Guess Announces Authentic Brands Group Deal Expected to Close in Q4
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Nov 25 2025
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Strategic Partnership Announcement: On August 20, 2025, the company announced a strategic partnership with Authentic Brands Group LLC, where Authentic will acquire 51% of the company's intellectual property, while existing shareholders will hold 49% and acquire 100% of the operating assets.
Shareholder Compensation: Shareholders of Guess? will receive $16.75 per share in cash as part of the proposed transaction, which will result in the company's common stock being delisted from public markets.
Approval and Timeline: The merger agreement was adopted by the company's stockholders at a special meeting on November 21, 2025, and the transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026, pending regulatory approvals.
Pending Conditions: The completion of the proposed transaction is subject to specified conditions, including standard regulatory approvals, some of which are still pending.
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Analyst Views on GES
Wall Street analysts forecast GES stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for GES is 16.75 USD with a low forecast of 16.75 USD and a high forecast of 16.75 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
2 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 16.810
Low
16.75
Averages
16.75
High
16.75
Current: 16.810
Low
16.75
Averages
16.75
High
16.75
About GES
Guess? Inc designs, markets, distributes and licenses lifestyle collections of apparel and accessories for men, women and children. The Company’s segments include Europe, Americas Retail, Americas Wholesale, Asia, and Licensing. The Europe segment sells its products through direct-to-consumer and wholesale channels throughout Europe and the Middle East. Its European direct-to-consumer network is comprised of brick-and-mortar retail stores and concessions and e-commerce sites. The Americas Retail segment sells its products direct-to-consumer through a network of directly operated retail and factory outlet stores and e-commerce sites in the Americas. The Wholesale segment sells its products through wholesale channels throughout the Americas and to third-party distributors based in Central and South America as well as licensed retail locations operated by its wholesale partners. The Licensing segment includes its worldwide licensing operations.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Winmark (WINA) to Replace Guess? (GES) in S&P SmallCap 600 Index on January 26
- Index Component Change: Winmark (WINA) is set to replace Guess? (GES) in the S&P SmallCap 600 index before trading opens on January 26, a move resulting from Authentic Brands Group and related stockholders acquiring Guess?, which is expected to enhance Winmark's market visibility and liquidity.
- Stock Price Reaction: WINA's stock price climbed approximately 6% during after-market trading on Wednesday, reflecting positive market expectations regarding its inclusion in the small-cap index, which may attract more investor interest and drive future price increases.
- Acquisition Context: The completion of this acquisition deal hinges on the fulfillment of final conditions, indicating market confidence in Authentic Brands Group's acquisition strategy, which could also impact Guess?'s future performance and strategic direction.
- Market Impact: Winmark's inclusion is likely to elevate its standing in the small-cap market, potentially fostering business growth and brand recognition, thereby strengthening its competitive advantage in a fiercely contested market.
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Winmark Corp. to Replace Guess? Inc. in S&P SmallCap 600 on January 26
- Index Change: Winmark Corp. will replace Guess? Inc. in the S&P SmallCap 600 effective January 26, 2026, enhancing Winmark's market visibility and investment appeal.
- Acquisition Update: Authentic Brands Group LLC and the Rolling Stockholders are acquiring Guess?, with the deal expected to close soon, impacting Guess?'s market position and future direction.
- Industry Implications: This replacement not only reflects market recognition of Winmark but also highlights challenges for Guess?, potentially leading to stock price volatility and shifts in investor confidence.
- Market Reaction: With Winmark's inclusion, the S&P SmallCap 600 index will become more diversified, likely attracting increased investor attention and further driving the overall performance of the index.
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