ANF

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF). Shares have added about 8.7% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500. But investors have to be wondering, will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Abercrombie due for a pullback? Well, first let's take a quick look at the latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the recent catalysts for Abercrombie & Fitch Company before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late. Abercrombie posted first-quarter fiscal 2026 results, wherein the top line lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate while the bottom line surpassed the same. Meanwhile, the company’s sales increased year over year, but earnings fell. Abercrombie’s earnings per share (EPS) of $1.47 in the fiscal first quarter fell 7.5% from the year-ago quarter. However, the bottom line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.26 per share.Net sales rose 2% year over year to $1.11 billion but missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.12 billion. The quarter marked the 14th straight quarter of sales growth. Results were driven by higher sales in the Americas and a sharp acceleration in APAC, partially offset by weaker demand in EMEA. Comparable sales dipped 1% on a constant-currency basis, reflecting a softer regional mix despite continued growth in key markets. Americas net sales increased 3% year over year to $899.9 million, supported by 1% comparable-sales growth. APAC was the standout in growth rate, with net sales up 24% to $46.5 million and comparable sales up 15%. In contrast, EMEA net sales declined 10% to $167.4 million and comparable sales fell 11%, which management tied to softer demand as the Middle East conflict ramped up, particularly impacting the Hollister brands in the region. By brand, Abercrombie net sales rose 3% to $564.7 million, while Hollister net sales were essentially flat at $549.1 million. The brand split underscores that the company’s growth in the quarter was concentrated in Abercrombie, while Hollister held revenues steady but faced pressure in comparable sales. Comparable sales were flat for Abercrombie and down 2% for Hollister. Selling expenses increased 7.8% to $431.2 million and rose 230 basis points (bps) to 38.7% of net sales, while general and administrative expense increased 4.5% to $182.8 million and moved up 50 b...

Interested in Urban Outfitters, Inc.? Here are five stocks we like better. Urban Outfitters extended its recent run of strong quarters, once again topping Wall Street expectations while delivering record sales and earnings. Growth was broad-based across the company's portfolio, with Free People and FP Movement posting strong results, while Nuuly and the wholesale segment delivered particularly strong revenue growth. Despite concerns about tariffs and higher freight costs, Wall Street remains bullish on the stock, with analysts' consensus price target implying more than 20% upside from current levels. Urban Outfitters Inc. (NASDAQ: URBN) delivered a strong first quarter, posting record sales and earnings that topped Wall Street expectations. The results extended the retailer's recent run of strong quarters and highlighted continued strength across its brands. Investors were pleased with the results, sending shares modestly higher following the earnings release. Since then, however, the stock has drifted lower. The pullback may reflect concerns about tariffs and freight costs, or perhaps some profit-taking after the stock hit an all-time high in January. → Palantir’s Drone Tailwind Puts Its Defense AI Story Back in Focus for Investors For the first quarter of fiscal 2027, Urban Outfitters, whose portfolio includes retail brands such as Free People, Anthropologie, and Urban Outfitters, reported earnings of $1.30 per share, up from $1.16 a year ago and 18 cents ahead of Wall Street expectations. Revenue rose 11.4% year over year to $1.48 billion, beating estimates by nearly $17 million. "Our teams delivered another outstanding quarter, exceeding our plans and setting new sales and operating profit records," Chief Operating Officer Frank Conforti said on the earnings call. "All our retail segment brands delivered positive retail segment comps, while four of our five brands posted record first quarter sales." → Will the SpaceX IPO Put These 5 Public Space Stocks Into a Higher Orbit? Free People and FP Movement were particularly strong performers during the quarter, with Free People delivering 12% revenue growth and FP Movement reporting a 32% increase in brand revenue. Together, the FP Group achieved record first-quarter profitability, benefiting from record-low markdown rates, strong store performance, and leverage within the wholesale channel. The company's clot...

