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Lululemon looks headed out of business as its customers move to Alo, and another earnings report hammered the stock. Suburban women now wear Alo, at least until they switch to the next shiny brand in a few years, which is why retail apparel is not a long-term investment. x.comÂ
Lululemon is losing customers because it stopped innovating and its brand stance alienated buyers, hurting its own stock as happened with Nike. Shoppers are shifting to Alo, Vuori, Hoka, On and others, and its quality no longer looks as strong. Lululemon shares have fallen to their lowest level in nearly 10 years, per Kalshi. x.comÂ
Lululemon's 18% premarket drop looks like an overreaction given its improving margins. x.comÂ
Lululemon is losing its customer to Alo Yoga, the shiny new brand, while its shareholder base shifts toward value investors. @BillBrewsterTBB notes most women he talks to have gone from fans to lukewarm, while those who like the stock are value-investing men, a mismatch that shows the perils of a shifting shareholder base. x.comÂ
Lululemon, Nike, Under Armour and On look like cursed value traps because rising competition and unpredictable fashion trends keep eroding their positions. Lululemon has lost its niche dominance as the luxury standard and is now one of a dozen rivals, such as Vuori, Alo and Athleta, chasing the same buyers. Lululemon sits at six-year lows, Nike at 12-year lows, Under Armour at all-time lows and On back at 2022 levels. The products may still be good, but competition is overwhelming. x.com x.com … Show more
Lululemon is cheap at around 11x earnings with gross margins above 50%, while many people, including the founder, are pushing for a turnaround. Sales growth is tiny, but the balance sheet is solid and the company makes an interesting acquisition target. The reported collapse of talks with founder Chip Wilson, per WSJ via @DeItaone, looks good for the stock: Wilson may try to take it private or bring in a strategic buyer. x.com x.comÂ
Lululemon is no bargain at $99 and an 8x P/E, with revenue shrinking 4% and guidance slashed in two consecutive quarters. x.comÂ
Lululemon is a classic value trap: EPS guidance fell by a third, so a lower share price is no cheaper, and with EPS likely flat or down for 2-3 years it may need to test the low $80s. Dozens of influencer-led apparel brands selling through Shopify, plus Alo, Vuori and GymShark, offer better products at lower prices without its costly store base. Its mediocre products at premium prices cannot win that fight, and a quick turnaround is unlikely. x.com x.com x.com x.com x.comÂ
Lululemon trading at about 7x earnings is absurdly cheap, among the most mispriced stocks around. x.comÂ
Lululemon's problem is its pricing, not a weak consumer. Shoppers are fine but aren't buying its products because the prices no longer make sense, which spells trouble for its margins. x.comÂ