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Access earnings results, analyst expectations, report, slides, earnings call, and transcript.
The earnings call reflects a positive sentiment, with strong performance in key areas like Aerie's growth, effective marketing strategies, and strategic store expansion. Despite tariff impacts, the company maintains a stable outlook, with promising guidance and strategic investments in digital channels. The Q&A section highlights confidence in product trends and marketing effectiveness, supporting a positive stock price movement prediction.
Total Revenue $1.4 billion, increased 6% year-over-year. Reasons for change: Record revenue driven by positive comps, increased advertising investments, and operational improvements.
Operating Income $113 million, exceeded guidance of $95 million to $100 million. Reasons for change: Higher-than-expected demand and well-controlled costs.
Diluted EPS $0.53, increased 10% year-over-year. Reasons for change: Strong top-line growth and controlled costs.
Comparable Sales Growth 4%, with Aerie up 11% and AE up 1%. Reasons for change: Increased customer demand, strong product collections, and effective marketing campaigns.
Gross Profit $552 million, increased 5% year-over-year. Reasons for change: Higher demand and lower non-tariff costs, despite $20 million tariff impact.
Gross Margin 40.5%, declined 40 basis points year-over-year. Reasons for change: Tariff pressure of $20 million offset by lower non-tariff costs and higher sales.
SG&A Expenses Increased 10% year-over-year. Reasons for change: Incremental investments in advertising to enhance brand awareness and customer engagement.
Inventory Cost Up 11% year-over-year, with units up 8%. Reasons for change: Better in-stocks for AE jeans, new store openings, and demand acceleration at Aerie and Offline.
CapEx $70 million for the quarter, $202 million year-to-date. Reasons for change: Investments in new store openings, store remodels, and relocation of the New York design center.
Aerie and Offline: Exceptional growth across categories, with Aerie achieving record revenue and 11% comp growth in Q3. Strong demand in intimates, apparel, sleep, and activewear. Offline by Aerie is expanding awareness and entering new markets.
American Eagle: 1% comp growth in Q3, driven by strength in jeans and men's categories. Positive trends in digital channels and new product flows. Collaborations with Sydney Sweeney and Travis Kelce have boosted brand awareness.
Aerie and Offline market share: Currently under 5% market share with significant runway for future expansion. Positioned as important customer destinations.
Store expansions: 22 Aerie and 26 Offline stores to open, along with 50 AE store remodels. Focus on modernizing retail experience and expanding footprint.
Operational efficiencies: Lower cost per shipment in direct business, better in-stocks for American Eagle jeans, and cost management programs contributing to profitability.
Marketing investments: Incremental advertising investments driving stronger demand and long-term brand awareness. Campaigns with high-profile partners have garnered over 44 billion impressions.
Strategic focus on Aerie and Offline: Emphasis on growing these brands as key customer destinations with substantial long-term opportunities.
Digital and cultural positioning: Leveraging digital channels and cultural collaborations to enhance brand engagement and attract new customers.
Tariffs: The company faced a $20 million net impact from tariffs in the third quarter, with an additional $50 million expected in the fourth quarter. This represents a significant cost pressure on operations and profitability.
Inventory Costs: Consolidated ending inventory costs increased by 11%, with units up 8%. This includes the impact of tariffs and reflects higher costs associated with maintaining inventory levels.
SG&A Expenses: Selling, General, and Administrative (SG&A) expenses increased by 10% due to investments in advertising. While these campaigns are delivering results, they represent a financial challenge in terms of cost management.
Gross Margin Decline: The gross margin declined by 40 basis points to 40.5% compared to the previous year, driven by higher markdowns and tariff pressures, despite some offset from lower non-tariff costs.
Women's Apparel Challenges: The women's apparel segment faced challenges, particularly in non-denim bottoms, shirts, and dresses, which underperformed during the quarter. This indicates potential issues in product assortment or customer demand in these categories.
Dynamic Sourcing Environment: The company is navigating a highly dynamic sourcing environment, which could pose risks to cost stability and supply chain efficiency.
Revenue Expectations: The company is raising its fourth-quarter operating income guidance to a range of $155 million to $160 million, based on comp sales growth of 8% to 9% with similar growth in total revenue.
Market Trends and Business Segment Performance: Aerie and Offline are identified as key growth drivers, with Aerie achieving 11% comp growth in Q3 and significant demand acceleration into Q4. Offline by Aerie is gaining market share in the Activewear segment, with plans to expand awareness and enter new markets.
Capital Expenditures: The company expects CapEx of approximately $275 million for the year, including $40 million for relocating the New York design center. Plans include opening 22 Aerie and 26 Offline stores and completing 50 AE store remodels.
Marketing and Brand Awareness: The company plans to build on the momentum of recent successful marketing campaigns, including collaborations with high-profile partners, to fuel brand excitement into 2026 and beyond.
Operational Improvements: Focus on operational improvements and cost efficiencies to drive higher profitability in a dynamic macro environment. Investments in advertising are expected to enhance long-term brand awareness and customer engagement.
Dividend Payments: Year-to-date dividend payments have totaled $64 million.
Share Repurchases: During the first half of this year, share repurchases totaled $231 million.
The earnings call reflects a positive sentiment, with strong performance in key areas like Aerie's growth, effective marketing strategies, and strategic store expansion. Despite tariff impacts, the company maintains a stable outlook, with promising guidance and strategic investments in digital channels. The Q&A section highlights confidence in product trends and marketing effectiveness, supporting a positive stock price movement prediction.
The earnings call summary indicates strong financial performance, particularly with Aerie's high-teens comp growth and robust digital channel performance. While there are concerns about tariffs, the company is managing inventory and marketing expenses well. The Q&A section highlighted strong product momentum and strategic promotions, although some management responses lacked clarity. Overall, the company's positive guidance and strategic initiatives, combined with effective marketing and product strategies, suggest a favorable short-term stock price movement.
The earnings call summary reveals mixed signals: strong new customer acquisition and promising campaigns, but lower revenue expectations and gross margin pressures. The Q&A highlights successful product categories, yet concerns about tariffs and unclear management responses persist. Despite positive elements like share buybacks and consumer interest, the negative financial outlook and margin challenges balance sentiment, leading to a neutral prediction.
The earnings call revealed several negative factors: declining revenue, increased SG&A expenses, and a significant operating loss. The management's cautious guidance and acknowledgment of ongoing merchandising issues and tariff impacts add to the concerns. Although there were positive elements like share repurchase programs and optimism for the second half, these are overshadowed by the weak financial performance and guidance. The Q&A section also highlighted uncertainties in consumer behavior and promotional activities. Given the company's market cap, these factors are likely to result in a negative stock price movement.
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