National Vision Appoints Alex Wilkes as CEO
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 29 2025
0mins
Should l Buy EYE?
Source: Newsfilter
Leadership Transition at National Vision: Alex Wilkes has been appointed as the new CEO of National Vision Holdings, effective August 1, 2025, succeeding Reade Fahs, who will become Executive Chairman and assist in the transition.
Company Overview: National Vision is a leading optical retail company in the U.S., operating over 1,200 stores and focusing on making eye care and eyewear affordable and accessible through various retail brands and an e-commerce platform.
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Analyst Views on EYE
Wall Street analysts forecast EYE stock price to rise
10 Analyst Rating
7 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 25.170
Low
25.00
Averages
31.78
High
39.00
Current: 25.170
Low
25.00
Averages
31.78
High
39.00
About EYE
National Vision Holdings, Inc. is an optical retail company in the United States with over 1,200 stores in 38 states and Puerto Rico. The Company operates four retail brands: America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses, Eyeglass World, and Vista Opticals, inside select Fred Meyer stores and on select military bases. The Company's segment includes Owned & Host. The Company, through its subsidiary, FirstSight Vision Services, Inc., is licensed as a single-service health plan under California law and issues individual vision plans in connection with its America's Best operations in California. It offers two products and one service, such as eyeglasses, contact lenses and eye exams. The Company’s e-commerce consumer Website, DiscountContacts.com, offers a range of services to customers, including eyeglass purchasing, online scheduling and appointment reminders, contact lens purchasing, buy-in-store and ship-to-home capabilities and online frame browsing, among 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.
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- Oil Price Drop Impact: Trump's announcement of a two-week suspension of attacks on Iran led to a 17% drop in crude oil prices, which not only alleviates inflationary pressures but also provides retailers with lower shipping costs, thereby improving their margins.
- Retail Sector Recovery: Consumer retail stocks surged, with Monro and National Vision jumping 5.8% and 6% respectively, indicating a market shift towards optimism regarding consumer confidence and future growth prospects.
- Reduced Inventory Risks: An increase in vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz has significantly lowered the risk of inventory shortages for goods sourced from the region, allowing retailers to maintain better margins while potentially passing savings onto customers.
- Strong Consumer Spending: Delta's record quarterly sales suggest that discretionary spending power remains robust despite geopolitical pressures, and when combined with the sharp drop in oil prices, this signals a recovery for the retail sector and a cooling of inflationary pressures.
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National Vision CEO Sells 35,000 Shares of Stock
- Transaction Overview: On March 11, 2026, National Vision CEO Alexander Wilkes sold 35,000 shares of common stock in an open-market transaction valued at $929,000, demonstrating his ability to capitalize on the company's strong performance.
- Ownership Change: Following this transaction, Wilkes's direct holdings were reduced by 68.05%, leaving him with only 16,431 shares, which reflects a significant change in his stake and may impact market confidence in his future decisions.
- Trading Plan: The sale was executed under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan established on December 5, 2025, indicating that the transaction was pre-scheduled rather than opportunistic, thereby mitigating insider trading concerns.
- Market Performance: National Vision's stock has surged 118.4% over the past year, reaching a 52-week high of $30.02 in January 2026, although the current price-to-earnings ratio of 72 suggests that the stock is now expensive, potentially affecting investor buying decisions.
See More
CEO Wilkes Sells 35,000 Shares of National Vision
- Executive Sell-off: CEO Alexander Wilkes sold 35,000 shares of National Vision on March 11, 2026, for approximately $929,000, reducing his direct ownership by 68.05% from 51,431 to 16,431 shares, indicating a significant divestment.
- Transaction Context: The sale was executed under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, which is designed to prevent accusations of insider trading, suggesting that Wilkes' sell-off does not necessarily reflect negative sentiment about the company's future.
- Market Performance: At the time of the sale, National Vision's stock was performing well, having reached a 52-week high of $30.02 in January 2026, and the company reported $503.4 million in revenue for Q4 2023, a 15% year-over-year increase, with a net income of $3.3 million, a significant turnaround from a $28.6 million loss the previous year.
- Investor Caution: Despite strong financial results, the stock's current price-to-earnings ratio of 72 indicates it is expensive, leading analysts to advise potential investors to consider other stocks identified as having greater potential before investing in National Vision.
