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Editorial Advisory Board

  • Professor Andrea M. Armani, University of Southern California
  • Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D., LightSolver
  • James Butler, Ph.D., Hamamatsu
  • Natalie Fardian-Melamed, Ph.D., Columbia University
  • Justin Sigley, Ph.D., AmeriCOM
  • Professor Birgit Stiller, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, and Leibniz University of Hannover
  • Professor Stephen Sweeney, University of Glasgow
  • Mohan Wang, Ph.D., University of Oxford
  • Professor Xuchen Wang, Harbin Engineering University
  • Professor Stefan Witte, Delft University of Technology

Q4 Earnings Review: Apparel and Accessories Stocks Led by VF Corp (NYSE:VFC)

VFC Cover Image

As the Q4 earnings season wraps, let’s dig into this quarter’s best and worst performers in the apparel and accessories industry, including VF Corp (NYSE: VFC) and its peers.

Thanks to social media and the internet, not only are styles changing more frequently today than in decades past but also consumers are shifting the way they buy their goods, favoring omnichannel and e-commerce experiences. Some apparel and accessories companies have made concerted efforts to adapt while those who are slower to move may fall behind.

The 16 apparel and accessories stocks we track reported a strong Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.5% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 25% since the latest earnings results.

Best Q4: VF Corp (NYSE: VFC)

Owner of The North Face, Vans, and Supreme, VF Corp (NYSE: VFC) is a clothing conglomerate specializing in branded lifestyle apparel, footwear, and accessories.

VF Corp reported revenues of $2.83 billion, up 1.9% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1.2%. Overall, it was a stunning quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ constant currency revenue and EPS estimates.

VF Corp Total Revenue

The stock is down 62.8% since reporting and currently trades at $9.89.

Is now the time to buy VF Corp? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Under Armour (NYSE: UAA)

Founded in 1996 by a former University of Maryland football player, Under Armour (NYSE: UAA) is an apparel brand specializing in sportswear designed to improve athletic performance.

Under Armour reported revenues of $1.40 billion, down 5.7% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 4.5%. The business had an exceptional quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ constant currency revenue estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Under Armour Total Revenue

The stock is down 36.5% since reporting. It currently trades at $5.23.

Is now the time to buy Under Armour? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Guess (NYSE: GES)

Flexing the iconic upside-down triangle logo with a question mark, Guess (NYSE: GES) is a global fashion brand known for its trendy clothing, accessories, and denim wear.

Guess reported revenues of $932.3 million, up 4.6% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 2.9%. Still, it was a slower quarter as it posted full-year EPS guidance missing analysts’ expectations.

As expected, the stock is down 14.5% since the results and currently trades at $8.62.

Read our full analysis of Guess’s results here.

Tapestry (NYSE: TPR)

Originally founded as Coach, Tapestry (NYSE: TPR) is an American fashion conglomerate with a portfolio of luxury brands offering high-quality accessories and fashion products.

Tapestry reported revenues of $2.20 billion, up 5.3% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 4.2%. It was a very strong quarter as it also logged an impressive beat of analysts’ constant currency revenue estimates and full-year EPS guidance exceeding analysts’ expectations.

The stock is down 17.4% since reporting and currently trades at $60.57.

Read our full, actionable report on Tapestry here, it’s free.

Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL)

Originally founded as a necktie company, Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL) is an iconic American fashion brand known for its classic and sophisticated style.

Ralph Lauren reported revenues of $2.14 billion, up 10.8% year on year. This result beat analysts’ expectations by 6.5%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also produced a solid beat of analysts’ constant currency revenue and adjusted operating income estimates.

Ralph Lauren achieved the fastest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is down 26.6% since reporting and currently trades at $182.80.

Read our full, actionable report on Ralph Lauren here, it’s free.

Market Update

Thanks to the Fed’s series of rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has cooled significantly from its post-pandemic highs, drawing closer to the 2% goal. This disinflation has occurred without severely impacting economic growth, suggesting the success of a soft landing. The stock market thrived in 2024, spurred by recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% in November), and a notable surge followed Donald Trump’s presidential election win in November, propelling indices to historic highs. Nonetheless, the outlook for 2025 remains clouded by potential trade policy changes and corporate tax discussions, which could impact business confidence and growth. The path forward holds both optimism and caution as new policies take shape.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Quality Compounder Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.

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