Dernières nouvelles pour Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF) Stock

Abercrombie & Fitch

Abercrombie & Fitch Co is a specialty retailer that sells casual clothing, personal-care products, and accessories for men, women, and children. It sells direct to consumers through its stores and websites, which include the Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie kids, and Hollister brands. Most stores are in the United States, but the company does have many stores in Canada, Europe, and Asia. All stores are leased. Abercrombie ships to well over 100 countries via its websites. The company sources its merchandise from dozens of vendors that are primarily located in Asia and Central America. Abercrombie has two distribution centers in Ohio to support its North American operations. It uses third-party distributors for sales in Europe and Asia.

Abercrombie & Fitch Co

AEON FANTASY CO LTD by AEON Fantasy Co., Ltd.

Antofagasta PLC

ANTOFAGASTA ORD

AMIRA NATURE FOODS LTD by Amira Nature Foods Ltd.

Amira Nature Foods Ltd

ANTIN INFRA PARTNERS by ANTIN INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERS SA

Interest rates determine the risk and reward perceptions of virtually all asset classes in the financial market. The benchmark for return is&mdash;and has always been&mdash;the United States ten-year treasury bond yield, so when bond yields are high, investors tend to avoid higher-risk assets like stocks, as the risk is not worth it compared to bond yields.
Now that the Federal Reserve (the Fed) has lowered interest rates by the most since 2007, investors may think that lower returns could be ahead, especially now that the S&amp;P 500 has priced in most&mdash;if not all&mdash;of the potential effects these interest rate cuts have on the economy. Understanding that new money will shift into different market areas is key. Still, it all begins with knowing what interest rates will do in the coming quarters.
Sectors that typically have higher debts on their balance sheets are poised to benefit from lower interest rates. Lower interest expenses on that debt would drive up net income and earnings per share (EPS). For this reason, investors can find higher returns in sectors like consumer discretionary and the real estate sector.
<h2>Top Consumer Discretionary Stocks Poised for Higher Growth Ahead</h2>
This is one sector that could benefit from a double tailwind as interest rates work their way through the economy. Still, not all consumer discretionary stocks are made equal. This is going to be the case, especially for those with a smaller market capitalization and higher debt.
<h3>Analysts Expect Abercrombie&#39;s EPS to Jump 14.5% by 2025</h3>
Fitting this list, investors can see stocks like Abercrombie &amp; Fitch Co. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/anf#NYSE">ANF</a>), with its $7.3 billion market capitalization today, carrying over 73% debt to equity on its balance sheet. This makes the company a prime target for an EPS expansion name, as lower interest rates help both consumer trends and lower interest expenses.
Wall Street knows this is the case, as analysts at Jefferies Financial Group see up to $220 as a price target for the company, calling for a net upside of 53.3% from where the stock trades today. More than that, Wall Street analysts expect to see EPS of $2.86 for the end of 2025, a jump of 14.5% from today&#39;s EPS of $2.5 in Abercrombie &amp; Fitch.
This growth in EPS and the higher valuation are driven by both the company&#39;s small size and the potential earnings expansion that can come from lowering interest expenses to push EPS higher to a point where current forecasts might be on the conservative side.
<h3>Chewy&#39;s Debt and Size Make It a Prime Target for Future Gains</h3>
Another name that is worth mentioning for a potential buy in this trend is Chewy Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/chwy#NYSE">CHWY</a>) as a part of the consumer discretionary space with a healthy mix of consumer staples in the way that pet owners will always have room in their budgets to take care of their pets&#39; needs.
Because the company is only $12.6 billion in size and carries over 100% in debt compared to equity, it makes for a nearly perfect buy target in the coming quarters. This is why analysts at Piper Sandler see a price target on the stock of up to $35 a share, calling for a net upside potential of 16.3% from where it trades today.
More than that, bearish traders decided to trim their views on Chewy stock, as the short interest has declined by 2% over the past month alone to show capitulation from the bearish side of the market and opening room for bulls to take their places instead.
Among these bulls were Truist Financial and B. Riley Wealth Advisors, who boosted their holdings in Chewy stock by 39.3% and 74% as of August 2024. This would bring their net investments up to $2.5 million and $565,000 today.
<h2>Real Estate Stocks Poised for Growth Ahead of the Market</h2>
<h3>Healthpeak&#39;s Dividend and Growth Potential Make It a Standout REIT</h3>
Real estate stocks fit this same category. Because they need to acquire property and boost rental income, stocks like&nbsp;Healthpeak Properties Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/doc#NYSE">DOC</a>) shine. This $15.9 billion real estate investment trust (REIT) operates in the healthcare sector, an underrated growth source in the U.S. economy.
Wall Street analysts know that lower interest rates can help this company acquire more property and boost its bottom-line earnings, so Evercore decided to raise its price target to $26 a share for Healthpeak Properties. To prove these targets right, the stock must rally by as much as 15% from where it trades today.
Wall Street&#39;s earnings per share (EPS) forecasts are set at $0.44 a share for the next 12 months, up from today&#39;s $0.21 a share for a net 109.5% growth rate. This comes on top of one of the main benefits of investing in REITs: the dividend payout.
Healthpeak Properties offers a $1.2 payout for an annualized dividend yield of up to 5.3% to beat inflation and cushion any volatility that lower rates might bring into the market.
The article &quot;<a href="https://www.marketbeat.com/stock-ideas/lower-rates-higher-returns-key-stocks-to-watch-now/">Lower Rates, Higher Returns: Key Stocks to Watch Now</a>&quot; first appeared on MarketBeat.

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Mid Cap

News

REIT

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Markets

Analyst Ratings

Trading Ideas

Real Estate

CHWY

Lower Rates, Higher Returns: Key Stocks to Watch Now

Abercrombie &amp; Fitch (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANF#NYSE">ANF</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 42.96% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 57.1%. Currently, Abercrombie &amp; Fitch has a market capitalization of $7.02 billion. 
Buying $1000 In ANF: If an investor had bought $1000 of ANF stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $9,340.35 today based on a price of $137.49 for ANF at the time of writing.
<h3>Abercrombie &amp; Fitch's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727721021_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Here's How Much You Would Have Made Owning Abercrombie & Fitch Stock In The Last 5 Years

Abercrombie &amp; Fitch's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANF#NYSE">ANF</a>) short percent of float has risen 4.74% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 3.94 million shares sold short, which is 13.92% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.17 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Abercrombie &amp; Fitch Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727367311_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Abercrombie &amp; Fitch has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Abercrombie &amp; Fitch's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Abercrombie &amp; Fitch's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 13.85%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Peering Into Abercrombie & Fitch's Recent Short Interest

