Scott D. Lipesky, EVP and COO of Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF +0.71%), sold 5,000 shares of Class A common stock on Aug. 28, 2026, according to a recent SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summaryMetricValueTransaction value$745,000Shares sold5,000Post-transaction shares (directly held)147,534Post-transaction value$21.9 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($149); post-transaction value based on Aug. 28, 2026, market close ($148.42).
Key questionsWhat was the impact on Lipesky's direct equity position?
The executive sold 5,000 shares, a 3% transaction size relative to his previous stake, while retaining a direct holding of 147,534 shares.How does the transaction price compare to the stock's recent performance?
The execution at $149 per share occurred against a backdrop of 54% share price appreciation for the company over the 12 months ending Aug. 28, 2026.What is the market value of the insider's remaining direct investment?
Based on the $148.42 market close on the transaction date, the executive's remaining direct equity stake is valued at approximately $21.9 million.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-08-31)$143.08Market Capitalization$6.4 billionRevenue (TTM)$5.3 billionNet Income (TTM)$536 millionCompany SnapshotAbercrombie & Fitch operates as an omnichannel apparel retailer offering clothing, personal care products, and accessories for men, women, and children across its portfolio of brands, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie Kids, Hollister, and Gilly Hicks.The company generates revenue through a diversified distribution model encompassing company-operated retail stores, e-commerce platforms, wholesale partnerships, franchise agreements, and licensing arrangements across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific regions.The company targets style-conscious consumers across multiple demographic segments, from young adults and teenagers to families, through both physical retail locations and digital channels, seeking contemporary apparel and lifestyle products.Abercrombie & Fitch is a multinational omnichannel retailer with a market capitalization of $6.4 billion and TTM revenue of $5.3 billion, demonstrating significant scale within the apparel retail sector. The company leverages a multi-brand portfolio strategy to capture diverse customer segments while maintaining operational efficiency through integrated retail and digital distribution networks. ANF maintains a competitive position through brand differentiation, international expansion, and omnichannel retail capabilities that enable seamless customer engagement across geographies and sales channels.
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What this transaction means for investorsOn Aug. 28, Lipesky sold 5,000 shares in a transaction that was valued at approximately $745,000. Digging a little more into the details, however, this doesn't appear to be a sale that should worry shareholders. One reason is that the insider still holds 147,534 shares, indicating his continued alignment with Abercrombie's success.
The other reason this shouldn't cause worry for shareholders is the stock price's performance. Over the last 12 months, Abercrombie shares have climbed nearly 60%, while the S&P 500 is up 17.8% over the same period. With that price run-up, it is natural for an insider to consider taking some gains off the table. With that context, this sale appears largely routine.
For what's ahead, however, price targets suggest that potential gains over the next 12 months may not come as fast and furiously as they have over the previous 12 months. According to CNN, of the 15 analysts who cover the stock, the median price target for the next year is $165. From the price as of this writing, $151.43, reaching $165 would represent a gain of nearly 9%.
Kenneth B. Robinson, Director at Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF +1.18%), sold 800 shares of Class A Common Stock on Aug. 28, 2026, according to an SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summaryMetricValueTransaction value$119,752Shares sold800Post-transaction shares (directly held)7,169Post-transaction value$1.06 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($149.69); post-transaction value based on Aug. 28, 2026, market close ($148.42).
Key questionsHow does this transaction relate to the company's recent market performance?
The sale was executed at $149.69 per share, following a 54% one-year return as of the transaction date of Aug. 28, 2026.What is the scale of the insider's remaining direct equity exposure?
Kenneth B. Robinson maintains a direct holding of 7,169 shares, which represents a market value of $1.06 million based on the market close on the date of the transaction.Which brands underpin the company's omnichannel retail operations?
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. operates a portfolio of global brands, including Hollister, Gilly Hicks, Your Personal Best, Abercrombie Kids, and its namesake Abercrombie & Fitch.What is the current insider ownership concentration for the company?
