Shares of Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) surged 5.12% in the 24-hour period, as the apparel retailer reported better-than-expected first-quarter results and raised its full-year sales guidance. The stock's impressive performance comes on the heels of a strong earnings report that showcased the company's resilience in the face of economic headwinds.
For the first quarter, Abercrombie & Fitch posted earnings per share of $1.59, significantly beating the FactSet consensus estimate of $1.36. Net sales rose 8% to a record $1.1 billion, surpassing analyst expectations of $1.06 billion. The company's Hollister brand was a standout performer, with sales surging 22.3% to $549.4 million, while Abercrombie sales declined 4.1% to $547.9 million.
In response to the strong results, Abercrombie & Fitch raised its full-year sales growth outlook to 3% to 6%, up from the previous guidance of 3% to 5%. However, the company trimmed its earnings per share forecast to $9.50 to $10.50 from $10.40 to $11.40, citing the impact of tariffs. Despite this adjustment, investors appeared to focus on the positive sales momentum and the company's ability to navigate challenges in the retail landscape.
The market's enthusiastic response to Abercrombie & Fitch's results was further bolstered by positive analyst reactions. CFRA analyst Zachary Warring reiterated a strong buy rating on the stock, stating that the shares "remain undervalued even after the 25% increase." Additionally, several brokerages raised their price targets, with Barclays increasing its target to $84 from $71 and JP Morgan raising its target to $147 from $142.