See More
Engle Capital Fully Liquidates Position in National Vision Holdings
- Liquidation Transaction: Engle Capital disclosed on February 17, 2026, that it fully liquidated its position in National Vision Holdings (EYE), selling 541,898 shares and reducing its position value by $15.82 million, indicating a diminished confidence in the stock.
- AUM Impact: This liquidation reduced Engle Capital's 13F AUM exposure to National Vision by 6.1%, reflecting a strategic shift towards infrastructure and utility sectors, which may affect its future earnings structure.
- Market Performance: National Vision Holdings' stock surged 118% over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 20% gain, indicating strong performance amid recovering consumer discretionary spending, despite Engle Capital's exit.
- Company Overview: National Vision Holdings focuses on providing affordable eyewear and optometric services, generating $1.99 billion in annual revenue, showcasing its strong competitive position and sustained customer demand in the U.S. market.
See More
National Vision Holdings Reports Transformative Q4 2025 Earnings
- Significant Revenue Growth: National Vision Holdings reported a 9% increase in net revenue for 2025, reaching $1.99 billion, with adjusted comparable store sales growth of 6%, indicating strong market performance that is expected to lay the groundwork for future growth.
- Margin Expansion: The company achieved a 56% increase in adjusted operating income to $102.5 million, with an operating margin of 5.2%, reflecting successful cost optimization and product mix enhancement, thereby strengthening overall profitability.
- Product Innovation and Market Expansion: The rollout of Meta AI glasses in 300 stores, with full deployment expected by Q2 2026, has driven sales beyond expectations, highlighting the company's proactive approach to technological innovation.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: National Vision anticipates net revenue between $2.03 billion and $2.09 billion for 2026, with adjusted EPS projected at $0.85 to $1.09, demonstrating confidence in sustained growth while planning to open 30 to 35 new stores to optimize its network.
See More
National Vision Holdings Provides 2026 Financial Guidance
- 2026 Financial Forecast: National Vision Holdings projects adjusted earnings per share between $0.85 and $1.09 for 2026, with net revenue expected to range from $2.033 billion to $2.091 billion, indicating strong confidence in future growth.
- Fourth Quarter Performance Recovery: The company reported a net income of $3.32 million or $0.04 per share for the fourth quarter, a significant improvement from a net loss of $28.59 million or $0.36 per share in the same quarter last year, demonstrating a gradual recovery in profitability.
- Significant Revenue Growth: Total net revenues for the fourth quarter increased by 15.1% to $503.41 million, up from $437.28 million in the same quarter last year, reflecting strong market demand recovery.
- Comparable Store Sales Growth: Comparable store sales growth from continuing operations was 6.6%, with adjusted comparable store sales growth at 4.8%, showcasing the company's ability to maintain solid sales performance in a competitive market.
See More
Trump Announces Two-Week Suspension of Attacks on Iran, Oil Prices Plunge 17%
- Oil Price Drop Impact: Trump's announcement of a two-week suspension of attacks on Iran led to a 17% drop in crude oil prices, which not only alleviates inflationary pressures but also provides retailers with lower shipping costs, thereby improving their margins.
- Retail Sector Recovery: Consumer retail stocks surged, with Monro and National Vision jumping 5.8% and 6% respectively, indicating a market shift towards optimism regarding consumer confidence and future growth prospects.
- Reduced Inventory Risks: An increase in vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz has significantly lowered the risk of inventory shortages for goods sourced from the region, allowing retailers to maintain better margins while potentially passing savings onto customers.
- Strong Consumer Spending: Delta's record quarterly sales suggest that discretionary spending power remains robust despite geopolitical pressures, and when combined with the sharp drop in oil prices, this signals a recovery for the retail sector and a cooling of inflationary pressures.
See More
National Vision CEO Sells 35,000 Shares of Stock
- Transaction Overview: On March 11, 2026, National Vision CEO Alexander Wilkes sold 35,000 shares of common stock in an open-market transaction valued at $929,000, demonstrating his ability to capitalize on the company's strong performance.
- Ownership Change: Following this transaction, Wilkes's direct holdings were reduced by 68.05%, leaving him with only 16,431 shares, which reflects a significant change in his stake and may impact market confidence in his future decisions.