Following this transaction, the total percentage of shares held by insiders is 0.0161% as of the Sept. 1, 2026, filing date.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-08-31)$143.08Market Capitalization$6.3 billionRevenue (TTM)$5.3 billionNet Income (TTM)$536.0 millionCompany SnapshotAbercrombie & Fitch operates as an omnichannel apparel retailer offering clothing, personal care products, and accessories for men, women, and children across its portfolio of brands, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie Kids, Hollister, and Gilly Hicks.The company generates revenue through a diversified distribution model encompassing company-operated retail stores, e-commerce platforms, wholesale partnerships, franchise agreements, and licensing arrangements across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific regions.The company targets style-conscious consumers across multiple demographic segments, from young adults and teenagers to families, through both physical retail locations and digital channels, seeking contemporary apparel and lifestyle products.Abercrombie & Fitch is a multinational omnichannel retailer with a market capitalization of $6.3 billion and TTM revenue of $5.3 billion, demonstrating significant scale within the apparel retail sector. The company leverages a multi-brand portfolio strategy to capture diverse customer segments while maintaining operational efficiency through integrated retail and digital distribution networks. With 43,200 employees globally, ANF maintains a competitive position through brand differentiation, international expansion, and omnichannel retail capabilities that enable seamless customer engagement across geographies and sales channels.
What this transaction means for investorsInvestors should never treat insider sales as the final word on a stock. That's because insiders sell stock for a variety of reasons, including tax withholding and prearranged sales plans. It's always better to examine a company's fundamentals to truly determine how it is performing and whether it is a sensible investment. With that in mind, let's review Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF).
To start, we must review the stock's performance. Since 2021, ANF stock has outperformed the stock market by a significant margin. ANF shares have generated an eye-popping total return of 335%, equating to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 34.2%. The S&P 500, meanwhile, has delivered an 83% total return, with a 12.8% CAGR.
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Turning to the underlying fundamentals, several of ANF's key metrics demonstrate why its stock has soared over the last five years. Since 2021, revenue growth has averaged 8.6%, with overall revenue increasing from $3.7 billion in 2022 to more than $5.3 billion now. The company has successfully sustained its millennial customer base while simultaneously growing its overall market by appealing to Gen Z consumers. In addition to its flagship premium Abercrombie stores, ANF's Hollister offers lower-priced, surf-inspired clothing.
In addition to strong revenue growth, ANF has aggressively reduced its shares outstanding through its share buyback program, supported by steady free cash flow. Total shares outstanding have fallen by 25% since 2021.
On the flip side, some analysts have noted that ANF's organic growth has stalled in recent quarters. This could be a sign of flagging demand, but could also be a temporary blip. In any event, ANF, like all premium retailers, is susceptible to economic downturns.
To sum up, ANF stock has delivered astonishing market-beating returns over the last few years. Investors looking for a consumer stock would be wise to consider the stock.
Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.
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The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.
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How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.8% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF - Free Report) Abercrombie & Fitch Co. operates as a specialty retailer of premium, high-quality casual apparel for men, women and kids through a network of approximately 850 stores across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, as well as the e-commerce sites www.abercrombie.com, www.abercrombiekids.com and www.HollisterCo.com.
ANF is a #1 (Strong Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
Momentum investors should take note of this Retail-Wholesale stock. ANF has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 26.3% over the past four weeks.
For fiscal 2027, two analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.54 to $11.11 per share. ANF boasts an average earnings surprise of +13.6%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, ANF should be on investors' short list.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
I'm not an investment professional or investment advisor. This article is solely based on my own opinions and research. This is not meant to be a recommendation of the sale or the purchase of any securities. The investments or strategies discussed within this article are of my own personal opinions and commentary. This article has been written for educational and research purposes only. This article does not consider the reader’s financial situation, investment goals, needs, or any other personal circumstances. Investors should conduct their own research and perform their own due diligence before making any investment decisions.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.
Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.
Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.8% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.
The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF - Free Report) Abercrombie & Fitch Co. operates as a specialty retailer of premium, high-quality casual apparel for men, women and kids through a network of approximately 850 stores across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, as well as the e-commerce sites www.abercrombie.com, www.abercrombiekids.com and www.HollisterCo.com.
ANF is a #1 (Strong Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of A thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 12.92; value investors should take notice.
Two analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2027. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.54 to $11.11 per share. ANF boasts an average earnings surprise of +13.6%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, ANF should be on investors' short list.