Abercrombie & Fitch’s first quarter results were met with a positive market reaction, as management attributed the outcome to continued net sales growth in the Americas and APAC, despite notable headwinds in EMEA. CEO Fran Horowitz-Bonadies highlighted the company’s ability to maintain customer engagement across both Abercrombie and Hollister brands, and cited operational discipline in inventory and promotional activity as key contributors. The launch of a new merchandising ERP system and ongoing investment in marketing and digital initiatives also played significant roles in shaping the quarter’s performance. Is now the time to buy ANF? Find out in our full research report (it’s free). Revenue: $1.11 billion vs analyst estimates of $1.12 billion (1.5% year-on-year growth, 0.8% miss) EPS (GAAP): $1.47 vs analyst estimates of $1.27 (15.7% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $131.1 million vs analyst estimates of $117.2 million (11.8% margin, 11.9% beat) Revenue Guidance for Q2 CY2026 is $1.24 billion at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $1.25 billion EPS (GAAP) guidance for the full year is $10.60 at the midpoint, missing analyst estimates by 1.1% Operating Margin: 8%, down from 9.3% in the same quarter last year Locations: 834 at quarter end, up from 793 in the same quarter last year Same-Store Sales fell 1% year on year (4% in the same quarter last year) Market Capitalization: $3.42 billion While we enjoy listening to the management’s commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls is the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention. Dana Telsey (Telsey Advisory Group) asked about the impact of Middle East events and ERP implementation. CEO Fran Horowitz-Bonadies responded that the Middle East reduced net sales growth by about 50 basis points and that the ERP upgrade is now complete, supporting future expansion. Corey Tarlowe (Jefferies) probed trends by month and promotional cadence. Horowitz-Bonadies confirmed promotions remained disciplined, with positive AUR growth, and said Hollister is expected to grow for the year, supported by strong categories like graphic tees and swim. Marni Shapiro (The Retail Tracker) questioned inventory agility and chase mode. Horowitz-Bonadies explained the company leverages global sup...

A legal settlement made the quarter look great, but investors saw right through it to the rising costs underneath. If you just glanced at Buckle (BKE)’s headline numbers, you’d be scratching your head. The company sailed past earnings estimates with $0.92 per share. Yet the stock promptly fell -9.1% on a flat day for the market. What gives? It turns out investors were looking past the headlines and into the footnotes. The Women's Aisle Is Still a Gold Mine To be fair, there's real strength here. The women's business is firing on all cylinders, with merchandise sales up 11% for the quarter. That performance helped drive a respectable 5.1% increase in comparable store sales, showing Buckle can still get shoppers in the door and spending. A Convenient One-Time Boost But that impressive bottom line had a secret ingredient: a $19.1 million interchange fee litigation settlement. It was a one-time windfall. If you strip that out, the picture changes. Management noted that, “Absent the impact of this settlement, SG&A expenses were up 150 basis points for the quarter,” driven by higher compensation costs. The Back Room Is Getting Crowded That cost creep is where the market’s anxiety is focused. The problem extends beyond the expense line. Gross margin for the quarter was 46.2%, a dip from the prior year. More concerning, inventory ballooned. The company ended the quarter with its inventory up 13.5% from a year ago, more than double its 6.1% growth in net sales. That’s a lot of extra denim to move. Buckle's limited e-commerce presence means excess inventory has nowhere to go but the clearance rack, and clearance pricing is precisely what eats into the gross margins the market is already watching closely. So, the story isn't about a single great quarter. It's about whether the underlying business can outrun its own rising costs and inventory build. The legal settlement is in the rearview mirror. Now, the focus shifts to fundamentals. The single most important number to watch next quarter will be that inventory line. If Buckle can get it growing slower than sales again, the market might start believing in the bottom line. If not, this quarter's sell-off could be just the beginning. So, What Should You Do? Reacting to a single earnings print is its own kind of risk. The Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio takes the other side of that bet: 30 quality names, sized and re-ba...