Ulta Beauty, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ulta#NASDAQ">ULTA</a>), a leading retailer in the beauty and cosmetic industry, has seen its stock price fall below critical technical thresholds, including its 200-day moving average. This moving average is an important indicator for gauging market trends and momentum. Yesterday the stock closed at $393.84, below the moving average of $436.89. The breach of this threshold heightens investors&#39; concerns about the stock&#39;s short-term outlook and signals the potential for further downside if these levels are not reclaimed.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/7f/79020.jpg?v=541858321" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Shares of Ulta Beauty have dropped 22.1% in the past six months compared with the industry&#39;s 12.2% decline. The S&amp;P 500 has gained 9.4% in the same time. Currently, the stock stands below its 52-week high of $574.76.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/01/79017.jpg?v=1437951768" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
This decline in the stock price can be attributed to a combination of broader market dynamics and specific challenges encountered by the company. Let&#39;s see whether investors should exit or if this stock is on the verge of recovery.
<h2>Decoding Headwinds Behind ULTA&#39;s Dismal Stock Performance</h2>
ULTA is encountering challenges within prestige beauty. According to Circana data for the 13 weeks ended Aug. 3, 2024, the company retained market share in mass beauty, while losing share in the prestige beauty, particularly in makeup and hair categories. ULTA is also being impacted by changing consumer purchasing behavior, as they are increasingly prioritizing value over premium offerings in the face of inflationary pressures. It is also battling increased competitive pressures with the introduction of new points of distribution for prestige beauty products.
ULTA came across some unexpected operational challenges stemming from its Enterprise Resource Planning (&quot;ERP&quot;) system transformation in the second quarter of fiscal 2024. While managing old and new systems during the transition, some disruption occurred in in-store inventory allocation. To reduce future disruption, ULTA is identifying key legacy processes causing friction and implementing proactive monitoring and dedicated support to quickly address issues as they arise.
Another aspect that impacted ULTA&#39;s performance was the effect of incremental promotions, which fell short of generating the expected sales lift. While these promotions drove traffic and sales on the company&#39;s digital platforms, they failed to generate a meaningful uplift in ULTA&#39;s brick-and-mortar stores. The increased frequency of offers, with new structures, pressured the average selling price without leading to additional purchases in stores.
<h2>ULTA&#39;s Weak Gross Margin and High Cost</h2>
Ulta Beauty experienced a contraction in gross margin in the second quarter due to lower merchandise margin and fixed cost deleverage. The merchandise margin decreased due to increased promotional activity, adverse impact from the brand mix and the continued lapping of benefits from price increases last year. For fiscal 2024, the company is expecting gross margin to decline, as lower merchandise margin and deleverage of store fixed costs are likely to be only partially offset by growth in other revenues and lower transportation costs.
Ulta Beauty also has been grappling with higher selling, general and administrative (SG&amp;A) expenses for a while now. In the second quarter of fiscal 2024, SG&amp;A expenses increased due to the deleveraging of store payroll and benefits, higher corporate overhead from strategic investments and increased store and marketing expenses.
<h2>Revised Outlook of ULTA</h2>
To adopt a more cautious approach, the company decided to revise ULTA&#39;s fiscal 2024 outlook downward at its last earnings call. ULTA now expects net sales to be in the range of $11-$11.2 billion compared with the previous guidance of $11.5-$11.6 billion. Comparable sales are expected to be flat to down 2% compared with the 2% to 3% growth projected earlier. For fiscal 2024, earnings are envisioned in the band of $22.60-$23.50 per share, lower than the earlier guided range of $25.20-$26.
<h2>ULTA&#39;s Earnings Estimates Decline</h2>
ULTA is currently in a tough spot. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share has seen downward revisions. In the past 30 days, analysts have decreased their estimates for the current and next fiscal year by 8.9% to $23.21 and 10.5% to $25.16 per share, respectively.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/d3/79016.jpg?v=2035038154" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h2>Factors Working in ULTA&#39;s Favor</h2>
ULTA is concentrating on reinforcing its competitive position and driving stronger performance through several initiatives. These include strengthening product assortment, increasing social relevance, enhancing the digital experience, leveraging a powerful loyalty program and evolving promotional strategies.
ULTA is consistently attracting new and lapsed members to the loyalty program while experiencing healthy growth in platinum and diamond members. By the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2024, the company had 43.9 million active Ulta Beauty Rewards members, a 5% increase from the previous year. The company&#39;s brand awareness and loyalty are showing significant gains across multiple demographics.
With a distinct business model, Ulta Beauty offers unique and lasting experiences both online and in-store. Although some aspects have faced challenges, the company continues to engage effectively with customers. ULTA focuses on enhancing guest experiences, assortment, loyalty programs, services and omni-channel offerings.
<h2>Unlocking ULTA&#39;s Valuations</h2>
Although ULTA&#39;s stock is currently trading at a discount compared with its industry peers, this valuation disparity might not be as favorable as it seems. The lower price could be indicative of underlying issues rather than representing a clear investment opportunity.
ULTA is currently trading at a discount to its industry benchmarks. The stock has a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 16.09 compared with the industry&#39;s forward 12-month P/E ratio of 16.59.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/f5/79003.jpg?v=1407325771" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h2>ULTA&#39;s Investment Analysis</h2>
Ulta Beauty&#39;s stock decline points to several challenges, including slowing beauty category growth, heightened competition, changing consumer trends and ERP system disruptions. The company&#39;s reduced fiscal 2024 guidance, coupled with negative sentiment from analysts, indicates that it could face ongoing difficulties. While omnichannel expansion and loyalty program improvements are noteworthy, these may not be enough to counter current obstacles. With persistent issues and an uncertain future, investors should approach the stock with caution. Currently, Ulta Beauty stock carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
<h2>Stocks to Consider</h2>
Here, we have highlighted three better-ranked stocks, namely Abercrombie &amp; Fitch Co. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/anf#NYSE">ANF</a>), Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sfm#NASDAQ">SFM</a>) and Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jwn#NYSE">JWN</a>), currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each.
Abercrombie &amp; Fitch is a global, digitally-led, omnichannel specialty retailer of apparel and accessories catering to kids through millennials with assortments curated for their specific lifestyle needs. ANF has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of nearly 28%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Abercrombie &amp; Fitch&#39;s current fiscal year&#39;s sales and earnings indicates growth of 13.1% and 63.4%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers.
Sprouts Farmers Market engages in the retailing of fresh, natural and organic food products under the Sprouts brand in the United States. SFM has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of around 12%, on average.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Sprouts Farmers Market&#39;s current financial year&#39;s sales and earnings suggests a rise of 9.6% and 18.7%, respectively, from the year-earlier reported figures.
Nordstrom, a fashion retailer, provides apparel, shoes, beauty accessories and home goods. JWN delivered an earnings surprise of 29.7% in the last reported quarter.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Nordstrom&#39;s current financial year&#39;s sales implies growth of 0.6% from the year-ago reported number.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2340747/ulta-beauty-trades-below-200-day-moving-average-time-to-hold-or-exit?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|rank_focused-2340747">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Guidance

Technicals

Offerings

Retail Sales

ULTA

ULTA Beauty Trades Below 200-Day Moving Average: Time to Hold or Exit?

