Broken Moats
Family-Office Long/Short Research, Variant Perception
LuxExperience is a fundamentally challenged business: an online department store for designer brands has little value proposition when it relies on the ultra-wealthy, who can buy direct from brands at full price with more certainty and a better experience. A post the author replies to notes the top few percent of customers drive 40-50% of spend. It may be the best operator left, but the case rests on it being cheap if things turn, and a recession would hit it hard. x.com
Hermès and LVMH are a tough long pitch at about 30x earnings while the luxury slump stays broad-based. Per alphaportai, LVMH's business units are struggling across spirits, leather goods and perfume. Hermès is a little better and looks to be taking some share in leather goods. Buying luxury when it is distressed would be appealing, and this is not a reason to short Bernard Arnault, but a 30 P/E is hard to accept. x.com x.com x.com
LVMH deserves another look now that sentiment has turned against luxury and its brand moat, leaving the stock at about 15x earnings. x.com
Hermès and Ferrari are the only luxury companies worth holding, as unique, concentrated brands in a sector that has mostly ridden momentum. Ferrari stands out most for its premium product, with only about 14,000 cars a year, its pricing, repeat customers and order book. x.com x.com
LVMH still looks somewhat expensive despite falling about 50% over three years. A 20x P/E is not cheap given weak recent quarters and falling sales. Management's performance has been disappointing, and new risks are starting to emerge. x.com
Lululemon's weakness is structural, and consumers may also be tightening budgets for aspirational purchases across apparel. The same slowing-sales trend showed up at other brands this quarter, and heavy wholesale promotions were flagged on the On and Amer Sports calls, making apparel a tough industry to invest in. x.com