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. ANF used its first-quarter 2026 earnings call to stress continuity rather than reset. Management held its full-year outlook, pointed to a completed ERP upgrade and said that the business remains on track for another year of sales growth and double-digit operating margin. That message mattered because the quarter again exposed the main pressure point. Strength in the Americas and APAC offset softness in EMEA, where the Middle East conflict weighed on demand, especially at Hollister. ANF Holds Full-Year Line Chief executive officer Fran Horowitz said that the company started 2026 from a position of strength and remains focused on delivering a fourth straight year of sales growth. She emphasized that management is maintaining its full-year outlook on net sales, operating margin and earnings per share despite disruption in EMEA. Chief financial officer Robert Ball reiterated that stance, keeping fiscal 2026 revenue growth at 3-5% and the operating margin at 12-12.5%. The company also maintained its earnings per share projection of $10.2-$11 and share repurchases of around $450 million. That steadiness came even as Abercrombie posted mixed headline results versus the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Earnings of $1.47 per share topped the estimate of $1.26, while revenues of $1.11 billion lagged the estimate of $1.12 billion. Abercrombie & Fitch Company price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Abercrombie & Fitch Company Quote Abercrombie Leans on Core Markets Horowitz said that the business continued to see healthy traffic and conversion in the Americas, with balanced demand across brands. She highlighted the U.K. as another constructive market, calling it an example of the company successfully exporting its operating playbook. On the numbers, Americas sales rose 3% and APAC climbed 24%, while EMEA fell 10%. At the brand level, Abercrombie posted 3% sales growth and Hollister was flat against a strong prior-year comparison. Management also said that both brands grew in the Americas, supported by positive traffic, modest average unit retail gains and unit growth. That regional performance remained central to the company’s confidence in its outlook. ANF Says EMEA Pressure Is Contained The clearest area of investor scrutiny was EMEA. Ball said that the Middle East conflict reduced first-quarter total company sales growth by more than 50 basis points rel...

This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Net Sales: $1.1 billion, up 2% year-over-year. Operating Margin: 8%, exceeding the plan. Earnings Per Share (EPS): $1.47, above the expected range. Share Repurchases: $105 million, representing 3% of shares outstanding. Regional Sales Performance: Americas up 3%, APAC up 24%, EMEA down 10%. Abercrombie Brands Net Sales Growth: 3% with flat comparable sales. Hollister Brands Net Sales: Flat with a 2% decline in comparable sales. Inventory: Down 2% at cost, with low single-digit unit growth. Cash and Cash Equivalents: $594 million with liquidity of approximately $1 billion. Full Year Net Sales Growth Outlook: 3% to 5%. Full Year Operating Margin Outlook: 12% to 12.5%. Capital Expenditures: Expected around $225 million. Store Openings and Closures: 50 new stores, 20 closures, net store openers. Second Quarter Net Sales Growth Outlook: 2% to 4%. Second Quarter Operating Margin Outlook: Around 10%. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 7 Warning Signs with BMO. Is ANF fairly valued? Test your thesis with our free DCF calculator. Release Date: May 27, 2026 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Abercrombie & Fitch Co (NYSE:ANF) delivered record Q1 net sales of $1.1 billion, marking the 14th consecutive quarter of growth. The company exceeded expectations on both operating income and earnings per share, with EPS reaching $1.47. The Americas region saw a 3% sales increase, with strong performance across brands and good traffic levels in both stores and digital channels. Abercrombie Brands achieved a 3% net sales growth, driven by positive customer response to spring assortments and consistent traffic and conversion levels. The company successfully launched an upgraded merchandising ERP, which is expected to enable long-term channel and category expansion. Sales in the EMEA region declined by 10% due to regional conflicts, particularly impacting the Middle East and other European markets. Comparable sales for the quarter were down 1%, with Hollister Brands experiencing flat net sales and a 2% decline in comparable sales. The company faced a 130 basis point year-over-year decline in operating margin, primarily due to increased marketing investment and ERP implementation costs. Tariff expenses and elevated freight costs are expected to continue impacting gross margins thro...

Earnings season is winding down, with nearly all first quarter reports in the rearview mirror. S&P 500 companies have largely reported solid results and printed profits so far, even amid ongoing risks from the Iran war. The index is on track for double-digit earnings growth. This week, market watchers will get some fresh updates from computer hardware companies, software companies, and retail companies, among others. Zscaler (ZS), Marvell Technology (MRVL), Salesforce (CRM), Costco Wholesale (COST), Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF), and Dell Technologies (DELL) are among the companies reporting this week.