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bearish stance on Abercrombie &amp; Fitch (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANF#NYSE">ANF</a>).
And retail traders should know.
We noticed this today when the trades showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.
Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with ANF, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.
So how do we know what these investors just did? 
Today, <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/?utm_source=insights">Benzinga</a>'s options scanner spotted 8 uncommon options trades for Abercrombie &amp; Fitch.
This isn't normal.
The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 37% bullish and 62%, bearish.
Out of all of the special options we uncovered, 4 are puts, for a total amount of $135,154, and 4 are calls, for a total amount of $245,978.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $130.0 to $170.0 for Abercrombie &amp; Fitch over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Abercrombie &amp; Fitch's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Abercrombie &amp; Fitch's whale trades within a strike price range from $130.0 to $170.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Abercrombie &amp; Fitch 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726773888_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ANF</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$9.9</td>
<td>$9.9</td>
<td>$9.9</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$105.0K</td>
<td>623</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">151</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ANF</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$8.8</td>
<td>$8.5</td>
<td>$8.6</td>
<td>$145.00</td>
<td>$66.2K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">189</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ANF</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$10.0</td>
<td>$9.7</td>
<td>$10.0</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$43.0K</td>
<td>623</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">66</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ANF</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$3.5</td>
<td>$3.5</td>
<td>$3.5</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$39.2K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">112</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ANF</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$31.5</td>
<td>$28.2</td>
<td>$30.09</td>
<td>$170.00</td>
<td>$37.2K</td>
<td>13</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">13</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Abercrombie &amp; Fitch</h3>
Abercrombie &amp; Fitch Co is a specialty retailer that sells casual clothing, personal-care products, and accessories for men, women, and children. It sells direct to consumers through its stores and websites, which include the Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, Abercrombie kids, and Hollister brands. Most stores are in the United States, but the company does have many stores in Canada, Europe, and Asia. All stores are leased. Abercrombie ships to well over 100 countries via its websites. The company sources its merchandise from dozens of vendors that are primarily located in Asia and Central America. Abercrombie has two distribution centers in Ohio to support its North American operations. It uses third-party distributors for sales in Europe and Asia.
After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance.
<h3>Where Is Abercrombie &amp; Fitch Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 805,936, the ANF's price is up by 3.36%, now at $140.0. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 61 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Abercrombie &amp; Fitch</h3>
In the last month, 5 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $186.0.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Jefferies has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, which currently sits at a price target of $220. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Telsey Advisory Group persists with their Outperform rating on Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, maintaining a target price of $190. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Telsey Advisory Group keeps a Outperform rating on Abercrombie &amp; Fitch with a target price of $208. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Morgan Stanley has decided to maintain their Equal-Weight rating on Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, which currently sits at a price target of $147. 
&#x2A; An analyst from UBS persists with their Neutral rating on Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, maintaining a target price of $165. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

Smart Money Is Betting Big In ANF Options

Designer Brands Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dbi#NYSE">DBI</a>) released second-quarter fiscal 2024 results, wherein both the bottom and top lines lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate and declined year over year.
However, during the second quarter, the company continued to advance with its strategic initiatives aimed at business transformation. Despite challenges in categories like dress and seasonal footwear, the expansion of athletic and athleisure brands helped mitigate some of the pressure.
Looking ahead, the focus will be on investments in retail and brand businesses to drive growth. Enhancements in product assortment, marketing and the omnichannel customer experience are intended to ensure the company remains a top destination for footwear. These enhancements will also help it to adapt to changing consumer spending patterns and evolving market trends.
<div class="chart_embed">
<h3>Designer Brands Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise</h3>
<h2><img alt="Designer Brands Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/charts/d8/1726139435.png" style="height:265px; width:570px" title="" /></h2>
Designer Brands Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Designer Brands Inc. Quote
</div>
<h2>More on Designer Brands&#39; Q2 Results</h2>
Designer Brands posted adjusted earnings of 29 cents per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 56 cents. The company recorded earnings of 59 cents per share in the year-ago period.
Net sales were $771.9 million, down 2.6% year over year. The top line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $819 million. Also, comparable sales (comps) decreased 1.4% year over year compared with the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a nearly 3.7% decline.
<h2>Insight Into DBI&#39;s Margins &amp; Expenses</h2>
Gross profit amounted to $252.9 million, down 7.5% from $273.4 million in the year-ago quarter. This was primarily due to lesser revenues. Also, the gross margin decreased 170 bps to 32.8% from the prior-year period&#39;s level.
This decline was mainly due to a lower initial markup on athletic and athleisure products as the company focused on increasing its market share in these categories. Additionally, the need to run promotions to clear seasonal inventory put pressure on the gross margin, leading to reduced profitability.
Adjusted SG&amp;A expenses, as a percentage of net sales, rose to 28.9%, up 200 basis points from 26.9% in the same quarter last year. This increase in the ratio was primarily due to a drop in overall sales, combined with higher fixed costs and greater investment in areas like talent acquisition and IT, particularly for e-commerce and back-to-school marketing. However, this impact was somewhat mitigated by cost reductions implemented at the start of the second quarter.
Adjusted net income amounted to $17.1 million, down 56.7% from $39.4 million in the year-ago quarter.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/3a/77463.jpg?v=1059863912" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h2>Update on Designer Brands&#39; Segmental Performance</h2>
U.S. Retail: Segment sales decreased 2.6% year over year to $641.7 million compared with the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $652 million.
Canada Retail: Segment sales increased 6.4% year over year to $74.8 million compared with the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $86 million.
Brand Portfolio: Segment sales of $96 million increased 14% year over year. The metric lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $121 million.
<h2>DBI&#39;s Financial Snapshot: Cash, Debt &amp; Equity Overview</h2>
In the second quarter, the company reported cash and cash equivalents totaling $38.8 million compared with $46.2 million at the end of the same period in 2023. It also had $155.1 million available for borrowings under its senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility.
Debt levels also rose significantly, reaching $465.7 million by the end of the second quarter compared with $331 million in the year-ago period. Additionally, the company ended quarter with inventories of $642.8 million, which marked an increase from the $606.8 million recorded at the end of second-quarter 2023.
As part of its efforts to return value to shareholders, the company repurchased 2.7 million Class A common shares during the second quarter, with an aggregate cost of $18 million. As of Aug. 3, 2024, there remained $69.7 million worth of Class A common shares available for repurchase under the share repurchase program.
<h2>Update on DBI&#39;s Stores</h2>
During the fiscal second quarter, the company closed one store in the United States and opened two stores in Canada, resulting in a total of 499 U.S. stores and 177 Canadian stores as of Aug, 3, 2024.
<h2>Designer Brands&#39; FY24 Guidance</h2>
The company has revised its financial outlook for 2024. It now expects sales growth to be flat to low-single digits compared with the initial projection of low-single digits growth.
Additionally, the company has lowered its guidance for adjusted earnings per share. The metric is now expected to be in the range of 50-60 cents compared with the prior guided range of 70-80 cents. This revised outlook reflects more cautious expectations for the remainder of the year.
Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have lost 29.7% in the past three months compared with the industry&#39;s 12.6% decline.
<h2>Key Picks</h2>
Some better-ranked companies are Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/boot#NYSE">BOOT</a>), Abercrombie &amp; Fitch Co. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/anf#NYSE">ANF</a>) and Steven Madden, Ltd. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/shoo#NASDAQ">SHOO</a>).
Boot Barn operates as a lifestyle retail chain devoted to western and work-related footwear, apparel and accessories. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Boot Barn&#39;s fiscal 2025 earnings and sales indicates growth of 10.3% and 10.7%, respectively, from the fiscal 2023 reported figures. BOOT has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 7.1%.
Abercrombie is a specialty retailer of premium, high-quality casual apparel. It sports a Zacks Rank of 1 at present. ANF delivered a 16.8% earnings surprise in the last reported quarter.
The consensus estimate for Abercrombie&#39;s fiscal 2025 earnings and sales indicates growth of 61% and 12.6%, respectively, from the fiscal 2024 reported levels. ANF has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 28%.
Steven Madden designs, sources, markets and sells fashion-forward name-brand and private-label footwear. It currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Steven Madden&#39;s 2024 earnings and sales indicates growth of 6.9% and 12.6%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. SHOO has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 9.5%.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2335063/designer-brands-q2-earnings-miss-estimates-comps-decline-y-y?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|earnings_article-2335063">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Earnings Misses