- Trading Plan: The sale was executed under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan established on December 5, 2025, indicating that the transaction was pre-scheduled rather than opportunistic, thereby mitigating insider trading concerns.
- Market Performance: National Vision's stock has surged 118.4% over the past year, reaching a 52-week high of $30.02 in January 2026, although the current price-to-earnings ratio of 72 suggests that the stock is now expensive, potentially affecting investor buying decisions.
See More
CEO Wilkes Sells 35,000 Shares of National Vision
- Executive Sell-off: CEO Alexander Wilkes sold 35,000 shares of National Vision on March 11, 2026, for approximately $929,000, reducing his direct ownership by 68.05% from 51,431 to 16,431 shares, indicating a significant divestment.
- Transaction Context: The sale was executed under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, which is designed to prevent accusations of insider trading, suggesting that Wilkes' sell-off does not necessarily reflect negative sentiment about the company's future.
- Market Performance: At the time of the sale, National Vision's stock was performing well, having reached a 52-week high of $30.02 in January 2026, and the company reported $503.4 million in revenue for Q4 2023, a 15% year-over-year increase, with a net income of $3.3 million, a significant turnaround from a $28.6 million loss the previous year.
- Investor Caution: Despite strong financial results, the stock's current price-to-earnings ratio of 72 indicates it is expensive, leading analysts to advise potential investors to consider other stocks identified as having greater potential before investing in National Vision.
See More
Engle Capital Fully Liquidates Position in National Vision Holdings
- Liquidation Transaction: Engle Capital disclosed on February 17, 2026, that it fully liquidated its position in National Vision Holdings (EYE), selling 541,898 shares and reducing its position value by $15.82 million, indicating a diminished confidence in the stock.
- AUM Impact: This liquidation reduced Engle Capital's 13F AUM exposure to National Vision by 6.1%, reflecting a strategic shift towards infrastructure and utility sectors, which may affect its future earnings structure.
- Market Performance: National Vision Holdings' stock surged 118% over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 20% gain, indicating strong performance amid recovering consumer discretionary spending, despite Engle Capital's exit.
- Company Overview: National Vision Holdings focuses on providing affordable eyewear and optometric services, generating $1.99 billion in annual revenue, showcasing its strong competitive position and sustained customer demand in the U.S. market.
See More
National Vision Holdings Reports Transformative Q4 2025 Earnings
- Significant Revenue Growth: National Vision Holdings reported a 9% increase in net revenue for 2025, reaching $1.99 billion, with adjusted comparable store sales growth of 6%, indicating strong market performance that is expected to lay the groundwork for future growth.
- Margin Expansion: The company achieved a 56% increase in adjusted operating income to $102.5 million, with an operating margin of 5.2%, reflecting successful cost optimization and product mix enhancement, thereby strengthening overall profitability.
- Product Innovation and Market Expansion: The rollout of Meta AI glasses in 300 stores, with full deployment expected by Q2 2026, has driven sales beyond expectations, highlighting the company's proactive approach to technological innovation.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: National Vision anticipates net revenue between $2.03 billion and $2.09 billion for 2026, with adjusted EPS projected at $0.85 to $1.09, demonstrating confidence in sustained growth while planning to open 30 to 35 new stores to optimize its network.
See More
National Vision Holdings Provides 2026 Financial Guidance
- 2026 Financial Forecast: National Vision Holdings projects adjusted earnings per share between $0.85 and $1.09 for 2026, with net revenue expected to range from $2.033 billion to $2.091 billion, indicating strong confidence in future growth.
- Fourth Quarter Performance Recovery: The company reported a net income of $3.32 million or $0.04 per share for the fourth quarter, a significant improvement from a net loss of $28.59 million or $0.36 per share in the same quarter last year, demonstrating a gradual recovery in profitability.
- Significant Revenue Growth: Total net revenues for the fourth quarter increased by 15.1% to $503.41 million, up from $437.28 million in the same quarter last year, reflecting strong market demand recovery.
- Comparable Store Sales Growth: Comparable store sales growth from continuing operations was 6.6%, with adjusted comparable store sales growth at 4.8%, showcasing the company's ability to maintain solid sales performance in a competitive market.
See More