Image source: The Motley Fool. Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. ET Chief Executive Officer — Fran Horowitz-Bonadies Chief Financial Officer — Robert Ball Fran Horowitz-Bonadies: Thanks, Mo, and thanks, everyone, for joining. I'm happy to report that, once again, we delivered against our commitments, growing net sales for the 14th consecutive quarter setting a record Q1 despite headwinds in the Middle East and other select countries in EMEA. On the bottom line, our first quarter results exceeded expectations on both operating income and earnings per share. We're seeing good progress against our company priorities so far in 2026, led by net sales growth across brands in the Americas and other key markets like the U.K. We successfully launched our upgraded merchandising ERP, which will enable long-term channel and category expansion, and we continue to make strategic investments in marketing, digital and stores to drive profitable growth. One quarter in, the team continues to stay agile in a dynamic global environment, and 2026 is shaping up to be another year of consistent progress as we maintain our full year outlook on net sales, operating margin and earnings per share. Recapping the first quarter. We delivered record net sales of $1.1 billion on growth of 2% to last year, in line with our expectations. Operating margin of 8% exceeded our plan, reflecting slightly lower tariff rates. Earnings per share of $1.47 was above our expected range, and we used our strong balance sheet to return $105 million to shareholders through share repurchases totaling 3% of shares outstanding as of the beginning of the year. Regionally, the Americas grew 3% with growth across brands and good traffic levels in both stores and digital. In EMEA, continued growth in the U.K. was more than offset by declines in the Middle East and other European markets as the regional conflict ramped up, driving EMEA sales down 10% for the quarter. The team has taken action by controlling receipts and dialing in promotions to align to the trend. In APAC, we grew 24% on top of 5% growth last year, and our strategic evaluation of the region is underway to ensure we fully capitalize on the large addressable market there. From a brand perspective, Abercrombie Brands delivered net sales growth of 3% for the quarter on flat comparable sales. We delivered positive AURs in the quarter on solid custome...

Investing.com -- Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) reported first-quarter results that exceeded earnings expectations while revenue fell slightly short, sending shares up 4.3% premarket as investors focused on the company's profitability. The retailer posted adjusted earnings per share of $1.47, beating the analyst consensus of $1.29 by $0.18. However, revenue of $1.1 billion came in below the $1.12 billion estimate, though it represented a 2% increase from the prior year period. The company achieved an operating margin of 8.0% with comparable sales declining 1%. Regional performance was mixed, with Americas net sales rising 3% and APAC surging 24%, while EMEA declined 10% as demand softened amid the Middle East conflict. By brand, Abercrombie grew 3% while Hollister remained flat compared to last year. "We delivered record first quarter net sales and our 14th consecutive quarter of growth, reflecting our teams' consistent execution for our customers amid a dynamic global environment," said CEO Fran Horowitz. "Our bottom-line results reflect discipline and consistency, with both operating margin and earnings per diluted share exceeding our outlook." For the second quarter, Abercrombie expects net sales growth of 2% to 4% with earnings per share of $1.80 to $2.00. The midpoint of $1.90 compares to the analyst consensus, though no specific estimate was provided for the second quarter. The company maintained its full-year outlook, projecting net sales growth of 3% to 5% and earnings per share of $10.20 to $11.00. The midpoint of $10.60 falls below the analyst consensus of $10.71. The company expects to repurchase around $450 million in shares for the year. Related articles Abercrombie & Fitch gains on earnings beat despite revenue miss Citi pushes back Fed rate cuts to May after blowout January jobs report Morgan Stanley CIO survey: Why AI hype isn’t boosting 2026 IT budgets

Our analysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here. Delivered a record first quarter with net sales growth for the 14th consecutive period, driven by strong execution in the Americas and APAC. Performance attribution highlights a robust consumer response to spring assortments and elevated lifestyle positioning, particularly within the Abercrombie brands. EMEA results were significantly impacted by the conflict in the Middle East, which reduced total company net sales growth by more than 50 basis points. Successfully implemented a multiyear merchandising ERP upgrade in March, which is expected to accelerate global partner onboarding and category expansion. Strategic positioning remains focused on 'fashion and value' across both brands, maintaining high conversion rates despite a dynamic macro environment. Operational agility was demonstrated through proactive inventory management and promotional alignment in regions experiencing softer demand trends. The company continues to invest in physical store expansion, citing the new SoHo flagship as the 'best expression' of the brand's evolved lifestyle identity. Full year guidance assumes a 15% tariff on all global imports into the U.S. effective for the second half of the year, impacting gross margins by approximately 20 basis points. Management expects a fourth consecutive year of net sales growth, with Q2 growth projected between 2% and 4% as ERP-related third-party order pauses resume. Operating margin targets of 12% to 12.5% remain unchanged, with modest AUR improvement expected to fund ongoing investments in marketing and digital tools. Strategic evaluation of the APAC region is underway to optimize the go-to-market model, potentially shifting toward capital-light partnerships or franchises. Capital allocation priorities include returning approximately $450 million to shareholders via share repurchases and investing $225 million in capital expenditures. The merchandising ERP implementation temporarily reduced Q1 top-line growth by approximately 100 basis points due to a pause in third-party orders. Freight costs provided a 180 basis point tailwind in Q1 but are expected to flip to a headwind in the second half of the year due to rising fuel prices. Management has applied for approximately $100 million in IEEPA...