Small Cap

BOOT

SHOO

Designer Brands' Q2 Earnings Miss Estimates, Comps Decline Y/Y

Abercrombie &amp; Fitch (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANF#NYSE">ANF</a>) underwent analysis by 8 analysts in the last quarter, revealing a spectrum of viewpoints from bullish to bearish.
Summarizing their recent assessments, the table below illustrates the evolving sentiments in the past 30 days and compares them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
In the assessment of 12-month price targets, analysts unveil insights for Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, presenting an average target of $190.25, a high estimate of $220.00, and a low estimate of $147.00. A decline of 0.32% from the prior average price target is evident in the current average. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726059648_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Diving into Analyst Ratings: An In-Depth Exploration</h2>
The standing of Abercrombie &amp; Fitch among financial experts is revealed through an in-depth exploration of recent analyst actions. The summary below outlines key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Dana Telsey</td>
<td>Telsey Advisory Group</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$190.00</td>
<td>$190.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Corey Tarlowe</td>
<td>Jefferies</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$220.00</td>
<td>$215.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Paul Lejuez</td>
<td>Citigroup</td>
<td>Announces</td>
<td>Buy</td>
<td>$190.00</td>
<td>-</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alexandra Steiger</td>
<td>Morgan Stanley</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$147.00</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mauricio Serna</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Lowers</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$165.00</td>
<td>$193.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dana Telsey</td>
<td>Telsey Advisory Group</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$208.00</td>
<td>$208.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dana Telsey</td>
<td>Telsey Advisory Group</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$208.00</td>
<td>$208.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matthew Boss</td>
<td>JP Morgan</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$194.00</td>
<td>$167.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts frequently update their recommendations based on evolving market conditions and company performance. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to Abercrombie &amp; Fitch. This information provides a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Providing a comprehensive analysis, analysts offer qualitative assessments, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings reflect expectations for the relative performance of Abercrombie &amp; Fitch compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Delving into movements, analysts provide estimates for the future value of Abercrombie &amp; Fitch's stock. This analysis reveals shifts in analysts' expectations over time.</li>
</ul>
Capture valuable insights into Abercrombie &amp; Fitch's market standing by understanding these analyst evaluations alongside pertinent financial indicators. Stay informed and make strategic decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ANF/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Abercrombie &amp; Fitch analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>About Abercrombie &amp; Fitch</h2>
Abercrombie &amp; Fitch Co is a specialty retailer that sells casual clothing, personal-care products, and accessories for men, women, and children. It sells direct to consumers through its stores and websites, which include the Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, Abercrombie kids, and Hollister brands. Most stores are in the United States, but the company does have many stores in Canada, Europe, and Asia. All stores are leased. Abercrombie ships to well over 100 countries via its websites. The company sources its merchandise from dozens of vendors that are primarily located in Asia and Central America. Abercrombie has two distribution centers in Ohio to support its North American operations. It uses third-party distributors for sales in Europe and Asia.
<h3>Abercrombie &amp; Fitch: Delving into Financials</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: Reflecting a smaller scale, the company's market capitalization is positioned below industry averages. This could be attributed to factors such as growth expectations or operational capacity.
Revenue Growth: Abercrombie &amp; Fitch's remarkable performance in 3 months is evident. As of 31 July, 2024, the company achieved an impressive revenue growth rate of 21.24%. This signifies a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company surpassed expectations with a growth rate higher than the average among peers in the Consumer Discretionary sector.
Net Margin: Abercrombie &amp; Fitch's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional net margin, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable net margin of 11.74%, the company showcases strong profitability and effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Abercrombie &amp; Fitch's ROE excels beyond industry benchmarks, reaching 11.65%. This signifies robust financial management and efficient use of shareholder equity capital.
Return on Assets (ROA): The company's ROA is a standout performer, exceeding industry averages. With an impressive ROA of 4.42%, the company showcases effective utilization of assets.
Debt Management: With a below-average debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, Abercrombie &amp; Fitch adopts a prudent financial strategy, indicating a balanced approach to debt management.
<h2>The Significance of Analyst Ratings Explained</h2>
Analysts work in banking and financial systems and typically specialize in reporting for stocks or defined sectors. Analysts may attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter.
Beyond their standard evaluations, some analysts contribute predictions for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, furnishing investors with additional guidance. Users of analyst ratings should be mindful that this specialized advice is shaped by human perspectives and may be subject to variability.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Critical Insights From Abercrombie & Fitch Analyst Ratings: What You Need To Know

Telsey Advisory Group analyst Dana Telsey maintains Abercrombie &amp; Fitch (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANF#NYSE">ANF</a>) with a Outperform and maintains $190 price target.

