Needham Begins Coverage of Levi Strauss with a Buy Rating and Sets Price Target at $28
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Sep 25 2025
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Source: Benzinga
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Analyst Views on LEVI
Wall Street analysts forecast LEVI stock price to rise
4 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 24.500
Low
26.00
Averages
26.50
High
27.00
Current: 24.500
Low
26.00
Averages
26.50
High
27.00
About LEVI
Levi Strauss & Co. is an apparel company. The Company designs and markets jeans, casual wear and related accessories for men, women and children under the Levi's, Levi Strauss Signature, and Beyond Yoga brands. The Company operates through three geographical segments: Americas, Europe and Asia. It designs, markets and sells directly or through third parties and licensees’ products that include jeans, casual and dress pants, activewear, tops, shorts, skirts, dresses, jackets and related accessories for men, women and children around the world. Its products are sold in approximately 120 countries worldwide through a combination of chain retailers, department stores, online sites, and a global footprint of approximately 3,300 retail stores and shop-in shops. Outside the United States, department stores, specialty retailers, franchised or other brand-dedicated stores and shop-in-shops have traditionally been its primary distribution channels.
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.
- Revenue Growth Expected: Levi Strauss is projected to achieve revenues of $1.52 billion in Q2 2026, reflecting a 4.8% year-over-year increase, indicating sustained market demand driven by brand strength and omnichannel strategies.
- Earnings Improvement: The expected quarterly earnings per share of 24 cents represents a 9.1% increase from the previous year, showcasing the company's success in optimizing its product portfolio and enhancing its direct-to-consumer business, thereby boosting profitability.
- Omnichannel Strategy Effectiveness: By enhancing the shopping experience across online and offline channels, including same-day delivery and contactless returns, the company has improved customer satisfaction, which is likely to drive sales growth and further solidify its market position.
- Market Challenges and Responses: Despite facing challenges such as supply chain disruptions and inflation, Levi Strauss anticipates maintaining an adjusted EBIT margin of 8-9% through effective cost control and brand focus strategies, demonstrating its capacity to navigate market fluctuations.
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- Women's Market Potential: Analysts estimate that the U.S. women's apparel market is about 70% larger than the men's, presenting significant growth opportunities for brands like VF Corp., Levi's, and Columbia, especially in an increasingly competitive apparel industry.
- Strategic Shift: VF Corp. CEO Bracken Darrell emphasizes that women's purchasing power and influence on consumer trends make the female market a key 'unlock' for several brands, driving strategic adjustments in product development.
- Levi's Growth Case: Levi's has increased its female apparel sales share from roughly one-third in 2022 to 38%, aiming for a 50-50 revenue split between men and women, with women's business expected to continue driving overall growth.
- Columbia's Fashion Expansion: Columbia Sportswear is attracting new customers with its stylish Amaze Puff Jacket and plans to expand its women's outerwear collection, expecting sales growth of 1% to 3% this year, indicating a proactive approach in the female market.
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- Market Pullback: Stocks closed lower to end the holiday-shortened trading week, although the S&P 500 rebounded by about 1.5% after last week's decline, indicating short-term market volatility.
- Employment Data Impact: A soft June jobs report eased concerns about the Federal Reserve raising interest rates in the coming months, potentially providing some confidence to investors, yet the overall market remains affected by AI trade volatility.
- Portfolio Performance: This week, stocks in the portfolio such as Corning, Arm Holdings, and Intel faced pressure due to changing market sentiment, while software companies like Salesforce and Microsoft saw gains, both up nearly 5% for the week.
- Economic Data Preview: Next week will feature several important economic updates, including service sector activity reports and mortgage applications, which investors should monitor for their potential impact on the market.
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- Women's Market Potential: According to Needham analyst Tom Nikic, the U.S. women's apparel market is approximately 70% larger than the men's market, indicating that brands like VF Corp., Levi's, and Columbia Sportswear are actively targeting female consumers to boost revenues and market share.
- Strategic Priority Shift: VF Corp. CEO Bracken Darrell highlighted that women's purchasing power and influence on consumer trends make them a key focus for brand development, particularly in brands like Vans and The North Face, where women's product development is becoming a strategic priority.
- Levi's Growth Strategy: Under CEO Michelle Gass, Levi's has increased the sales proportion of women's apparel to 38% through the
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- Earnings Release Date: Levi Strauss & Co. is set to release its Q2 2023 earnings on July 8, reflecting the company's ongoing commitment to financial transparency and investor communication.
- Earnings Expectations: Analysts anticipate earnings of 24 cents per share, indicating a cautiously optimistic outlook on the company's profitability, which could influence investor confidence and stock performance.
- Revenue Forecast: The expected revenue of $1.52 billion for Q2 demonstrates the company's adaptability in the retail environment and the stability of market demand, potentially laying the groundwork for future growth.
- Market Reaction: Following the earnings release, investors will closely monitor the variance between actual results and expectations to assess Levi Strauss's market performance and strategic direction moving forward.
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- Brand Exposure Surge: FIFA's requirement to cover non-sponsor branding to protect its estimated $1.8 billion sponsorship value for 2026 has unexpectedly led to increased visibility for brands like Levi's, Heinz, and Gillette, showcasing the power of creative marketing.
- Levi's Creative Response: At Levi's Stadium in California, the brand's logo was covered, but the company cleverly turned this into an opportunity by mimicking the obscured logo on social media, successfully drawing significant attention and becoming a marketing case study.
- Participation from Other Brands: Heinz and Gillette quickly followed suit, with Heinz distributing covered ketchup bottles near World Cup venues and Gillette posting humorous images suggesting its branding was hidden under shaving cream, enhancing their social media engagement.
- Modern Marketing Case Study: What began as a strict debranding exercise has evolved into a successful modern marketing case, as brands humorously turned FIFA's restrictions into a shared joke, allowing them to remain part of the World Cup conversation and highlighting the value of brand marketing in crowded media landscapes.
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