investment managers reported results for fiscal second quarter 2025 ending in February.

Revenue increased 4.5% to $570.66 million from $545.94 million, net income jumped 2.8% to $144.86 million from $140.94 million, and diluted earnings per share rose 1.4% to $4.28 from $4.22 a year ago.

“Client count as of February 28 was 8,645, a net increase of 396 clients in the past three months, mainly due to corporates, which now includes clients from the Irwin acquisition,” the company said in a release to investors.

The count includes clients with annual subscription value of $10,000 and more and does not reflect the LiquidityBook acquisition.

User count was 219,141 as of February 28, a net increase of 874 users in the past three months, mainly driven by an increase in wealth management users, and not reflecting the Irwin and LiquidityBook acquisitions.

FactSet had proposed a dividend of $39.5 million, or $1.04 per share, paid on March 20 to shareholders on record as of February 28.

In addition, the workflow solutions company repurchased 136,714 shares for $64.4 million at an average price of $470.70 during the second quarter, and $186.9 million remained available as of February 28.

The company guided for fiscal 2025 GAAP revenue to be between $2.30 billion to $2.32 billion, up from its previous forecast between $2.28 billion and $2.30 billion.

GAAP diluted earnings per share are estimated to be between $14.80 and $15.40, compared to the previous guidance between $15.10 and $15.70.

Adjusted diluted earnings per share are seen unchanged between $16.80 and $17.40.

GAAP operating margin is expected to be in the range of 32% and 33%, down from 32.5% and 33.5% previously announced.

Organic annual subscription value is expected to grow in the range of $100 million to $130 million, narrowing from $90 million to $140 million previously estimated.

Annual subscription value (ASV) was $2.31 billion as of February 28, compared to $2.18 billion a year ago.

Organic ASV was $2.28 billion as of February 28, up 4.1% or $90.7 million, year-over-year, and it increased $19.6 million over the last three months.


24 Mar, 2025

 

Carnival Corp. gained 0.05% to $20.95 after the cruise lines operator reported higher revenue in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 ending in February.

Revenue surged to $5.81 billion from $5.41 billion, net loss shrank to $78 million from a loss of $214 million, and diluted loss per share narrowed to 6 cents from a loss of 17 cents a year ago.

The company expects “to achieve both 2026 sea change financial targets one year in advance, with adjusted return on invested capital and adjusted EBITDA per available lower berth for 2025 reaching the highest levels in nearly two decades,” Carnival said in a release to investors.

“While we are not completely immune from the heightened macroeconomic and geopolitical volatility since providing our December guidance, we are still taking up our earnings expectations for the year.”

The company guided for the second quarter of 2025 adjusted EBITDA of approximately $1.3 billion, up 10% compared to the same quarter of 2024.

For the full year, Carnival estimated adjusted net income to be up over 30% compared to 2024 and better than December guidance by $185 million.

Adjusted EBITDA for the full year is expected at approximately $6.7 billion, up nearly 10% compared to 2024 and better than the December guidance.

Diluted earnings per share are estimated at 22 cents in the second quarter and $1.83 for the full year, compared to 7 cents and $1.44 a year ago, respectively.

Adjusted net income is seen at $285 million in the second quarter and $2.49 billion for the full year, compared to $92 million and $1.92 billion a year ago, respectively.


24 Mar, 2025