Telsey Advisory Group Maintains Outperform on Abercrombie & Fitch, Maintains $190 Price Target

Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bullish approach towards Abercrombie &amp; Fitch (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANF#NYSE">ANF</a>), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in ANF usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 15 extraordinary options activities for Abercrombie &amp; Fitch. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 53% leaning bullish and 13% bearish. Among these notable options, 2 are puts, totaling $59,840, and 13 are calls, amounting to $852,578.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $55.0 to $150.0 for Abercrombie &amp; Fitch during the past quarter. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Abercrombie &amp; Fitch's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Abercrombie &amp; Fitch's significant trades, within a strike price range of $55.0 to $150.0, over the past month.
<h3>Abercrombie &amp; Fitch 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725987654_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Biggest Options Spotted:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ANF</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$76.6</td>
<td>$73.6</td>
<td>$75.31</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$225.8K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">95</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ANF</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$19.3</td>
<td>$19.1</td>
<td>$19.3</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$193.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">239</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ANF</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/04/24</td>
<td>$5.5</td>
<td>$5.0</td>
<td>$5.5</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$55.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">619</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">400</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ANF</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/04/24</td>
<td>$5.2</td>
<td>$4.8</td>
<td>$5.1</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$51.4K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">619</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ANF</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/04/24</td>
<td>$5.2</td>
<td>$4.8</td>
<td>$5.12</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$51.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">619</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">300</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Abercrombie &amp; Fitch</h3>
Abercrombie &amp; Fitch Co is a specialty retailer that sells casual clothing, personal-care products, and accessories for men, women, and children. It sells direct to consumers through its stores and websites, which include the Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, Abercrombie kids, and Hollister brands. Most stores are in the United States, but the company does have many stores in Canada, Europe, and Asia. All stores are leased. Abercrombie ships to well over 100 countries via its websites. The company sources its merchandise from dozens of vendors that are primarily located in Asia and Central America. Abercrombie has two distribution centers in Ohio to support its North American operations. It uses third-party distributors for sales in Europe and Asia.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Where Is Abercrombie &amp; Fitch Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 1,030,869, the price of ANF is down by -3.28%, reaching $128.89.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is may be approaching oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 70 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Abercrombie &amp; Fitch</h3>
A total of 5 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $186.0.
<ul>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from UBS continues to hold a Neutral rating for Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, targeting a price of $165. </li>
<li>An analyst from Jefferies persists with their Buy rating on Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, maintaining a target price of $220. </li>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Morgan Stanley continues to hold a Equal-Weight rating for Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, targeting a price of $147. </li>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Telsey Advisory Group keeps a Outperform rating on Abercrombie &amp; Fitch with a target price of $208. </li>
<li>Showing optimism, an analyst from Citigroup upgrades its rating to Buy with a revised price target of $190. </li>
</ul>
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Abercrombie &amp; Fitch options trades with real-time alerts from <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a>.

A Closer Look at Abercrombie & Fitch's Options Market Dynamics

Dine Brands Global, Inc.&#39;s (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/din#NYSE">DIN</a>) affiliate, Dine Brands International, expands its global presence with new deals and the launch of its first dual-branded Applebee&#39;s and IHOP restaurant in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The company has entered into a multi-unit development agreement with franchisee BLT Global Brands to open the first restaurant on Sept. 16, 2024.
The strategic expansion marks a key development in Dine Brands&#39; international growth efforts. The new dual-branded restaurant in Honduras features both IHOP and Applebee&#39;s, designed to streamline operations and improve efficiency for franchisees. Dine Brands aims to enhance its market presence and drive further growth in the global restaurant industry with this concept.
The company is leveraging IHOP&#39;s morning popularity and Applebee&#39;s evening appeal to connect with and attract new guests worldwide. This strategy is aimed at offering consistent dining experiences throughout the day. The performance and returns of the dual-branded restaurants have improved, indicating the effectiveness of this approach.
The total number of international dual-branded restaurants is expected to reach 13, including the new outlet, and spread across seven markets &mdash; Mexico, Canada, UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Peru and Honduras.
Dine Brands, the parent company of Applebee&#39;s, IHOP and Fuzzy&#39;s Taco Shop, has also secured agreements to develop at least 21 new restaurants, including 13 dual-branded ones. These new sites will consist of both conversions of existing single-branded locations and new openings in various channels, such as airports and travel centers.
DIN is looking for Master Franchisees and Developers in specific regions &mdash; South Korea and Japan in Asia, Spain in Europe, Brazil, and select areas in Mexico and Canada &mdash; to strengthen its presence in these key markets.
<h2>DIN&#39;s YTD Price Performance</h2>
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/88/77169.jpg?v=949656018" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Year to date, the company&#39;s shares have lost 41.4% compared with the industry&#39;s 1.3% decline. Although the company&#39;s shares have underperformed the industry in the said period, it is likely to benefit from expansion efforts in the days ahead. DIN is optimistic on the back of its new approach to marketing, the launch of a loyalty program, technological developments and virtual brands.
<h2>DIN&#39;s Zacks Rank &amp; Key Picks</h2>
Currently, Dine Brands carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
Some better-ranked stocks from the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector are:
Abercrombie &amp; Fitch Co. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/anf#NYSE">ANF</a>) flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 28%, on average. Shares of ANF have surged 149.6% in the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ANF&#39;s fiscal 2024 sales and earnings per share indicates an increase of 12.6% and 61%, respectively, from the year-ago period&#39;s levels.
Texas Roadhouse, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/txrh#NASDAQ">TXRH</a>) currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). TXRH has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 0.4%, on average. Shares of TXRH have risen 60.5% in the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TXRH&#39;s 2024 sales and EPS indicates a rise of 15.6% and 39.2%, respectively, from the year-ago period&#39;s levels.
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/loco#NASDAQ">LOCO</a>) carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present. The company has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 21.6%, on average. Shares of LOCO have risen 40.5% in the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for LOCO&#39;s 2024 sales and EPS indicates 2% and 12.7% growth, respectively, from the year-ago period&#39;s levels.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2334052/din-expands-global-reach-with-new-dual-branded-restaurant?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|company_news_corporate_actions-2334052">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Restaurants

