Lululemon, the athletic apparel retailer, has announced robust performance in its fiscal second quarter, driven by significant growth in sales and profit, particularly in international markets. The company has subsequently raised its full-year guidance, citing positive trends and strong sales in key regions.
Sales Surge and Profit
Lululemon reported a remarkable 18% surge in both sales and profit during its fiscal second quarter, reflecting its continued expansion and popularity among consumers. The most significant contributor to this growth was a remarkable 61% increase in revenue from the Chinese market.
In light of its exceptional performance, Lululemon has revised its projections for the fiscal year. The company now anticipates sales to fall within the range of $9.51 billion to $9.57 billion, up from the earlier estimate of $9.44 billion to $9.51 billion. Moreover, Lululemon has raised its profit expectations for the year, with projected earnings per share between $12.02 and $12.17, compared to the prior range of $11.74 to $11.94.
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Current Quarter Forecast
Looking ahead to the current quarter, Lululemon is forecasting earnings per share ranging from $2.23 to $2.28, with sales projected to be between $2.17 billion and $2.19 billion. These forecasts align with the expectations of analysts surveyed by Refinitiv.
In the second fiscal quarter, Lululemon’s net income reached $341.6 million, translating to $2.68 per share, compared to $289.5 million, or $2.26 per share, in the same period a year ago. Sales for the quarter amounted to $2.21 billion, representing an impressive 18% increase from $1.87 billion in the previous year.
The company’s robust financial results were largely attributed to its strong international performance. Lululemon experienced a remarkable 52% growth in sales outside North America, driven in large part by a substantial 61% increase in China. This surge in Chinese sales marked a significant improvement from the 30% growth observed in the same region during the prior-year quarter.
Lululemon’s CEO, Calvin McDonald, emphasized the strong performance of both e-commerce and in-store sales in China, where the company operates 107 stores. The retailer plans to open a majority of the 35 stores it intends to launch internationally this fiscal year in the region.
While North American sales also increased by 11%, the company’s comparable sales across its global business fell slightly short of expectations, with an 11% increase compared to the estimated 12.1%.
Power of Three x2
In pursuit of ambitious growth targets outlined in its “Power of Three x2” strategy, Lululemon is focusing on expanding its physical presence and doubling revenue from men’s and direct-to-consumer segments. Despite persistent inventory challenges, the company reported notable progress in reducing inventory levels and bolstering its gross margin.
