Lululemon Stock Down 45% Amid CEO Departure and Sales Challenges
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 27 2025
0mins
Source: Fool
- Sales Growth Slowdown: Lululemon's stock has dropped about 45% over the past year, primarily due to slowing sales growth in North America and increased competition, leading to a 2% decline in net revenue in the Americas and a 5% drop in comparable-store sales in Q3, which poses pressure on future performance.
- International Market Bright Spot: Despite weakness in North America, Lululemon's international segment saw a 33% increase in net revenue in Q3, with China growing by 46%, indicating potential for future growth in underpenetrated international markets.
- Leadership Transition: CEO Calvin McDonald announced his departure effective January 31, 2026, with the CFO and CCO serving as interim co-CEOs, while Elliott Management's involvement may influence the selection of the new CEO, prompting investors to monitor the strategic implications of this leadership change.
- Financial Resilience: Lululemon boasts over $1 billion in cash and zero long-term debt, reflecting strong financial flexibility for strategic investments and share repurchases, and despite challenges, it maintains a return on invested capital (ROIC) of around 30%, highlighting its potential for long-term wealth creation.
Get Free Real-Time Notifications for Any Stock
Monitor tickers like LULU with instant alerts to capture every critical market movement.
Sign up for free to build your custom watchlist and receive professional-grade stock notifications.
Analyst Views on LULU
Wall Street analysts forecast LULU stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for LULU is 207.12 USD with a low forecast of 146.00 USD and a high forecast of 303.00 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.
22 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
21 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 180.350
Low
146.00
Averages
207.12
High
303.00
Current: 180.350
Low
146.00
Averages
207.12
High
303.00
About LULU
lululemon athletica inc. is a technical athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories company. The Company organizes its operations into four regional markets: the Americas, China Mainland, Asia Pacific (APAC), and Europe and the Middle East (EMEA). It conducts its business through a number of different channels in each market, including the Company-operated stores, e-commerce, temporary locations, wholesale, outlets, a re-commerce program, and license and supply arrangements. The Company offers a comprehensive line of technical athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories marketed under the lululemon brand. Its apparel assortment includes items such as shorts, tops, and jackets designed for a healthy lifestyle, including athletic activities such as yoga, running, training, and most other activities. It also offers apparel designed for being on the move and fitness-inspired accessories. It operates stores in the United States, Canada, China Mainland, Australia, South Korea and others.
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.
Lululemon Faces Stock Decline Amid Growth Potential
- Performance Stability: Lululemon's latest quarter saw a 7% year-over-year increase in net revenue to $2.6 billion, indicating stability in overall demand trends despite stock price declines and market concerns.
- Regional Revenue Disparity: The Americas segment experienced a 2% year-over-year decline in net revenue, while international revenue surged by 33%, highlighting potential impacts on future performance due to weakness in this core market, which accounts for 68% of Q3 revenue.
- Gross Margin Contraction: The third-quarter gross margin contracted by 290 basis points to 55.6%, primarily due to tariffs and markdowns, reflecting challenges in cost management for the company.
- International Market Growth: Lululemon reported a 46% revenue increase in mainland China and expects full-year growth to exceed the high end of its forecast of 20%-25%, showcasing strong global brand momentum despite poor performance in the U.S. market.
Continue Reading
Nike and Lululemon Struggle Amid Consumer Spending Challenges
- Stock Performance Comparison: Nike's stock has dropped about 63% from its previous highs, with a 13% decline over the past 12 months, while Lululemon has seen a 50% drop, indicating Nike's relative resilience amid market volatility.
- Revenue Pressure Analysis: Both companies face revenue pressures from tariffs and soft demand, with Nike reporting a 16% year-over-year sales decline in Greater China, while Lululemon achieved a 7% revenue increase in the last quarter, showcasing its stronger recovery potential.
- Inventory Management Advantage: Lululemon successfully sold excess inventory during the holiday season, positioning itself with leaner inventory ahead of the spring product refresh, which could help tighten margins by avoiding promotional sales pressure.
- Valuation Comparison: Lululemon's forward price-to-earnings ratio is around 15, significantly lower than Nike's 42, indicating that Lululemon shares are perceived as better value in the current market environment.
Continue Reading