As the craze of earnings season draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of the most exciting (and some less so) results from Q4. Today, we are looking at apparel and accessories stocks, starting with Columbia Sportswear (NASDAQ: COLM).
Thanks to social media and the internet, not only are styles changing more frequently today than in decades past but also consumers are shifting the way they buy their goods, favoring omnichannel and e-commerce experiences. Some apparel and accessories companies have made concerted efforts to adapt while those who are slower to move may fall behind.
The 16 apparel and accessories stocks we track reported a strong Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.5% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.
Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 15.2% since the latest earnings results.
Weakest Q4: Columbia Sportswear (NASDAQ: COLM)
Originally founded as a hat store in 1938, Columbia Sportswear (NASDAQ: COLM) is a manufacturer of outerwear, sportswear, and footwear designed for outdoor enthusiasts.
Columbia Sportswear reported revenues of $1.10 billion, up 3.5% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1.4%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a slower quarter for the company with full-year EPS guidance missing analysts’ expectations and a miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Tim Boyle commented, “I’m encouraged that sales returned to growth in the fourth quarter, and we expect continued growth in 2025, across most brands and regions. During the year we made substantial progress on our inventory reduction efforts, achieved cost savings through our Profit Improvement Program, and returned meaningful cash to shareholders through share buybacks and dividends. We also laid the foundation for Columbia’s ACCELERATE Growth Strategy, which will come to life in the seasons ahead.
The stock is down 22.6% since reporting and currently trades at $66.49.
Read our full report on Columbia Sportswear here, it’s free.
Best Q4: VF Corp (NYSE: VFC)
Owner of The North Face, Vans, and Supreme, VF Corp (NYSE: VFC) is a clothing conglomerate specializing in branded lifestyle apparel, footwear, and accessories.
VF Corp reported revenues of $2.83 billion, up 1.9% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 1.2%. The business had a stunning quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ constant currency revenue and EPS estimates.
The stock is down 57.4% since reporting. It currently trades at $11.31.
Is now the time to buy VF Corp? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Oxford Industries (NYSE: OXM)
The parent company of Tommy Bahama, Oxford Industries (NYSE: OXM) is a lifestyle fashion conglomerate with brands that embody outdoor happiness.
Oxford Industries reported revenues of $390.5 million, down 3.4% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 1.7%. Still, it was a slower quarter as it posted full-year EPS guidance missing analysts’ expectations.
As expected, the stock is down 18.3% since the results and currently trades at $51.21.
Read our full analysis of Oxford Industries’s results here.
Stitch Fix (NASDAQ: SFIX)
One of the original subscription box companies, Stitch Fix (NASDAQ: SFIX) is an online personal styling and fashion service that curates personalized clothing selections for customers.
Stitch Fix reported revenues of $312.1 million, down 5.5% year on year. This result surpassed analysts’ expectations by 4.4%. It was a very strong quarter as it also logged EBITDA guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations and an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
The stock is down 26.8% since reporting and currently trades at $3.09.
Read our full, actionable report on Stitch Fix here, it’s free.
Guess (NYSE: GES)
Flexing the iconic upside-down triangle logo with a question mark, Guess (NYSE: GES) is a global fashion brand known for its trendy clothing, accessories, and denim wear.
Guess reported revenues of $932.3 million, up 4.6% year on year. This print beat analysts’ expectations by 2.9%. Taking a step back, it was a slower quarter as it recorded full-year EPS guidance missing analysts’ expectations.
The stock is up 1.6% since reporting and currently trades at $10.25.
Read our full, actionable report on Guess here, it’s free.
Market Update
The Fed’s interest rate hikes throughout 2022 and 2023 have successfully cooled post-pandemic inflation, bringing it closer to the 2% target. Inflationary pressures have eased without tipping the economy into a recession, suggesting a soft landing. This stability, paired with recent rate cuts (0.5% in September 2024 and 0.25% in November 2024), fueled a strong year for the stock market in 2024. The markets surged further after Donald Trump’s presidential victory in November, with major indices reaching record highs in the days following the election. Still, questions remain about the direction of economic policy, as potential tariffs and corporate tax changes add uncertainty for 2025.
Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Hidden Gem Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.
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