Events

General

LOCO

TXRH

DIN Expands Global Reach With New Dual-Branded Restaurant

Stitch Fix, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sfix#NASDAQ">SFIX</a>) has seen a substantial 45.4% surge in its stock price in the past six months, significantly outpacing the Zacks Retail-Apparel and Shoes industry&#39;s 6.5% decline. This impressive growth is driven by the company&#39;s strategic initiatives, such as AI-powered inventory management, pricing optimization, margin expansion, enhanced client engagement and improved cost efficiency.
These efforts have enabled Stitch Fix to outperform both the broader Retail-Wholesale sector and the S&amp;P 500 index, which saw growth of 2.6% and 5.9%, respectively, in the same period. This impressive uptick has left many investors wondering if they missed out on a lucrative opportunity or if there is still potential for growth. Closing at $3.46 as of Sept. 6, the SFIX stock is inching toward its 52-week high of $5.05 attained on July 16, 2024.
Technical indicators are supportive of Stitch Fix&#39;s strong performance. The stock is trading above both its 100-day and 200-day moving averages, indicating robust upward momentum and price stability. This technical strength reflects positive market perception and confidence in SFIX&#39;s financial health and prospects.
From a valuation perspective, the stock presents an attractive opportunity, trading at a discount relative to historical and industry benchmarks. With a forward 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 0.33, below the five-year median of 0.54 and the industry&#39;s average of 1.04, the stock offers compelling value for investors seeking exposure to the sector. The stock currently has a Value Score of A, further validating its appeal.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/17/76991.jpg?v=763422785" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h2>Stitch Fix&#39;s Strategic Moves to Drive Growth</h2>
Stitch Fix continues to fuel its growth by leveraging AI and data analytics, which have become central to the company&#39;s operations. A key driver of this success is the implementation of an AI-driven inventory buying tool, now responsible for nearly half of all inventory decisions, significantly boosting efficiency compared to traditional methods. This strategic application of AI highlights Stitch Fix&#39;s commitment to innovating business processes and maintaining a competitive edge.
The introduction of Quick Fixes, a feature that allows clients to schedule an additional fix immediately after checkout, has led to a 25% increase in average order value within three weeks, showcasing the company&#39;s agility in meeting client needs. Additionally, a comprehensive review of pricing architecture has resulted in adjustments expected to generate more than $20 million in annualized contribution profit, aligning prices with the value offered and enhancing profitability.
Stitch Fix has also made significant strides in margin expansion and operational efficiency. In the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the company reported a 280-basis-point year-over-year increase in gross margin, reaching 45.5%. This improvement was driven by strong product margins and better transportation leverage, reflecting the company&#39;s strategic focus on optimizing pricing and inventory management.
Enhancing the client experience remains a top priority for Stitch Fix. The company has introduced more dynamic and personalized interactions, such as increasing the number of items in each fix, refining discount strategies and improving the onboarding process. These initiatives have already delivered promising results, with higher average order values and improved retention metrics, indicating strong client satisfaction and loyalty.
The launch of Stitch Fix Freestyle has created a unique shopping experience, allowing customers to discover and purchase curated items based on their style preferences, fit and size, without the need for a Fix first. This initiative is part of the company&#39;s broader strategy to expand its client base and achieve long-term profitability.
On the marketing front, Stitch Fix is refining its strategy to prioritize liquidity preservation and profitability by focusing on high-lifetime-value clients. The company is also restructuring its operations, including consolidating U.S. warehouse locations from five to three and successfully divesting its U.K. operations, further aligning SFIX&#39;s business for sustained growth.
<h2>Declining Active Client Base: A Major Hurdle of SFIX</h2>
The reduction in the active client base in the past eight quarters has been a major concern and is the primary factor behind the company&#39;s revenue decline. In the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the number of active clients involved in ongoing operations fell to 2,633,000, representing a 20% year-over-year decrease.
Consequently, the company&#39;s revenues dropped 15.8% in the fiscal third quarter. This persistent decline in sales indicates ongoing challenges in client retention and acquisition, possibly indicating deeper issues related to product appeal or increased market competition.
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
Investors may consider SFIX stock due to its strong recovery momentum, bolstered by innovative AI-driven inventory management and pricing strategies, which have significantly improved efficiency, margins and client engagement.
Despite a decline in the active client base, the stock&#39;s value appeal is evident in its low price-to-sales ratio and outperforming industry benchmarks, combined with technical indicators showing robust price stability. This makes SFIX an attractive option for those seeking exposure to a company leveraging advanced analytics for growth. The company&#39;s focus on operational efficiency and profitability further enhances its investment potential. Stitch Fix currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
<h2>Key Picks</h2>
Some better-ranked stocks are Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/boot#NYSE">BOOT</a>), Abercrombie &amp; Fitch Co. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/anf#NYSE">ANF</a>) and Steven Madden, Ltd. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/shoo#NASDAQ">SHOO</a>).
Boot Barn operates as a lifestyle retail chain devoted to western and work-related footwear, apparel and accessories. It currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Boot Barn&#39;s fiscal 2025 earnings and sales indicates growth of 8.9% and 10.7%, respectively, from the fiscal 2023 figures. BOOT has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 7.1%.
Abercrombie is a specialty retailer of premium, high-quality casual apparel. It sports a Zacks Rank of 1 at present. ANF delivered a 16.8% earnings surprise in the last reported quarter. The consensus estimates for Abercrombie&#39;s fiscal 2025 earnings and sales indicate growth of 61% and 12.6%, respectively, from the fiscal 2024 levels. ANF has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 28%.
Steven Madden designs, sources, markets and sells fashion-forward name-brand and private-label footwear. It currently has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Steven Madden&#39;s 2024 earnings and sales indicates growth of 6.9% and 12.6%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. SHOO has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 9.5%.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2333466/should-you-invest-in-stitch-fix-stock-after-a-45-rise-in-six-months?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|rank_focused-2333466">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Penny Stocks

SFIX

Should You Invest in Stitch Fix Stock After a 45% Rise in Six Months?

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Consumer Discretionary sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>TSLA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/13/24</td>
<td>$210.00</td>
<td>$59.4K</td>
<td>7.3K</td>
<td>35.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GME</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/13/24</td>
<td>$23.50</td>
<td>$118.5K</td>
<td>3.6K</td>
<td>2.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BABA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$76.00</td>
<td>$47.4K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PTON</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$3.00</td>
<td>$73.3K</td>
<td>5.1K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ANF</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/13/24</td>
<td>$136.00</td>
<td>$42.6K</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>840</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PDD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$101.4K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
<td>807</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$190.00</td>
<td>$29.5K</td>
<td>11.1K</td>
<td>663</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ULTA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$380.00</td>
<td>$36.6K</td>
<td>564</td>
<td>428</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NIO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$4.00</td>
<td>$27.4K</td>
<td>2.6K</td>
<td>417</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ARMK</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$36.00</td>
<td>$40.2K</td>
<td>1.9K</td>
<td>415</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 4 day(s) on September 13, 2024. This event was a transfer of 250 contract(s) at a $210.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 28 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $59.4K, with a price of $238.0 per contract. There were 7376 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 35726 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding GME (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GME#NYSE">GME</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on September 13, 2024. Parties traded 474 contract(s) at a $23.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $118.5K, with a price of $250.0 per contract. There were 3620 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2079 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BABA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 11 day(s) on September 20, 2024. Parties traded 1576 contract(s) at a $76.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 33 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $47.4K, with a price of $30.0 per contract. There were 1028 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1638 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding PTON (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PTON#NASDAQ">PTON</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 39 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 486 contract(s) at a $3.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 8 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $73.3K, with a price of $151.0 per contract. There were 5170 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1502 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ANF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANF#NYSE">ANF</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 4 day(s) on September 13, 2024. This event was a transfer of 142 contract(s) at a $136.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 17 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $42.6K, with a price of $300.0 per contract. There were 9 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 840 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PDD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 11 day(s) on September 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 250 contract(s) at a $90.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $101.4K, with a price of $406.0 per contract. There were 1735 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 807 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AMZN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 11 day(s) on September 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 20 contract(s) at a $190.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.5K, with a price of $1475.0 per contract. There were 11160 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 663 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ULTA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ULTA#NASDAQ">ULTA</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 11 day(s) on September 20, 2024. Parties traded 37 contract(s) at a $380.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $36.6K, with a price of $990.0 per contract. There were 564 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 428 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding NIO (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NIO#NYSE">NIO</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 102 day(s) on December 20, 2024. Parties traded 150 contract(s) at a $4.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.4K, with a price of $183.0 per contract. There were 2679 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 417 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ARMK (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARMK#NYSE">ARMK</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 11 day(s) on September 20, 2024. Parties traded 201 contract(s) at a $36.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 7 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $40.2K, with a price of $200.0 per contract. There were 1924 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 415 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