Abercrombie & Fitch reported first-quarter earnings per diluted share of $1.47, beating analyst expectations and sending ANF stock up in premarket trading on Wednesday. The consensus analyst estimate had been $1.27 per share, per Yahoo Finance. Net sales rose 2% from a year earlier to $1.1 billion, marking the company's 14th consecutive quarter of sales growth, the company said. Wall Street had been looking for $1.12 billion in quarterly revenue, meaning the result came in just below expectations, per Markets Financial Content. Profitability narrowed on a year-over-year basis, with the operating margin slipping to 8% from 9.3% twelve months prior. Growth varied by region. Sales in the Americas rose 3% to $899.9 million, while Asia-Pacific sales jumped 24% to $46.5 million. Revenue in the EMEA region fell 10% to $167.4 million. The company said this drop was due to weaker consumer sentiment from the ongoing Middle East conflict, which especially affected the Hollister brand. "In EMEA, demand softened as the Middle East conflict ramped up, particularly impacting Hollister Brands, and we are proactively managing inventory and marketing to support the region," CEO Fran Horowitz said in a statement. After the Supreme Court struck down the tariffs, Abercrombie requested about $100 million in refunds for duties it had paid under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, according to Reuters. The new tariff outlook is expected to reduce full-year results by about 20 basis points, which is much better than the 70 basis points the company had forecast earlier. Abercrombie repurchased $105 million in stock during the quarter, representing a 3% reduction in shares outstanding from the start of the year. The company said it has $745 million remaining on its share repurchase authorization. For the full year, Abercrombie maintained its outlook for net sales growth of 3% to 5% and net income per diluted share in the range of $10.20 to $11.00. For the second quarter, the company forecast net sales growth of 2% to 4% and earnings per diluted share of $1.80 to $2.00. Heading into Wednesday's open, ANF shares were trading roughly 4% higher, though the stock remains down more than 40% on a year-to-date basis, according to Reuters.

Record first quarter net sales of $1.1 billion, up 2% from last year, 14th consecutive quarter of growth Net sales growth led by Americas up 3%, APAC up 24%, partially offset by 10% decline in EMEA Brand performance led by Abercrombie brands growth of 3%, with Hollister brands flat Operating margin of 8.0%, with earnings per diluted share of $1.47 exceeding outlook range $105 million in shares repurchased in the quarter; 3% of shares outstanding at beginning of the year Maintains full-year outlook to net sales growth of 3% to 5%, net income per diluted share of $10.20 to $11.00, share repurchases of around $450 million Second quarter outlook of net sales growth of 2% to 4%, net income per diluted share of $1.80 to $2.00, at least $150 million in share repurchases NEW ALBANY, Ohio, May 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) today announced results for the first quarter ended May 2, 2026. These compare to results for the first quarter ended May 3, 2025. Descriptions of the use of non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations of GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures accompany this release. Fran Horowitz, Chief Executive Officer, said, “We delivered record first quarter net sales and our 14th consecutive quarter of growth, reflecting our teams’ consistent execution for our customers amid a dynamic global environment. Results were driven by continued growth in the Americas, led by Abercrombie Brands, along with strong growth in APAC. In EMEA, demand softened as the Middle East conflict ramped up, particularly impacting Hollister Brands, and we are proactively managing inventory and marketing to support the region. Our bottom-line results reflect discipline and consistency, with both operating margin and earnings per diluted share exceeding our outlook. We continued to invest in stores and marketing to strengthen our brands and customer experiences, while also returning $105 million to shareholders through share repurchases, supported by our strong balance sheet. On our first-quarter progress, we are maintaining our full-year sales and operating margin outlook. With our customer at the center of everything we do and a strong foundation in place, we remain on offense across product and marketing and are confident in our path to deliver full-year net sales growth across brands, double-digit operating margins, strong cash flow and earnings...