After one other spectacular Lululemon (NASDAQ: LULU) earnings, is it time to purchase? LULU inventory is down nearly 40% from its all-time highs regardless of the expansion.
Greatest recognized for its yoga line, Lululemon is increasing into way more. The pandemic boosted the corporate’s enterprise as well being and health traits picked up. For instance, because the pandemic, 80% of health customers watch live-stream exercises. As compared, solely 7% did so pre-pandemic.
Because of this, persons are extra health-aware. And Lulu’s connection to shoppers grew as digital gross sales soared. In the meantime, LULU outperformed its friends, gaining market share.
The headwinds are carrying the health model to new heights. Income continues rising, margins are strong, and Lululemon’s steadiness sheet stays bulletproof.
Many retailers are feeling the consequences of inflation and provide chain points. But Lulu continues constructing momentum.
With one other large earnings beat and LULU elevating steering, what’s subsequent? Maintain studying to be taught if Lululemon can sustain the spectacular efficiency and what to anticipate from LULU inventory subsequent.
Lululemon Q1 Earnings Highlights
Lululemon is seeing sturdy demand for its merchandise. Site visitors picked up considerably each on-line and in-store, with 40% progress YOY. With this in thoughts, the corporate’s Q1 earnings replicate Lulu’s rising international model consciousness.
Regardless of closing a 3rd of its shops in China as a consequence of lockdowns, income grew by double digits. Moreover, complete income grew 32% whereas EPS superior 28%, beating analyst expectations.
- EPS: $1.48 vs $1.43 anticipated.
- Income: $1.6B vs $1.5B anticipated.
Accordingly, the agency isn’t solely seeing worldwide progress (+29%) but additionally progress in North America (+32%).
The strong digital presence Lululemon constructed in the course of the pandemic continues boosting gross sales. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) income grew one other 32% in Q1. Not solely that, however shops are additionally booming, with comp gross sales up 24%.
Nonetheless, the expansion represents a powerful three-year CAGR of 27%. Inflation slicing into income, and difficulties with provide is slicing into retail income
Thus far, Lulu is managing the challenges with its capacity to manage pricing and superior provide chain. Though the report had loads of optimistic takeaways, there are nonetheless some inquiries to be answered.
For one factor, the corporate has unusually excessive stock ranges ($1.3B, +74% YOY). Lastly, like many retailers, Lululemon is beginning to really feel the consequences of inflation, similar to increased materials and labor prices.
Can Lululemon Inventory Sustain the Momentum?
The large query traders are asking is, will the momentum proceed? For one factor, Lulu’s superior pricing energy is proving to be a power as value hikes usually are not slowing demand.
On high of this, the corporate specializing in technical athletic clothes (yoga, operating, figuring out, and so forth.) helps create demand all 12 months. Because of this, there may be much less have to mark merchandise down.
Most essential, the corporate’s branding is more practical than ever. When folks see the model, they understand it’s top quality. Because of this, Lulu’s model is increasing across the globe.
Because of this, the corporate believes it may well double its income from $6.25B final 12 months to over 12B by 2026. The corporate’s five-year progress plan contains the next.
- Doubling males’s enterprise.
- Double-digit progress in girls’s.
- Doubling digital gross sales.
- Double-digit in-store progress.
- Quadrupling worldwide gross sales.
Lululemon plans to do that via its upgraded “Energy of Three (X2)” progress technique. With this in thoughts, the plan contains three strategic focuses to gasoline progress.
First, the corporate plans to introduce each new and upgraded present merchandise. Then, Lulu is working to improve its visitor expertise throughout all channels. And lastly, it plans to benefit from worldwide progress.
Regardless of the distinctive progress and plan to double gross sales within the subsequent 5 years, LULU inventory is down 22% YTD.
Will LULU Inventory Bounce Again?
Lululemon’s sturdy efficiency within the first quarter reveals the corporate is doing all the precise issues. Above all else, shoppers proceed spending cash on the model.
Even with the troublesome financial setting, Lulu believes it should hold tempo. And I don’t doubt their capacity to hit their targets.
But this 12 months’s difficulty with LULU inventory might be with market weak point. Even probably the most worthwhile corporations are promoting off proper now, and Lululemon inventory isn’t any completely different.
That being mentioned, Lulu is without doubt one of the most engaging progress shares over the subsequent 5 years as its technique unfolds. With a rock-solid steadiness sheet, and rising model consciousness, the corporate is well-positioned to develop.
Regardless that LULU inventory is down 40% from its ATHs, it’s nonetheless buying and selling at a premium in comparison with friends.
For instance, LULU has a ahead P/E of 29 in comparison with Nike (NYSE: NKE) at 23. But when together with progress, the PEG ratio reveals a unique story.
The PEG for LULU shares is round 1.49 in comparison with Nike at 1.74. On high of this, Lulu has increased margins with much less debt.
Different LULU Inventory Information
Lululemon’s earnings report is the most important LULU inventory information at the moment. However the firm is increasing into new excessive potential markets.
- New Footwear Assortment – Lulu is getting into the footwear market with 4 new girls’s types this 12 months. Moreover, males’s footwear will launch in 2023.
- Mirror Acquisition – Final 12 months, Lulu introduced it was shopping for the health tech firm Mirror. Mirror is an at-home exercise piece providing health lessons and private coaching on demand.
Thus far, the corporate is aggressively increasing by getting into excessive progress market alternatives.
Is LULU Inventory a Purchase
Lululemon outperformed the competitors via the pandemic whereas boosting on-line gross sales.
With new challenges forward, it could run into few hurdles. However Lulu is already proving it may well deal with it, popping out of the pandemic a stronger enterprise.
The model has a number of alternatives it may well benefit from to keep up its progress. As I’ve proven, the life-style model is innovating and increasing into new markets with success.
The development reveals that high-income spenders are nonetheless spending, with premium retailers shining. On the identical time, low-income spenders are altering habits.
Lululemon’s connection to shoppers and pricing energy helps them overcome these challenges so far. Furthermore, Lulu is turning into a digital powerhouse with a three-year CAGR progress of 51%. Digital gross sales now make 45% of complete income.
Regardless of a number of short-term challenges, Lulu has the stock and workforce to beat them. LULU inventory appears to be a strong funding with rising model potential in the long term. But if retailers proceed seeing strain, LULU may see short-term promoting strain.
Pete Johnson is an skilled monetary author and content material creator who focuses on fairness analysis and derivatives. He has over ten years of private investing expertise. Digging via 10-Ok varieties and discovering hidden gems is his favourite pastime. When Pete isn’t researching shares or writing, you could find him having fun with the outside or working up a sweat exercising.