AMZN

ARMK

BABA

Citigourp Global Markets 2% Protected Notes Linked To The Djia

PTON

TSLA

10 Consumer Discretionary Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

Abercrombie &amp; Fitch (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANF#NYSE">ANF</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 10 years by 1.9% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 12.47%. Currently, Abercrombie &amp; Fitch has a market capitalization of $6.90 billion. 
Buying $1000 In ANF: If an investor had bought $1000 of ANF stock 10 years ago, it would be worth $3,291.26 today based on a price of $135.21 for ANF at the time of writing.
<h3>Abercrombie &amp; Fitch's Performance Over Last 10 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725901220_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Here's How Much $1000 Invested In Abercrombie & Fitch 10 Years Ago Would Be Worth Today

Live On CNBC, Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Fran Horowitz Discusses Consumer Demand, Raises Revenue Growth Guidance To 12%-13% Vs ~10% Prior; Operating Margin 14%-15% Vs ~14% Prior (Previously Announced)

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Consumer Discretionary sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>TSLA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/06/24</td>
<td>$217.50</td>
<td>$30.0K</td>
<td>5.9K</td>
<td>70.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/13/24</td>
<td>$172.50</td>
<td>$51.7K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td>2.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BABA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$82.50</td>
<td>$33.0K</td>
<td>6.8K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PDD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$90.00</td>
<td>$79.0K</td>
<td>2.8K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RIVN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$13.00</td>
<td>$27.9K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
<td>391</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VFS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$4.00</td>
<td>$39.2K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td>300</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>H</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$30.9K</td>
<td>429</td>
<td>265</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ETSY</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$28.8K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td>250</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ANF</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/11/24</td>
<td>$145.00</td>
<td>$35.0K</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>201</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TXRH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$180.00</td>
<td>$28.3K</td>
<td>222</td>
<td>127</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, is expiring today. Parties traded 400 contract(s) at a $217.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 14 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.0K, with a price of $75.0 per contract. There were 5943 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 70293 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AMZN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 7 day(s) on September 13, 2024. This event was a transfer of 150 contract(s) at a $172.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $51.7K, with a price of $345.0 per contract. There were 1106 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2412 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BABA (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 42 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $82.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $33.0K, with a price of $330.0 per contract. There were 6837 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1472 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PDD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 133 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 61 contract(s) at a $90.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 20 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $79.0K, with a price of $1296.0 per contract. There were 2823 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1233 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding RIVN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIVN#NASDAQ">RIVN</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 14 day(s) on September 20, 2024. Parties traded 300 contract(s) at a $13.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 17 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.9K, with a price of $93.0 per contract. There were 1528 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 391 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding VFS (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VFS#NASDAQ">VFS</a>), we observe a put option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 133 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 250 contract(s) at a $4.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $39.2K, with a price of $157.0 per contract. There were 1391 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 300 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding H (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/H#NYSE">H</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 14 day(s) on September 20, 2024. Parties traded 206 contract(s) at a $140.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 27 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.9K, with a price of $150.0 per contract. There were 429 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 265 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ETSY (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ETSY#NASDAQ">ETSY</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be neutral, expiring in 287 day(s) on June 20, 2025. This event was a transfer of 103 contract(s) at a $40.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.8K, with a price of $280.0 per contract. There were 1366 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 250 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ANF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANF#NYSE">ANF</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 35 day(s) on October 11, 2024. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $145.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $35.0K, with a price of $352.0 per contract. There were 15 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 201 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For TXRH (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXRH#NASDAQ">TXRH</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 70 day(s) on November 15, 2024. This event was a transfer of 109 contract(s) at a $180.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 20 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.3K, with a price of $260.0 per contract. There were 222 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 127 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

ETSY

RIVN

10 Consumer Discretionary Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

Benzinga's options scanner has just identified more than 11 option transactions on Abercrombie &amp; Fitch (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANF#NYSE">ANF</a>), with a cumulative value of $622,740. Concurrently, our algorithms picked up 2 puts, worth a total of 93,000.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $130.0 to $155.0 for Abercrombie &amp; Fitch over the recent three months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Abercrombie &amp; Fitch's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Abercrombie &amp; Fitch's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $130.0 to $155.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Abercrombie &amp; Fitch 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725552133_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ANF</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/04/24</td>
<td>$8.3</td>
<td>$7.2</td>
<td>$8.2</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$122.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">21</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">250</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ANF</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/04/24</td>
<td>$8.7</td>
<td>$8.3</td>
<td>$8.7</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$86.9K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">21</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">603</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ANF</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/04/24</td>
<td>$8.7</td>
<td>$8.2</td>
<td>$8.5</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$84.1K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">21</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ANF</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/04/24</td>
<td>$8.0</td>
<td>$7.5</td>
<td>$8.0</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$80.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">21</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">100</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ANF</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$12.3</td>
<td>$12.2</td>
<td>$12.2</td>
<td>$145.00</td>
<td>$61.0K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">359</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">52</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Abercrombie &amp; Fitch</h3>
Abercrombie &amp; Fitch Co is a specialty retailer that sells casual clothing, personal-care products, and accessories for men, women, and children. It sells direct to consumers through its stores and websites, which include the Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, Abercrombie kids, and Hollister brands. Most stores are in the United States, but the company does have many stores in Canada, Europe, and Asia. All stores are leased. Abercrombie ships to well over 100 countries via its websites. The company sources its merchandise from dozens of vendors that are primarily located in Asia and Central America. Abercrombie has two distribution centers in Ohio to support its North American operations. It uses third-party distributors for sales in Europe and Asia.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Present Market Standing of Abercrombie &amp; Fitch</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 459,055, the ANF's price is down by -0.47%, now at $139.0. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 75 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On Abercrombie &amp; Fitch</h3>
Over the past month, 5 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $189.6.
<ul>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from UBS keeps a Neutral rating on Abercrombie &amp; Fitch with a target price of $165. </li>
<li>An analyst from Morgan Stanley has decided to maintain their Equal-Weight rating on Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, which currently sits at a price target of $147. </li>
<li>An analyst from Telsey Advisory Group has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, which currently sits at a price target of $208. </li>
<li>An analyst from Telsey Advisory Group persists with their Outperform rating on Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, maintaining a target price of $208. </li>
<li>An analyst from Jefferies persists with their Buy rating on Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, maintaining a target price of $220. </li>
</ul>
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

What the Options Market Tells Us About Abercrombie & Fitch

Jefferies analyst Corey Tarlowe maintains Abercrombie &amp; Fitch (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANF#NYSE">ANF</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $215 to $220.

Jefferies Maintains Buy on Abercrombie & Fitch, Raises Price Target to $220

Abercrombie &amp; Fitch's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANF#NYSE">ANF</a>) short percent of float has fallen 5.3% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 3.70 million shares sold short, which is 13.05% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.33 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Abercrombie &amp; Fitch Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725472822_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Abercrombie &amp; Fitch has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Abercrombie &amp; Fitch's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Abercrombie &amp; Fitch's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 17.66%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

How Is The Market Feeling About Abercrombie & Fitch?

Abercrombie &amp; Fitch (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/anf#NYSE">ANF</a>) closed the last trading session at $147.57, gaining 11.6% over the past four weeks, but there could be plenty of upside left in the stock if short-term price targets set by Wall Street analysts are any guide. The mean price target of $188.17 indicates a 27.5% upside potential.
The average comprises six short-term price targets ranging from a low of $147 to a high of $215, with a standard deviation of $22.27. While the lowest estimate indicates a decline of 0.4% from the current price level, the most optimistic estimate points to a 45.7% upside. More than the range, one should note the standard deviation here, as it helps understand the variability of the estimates. The smaller the standard deviation, the greater the agreement among analysts.
While the consensus price target is a much-coveted metric for investors, solely banking on this metric to make an investment decision may not be wise at all. That&#39;s because the ability and unbiasedness of analysts in setting price targets have long been questionable.
However, an impressive consensus price target is not the only factor that indicates a potential upside in ANF. This view is strengthened by the agreement among analysts that the company will report better earnings than what they estimated earlier. Though a positive trend in earnings estimate revisions doesn&#39;t give any idea as to how much the stock could surge, it has proven effective in predicting an upside.
<h2>Here&#39;s What You Should Know About Analysts&#39; Price Targets</h2>
According to researchers at several universities across the globe, a price target is one of many pieces of information about a stock that misleads investors far more often than it guides. In fact, empirical research shows that price targets set by several analysts, irrespective of the extent of agreement, rarely indicate where the price of a stock could actually be heading.
While Wall Street analysts have deep knowledge of a company&#39;s fundamentals and the sensitivity of its business to economic and industry issues, many of them tend to set overly optimistic price targets. Are you wondering why?
They usually do that to drum up interest in shares of companies that their firms either have existing business relationships with or are looking to be associated with. In other words, business incentives of firms covering a stock often result in inflated price targets set by analysts.
However, a tight clustering of price targets, which is represented by a low standard deviation, indicates that analysts have a high degree of agreement about the direction and magnitude of a stock&#39;s price movement. While that doesn&#39;t necessarily mean the stock will hit the average price target, it could be a good starting point for further research aimed at identifying the potential fundamental driving forces.
That said, while investors should not entirely ignore price targets, making an investment decision solely based on them could lead to disappointing ROI. So, price targets should always be treated with a high degree of skepticism.
<h2>Here&#39;s Why There Could be Plenty of Upside Left in ANF</h2>
There has been increasing optimism among analysts lately about the company&#39;s earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher. And that could be a legitimate reason to expect an upside in the stock. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.
For the current year, four estimates have moved higher over the last 30 days while one has gone lower. As a result, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased 7.8%.
Moreover, ANF currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), which means it is in the top 5% of more than the 4,000 stocks that we rank based on four factors related to earnings estimates. Given an impressive externally-audited track record, this is a more conclusive indication of the stock&#39;s potential upside in the near term.
Therefore, while the consensus price target may not be a reliable indicator of how much ANF could gain, the direction of price movement it implies does appear to be a good guide.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2330342/wall-street-analysts-think-abercrombie-anf-could-surge-27-51-read-this-before-placing-a-bet?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-tale_of_the_tape|consensus_price_target-2330342">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Wall Street Analysts Think Abercrombie Could Surge 27.51%: Read This Before Placing a Bet

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish stance on Abercrombie &amp; Fitch.
Looking at options history for Abercrombie &amp; Fitch (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ANF#NYSE">ANF</a>) we detected 9 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 66% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 33% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 2 are puts, for a total amount of $85,400 and 7, calls, for a total amount of $840,600.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $100.0 to $160.0 for Abercrombie &amp; Fitch during the past quarter. 
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Abercrombie &amp; Fitch's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Abercrombie &amp; Fitch's whale trades within a strike price range from $100.0 to $160.0 in the last 30 days. 
<h3>Abercrombie &amp; Fitch Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725038261_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>ANF</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$19.8</td>
<td>$19.6</td>
<td>$19.8</td>
<td>$145.00</td>
<td>$594.0K</td>
<td>119</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">332</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ANF</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/30/24</td>
<td>$10.9</td>
<td>$9.3</td>
<td>$9.8</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
<td>$58.8K</td>
<td>747</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">68</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ANF</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$49.7</td>
<td>$47.4</td>
<td>$48.8</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$48.8K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ANF</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$47.8</td>
<td>$45.7</td>
<td>$47.5</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$47.5K</td>
<td>42</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ANF</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$48.5</td>
<td>$46.8</td>
<td>$46.8</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$46.8K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">10</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Abercrombie &amp; Fitch</h3>
Abercrombie &amp; Fitch Co is a specialty retailer that sells casual clothing, personal-care products, and accessories for men, women, and children. It sells direct to consumers through its stores and websites, which include the Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, Abercrombie kids, and Hollister brands. Most stores are in the United States, but the company does have many stores in Canada, Europe, and Asia. All stores are leased. Abercrombie ships to well over 100 countries via its websites. The company sources its merchandise from dozens of vendors that are primarily located in Asia and Central America. Abercrombie has two distribution centers in Ohio to support its North American operations. It uses third-party distributors for sales in Europe and Asia.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Where Is Abercrombie &amp; Fitch Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 1,193,088, the ANF's price is up by 1.62%, now at $144.52. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 81 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Abercrombie &amp; Fitch</h3>
In the last month, 5 experts released ratings on this stock with an average target price of $183.6.
<ul>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Telsey Advisory Group continues to hold a Outperform rating for Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, targeting a price of $208. </li>
<li>An analyst from Morgan Stanley has decided to maintain their Equal-Weight rating on Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, which currently sits at a price target of $147. </li>
<li>In a positive move, an analyst from Citigroup has upgraded their rating to Buy and adjusted the price target to $190. </li>
<li>Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Telsey Advisory Group keeps a Outperform rating on Abercrombie &amp; Fitch with a target price of $208. </li>
<li>Maintaining their stance, an analyst from UBS continues to hold a Neutral rating for Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, targeting a price of $165. </li>
</ul>
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Abercrombie &amp; Fitch, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

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Press Releases

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. to Report First Quarter 2024 Results on May 29, 2024

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2024 Results

The Chainsmokers and Bebe Rexha Headline The Challenge, Abercrombie & Fitch Co.'s Annual Festival and Fundraiser to Benefit Non-Profit Partners

Inflation Slows Small Cap Rally, But SMCP ETF Offers Strategic Entry Point

Abercrombie & Fitch Set to Join S&P MidCap 400; Gates Industrial to Join S&P SmallCap 600

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. to Report Second Quarter 2024 Results on August 28, 2024

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Expands abercrombie kids with Haddad Brands Partnership

Hollister Unveils Collegiate Graphics Shop, Representing More Than 30 Universities Nationwide

Management

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Announces Election of Andrew Clarke to its Board of Directors

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2024 Results

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