Investors interested in stocks from the Retail - Apparel and Shoes sector have probably already heard of Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF - Free Report) and Tapestry (TPR - Free Report) . But which of these two stocks is more attractive to value investors? We'll need to take a closer look to find out.
Everyone has their own methods for finding great value opportunities, but our model includes pairing an impressive grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system with a strong Zacks Rank. The proven Zacks Rank puts an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, while our Style Scores work to identify stocks with specific traits.
Currently, Abercrombie & Fitch has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy), while Tapestry has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). This means that ANF's earnings estimate revision activity has been more impressive, so investors should feel comfortable with its improving analyst outlook. But this is just one factor that value investors are interested in.
Value investors are also interested in a number of tried-and-true valuation metrics that help show when a company is undervalued at its current share price levels.
Our Value category grades stocks based on a number of key metrics, including the tried-and-true P/E ratio, the P/S ratio, earnings yield, and cash flow per share, as well as a variety of other fundamentals that value investors frequently use.
ANF currently has a forward P/E ratio of 12.92, while TPR has a forward P/E of 15.45. We also note that ANF has a PEG ratio of 1.29. This popular figure is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also considers a company's expected EPS growth rate. TPR currently has a PEG ratio of 1.55.
Another notable valuation metric for ANF is its P/B ratio of 4.66. The P/B is a method of comparing a stock's market value to its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. By comparison, TPR has a P/B of 35.79.
These are just a few of the metrics contributing to ANF's Value grade of A and TPR's Value grade of C.
ANF has seen stronger estimate revision activity and sports more attractive valuation metrics than TPR, so it seems like value investors will conclude that ANF is the superior option right now.
Few stocks, let alone retail names, have enjoyed a run quite like Abercrombie & Fitch Co. NYSE: ANF over the past few months. Since the back end of May, shares have more than doubled, powering up to their highest level since January 2025 and all but erasing the brutal 60% sell-off that did so much damage last year. It has been an impressive recovery, and the momentum shows little sign of letting up.
Abercrombie & Fitch Today
ANF
Abercrombie & Fitch
$141.35 -1.73 (-1.21%)
As of 02:23 PM Eastern
This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.
$65.45▼
$154.5812.08
$154.17
The latest fuel came from two sources in quick succession: a record set of quarterly results last week, then a fresh analyst upgrade this week that reckons the good times are far from over. Together, they are the clearest signal yet that this lifestyle retailer may have further to climb.
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The question for investors, then, is not whether Abercrombie has turned a corner; it plainly has, but whether the shares can keep up their blistering pace. After a rally of this magnitude, is the hot streak only just getting started, or has the easy money already been made?
A Standout QuarterLast week's report left no doubt about the business's strength right now. Along with a solid beat on the headline numbers, sales rose across the board, and management was confident enough to raise its guidance for the rest of the year.
What stood out was that the company's namesake Abercrombie brand grew 8% year over year, helping re-establish momentum that had recently slowed. Alongside it, the company's younger-skewing Hollister saw good progress with acquiring new customers, helped by a deal with Target Corporation NYSE: TGT that puts its clothes in more than 1,500 Target stores.
Management also announced a fresh share repurchase program, one of the cleanest signals it can make that it believes its own shares are undervalued. Overall, it was a solid report, and from that viewpoint at least, the subsequent 35% jump in shares wasn't all that surprising.
Abercrombie & Fitch Company (ANF) Price Chart for Tuesday, September, 1, 2026
An Upgrade That Fanned the FlamesAbercrombie & Fitch Stock Forecast Today12-Month Stock Price Forecast:
$154.17
9.80% Upside
Moderate Buy
Based on 14 Analyst Ratings
Current Price$140.40High Forecast$185.00Average Forecast$154.17Low Forecast$92.00Abercrombie & Fitch Stock Forecast Details
A big vote of confidence from Wall Street quickly followed the strong quarter. On Monday, Argus lifted its rating on the stock to Buy, arguing that upside momentum from both brands has room to run. It also set a new $162 price target for Abercrombie shares, indicating potential upside of around 13% from recent prices.
The analyst behind the call, Argus's Christine Dooley, made a clear case for why the momentum can last. In her view, sales have decisively turned for the company after management worked to put both brands on a more sustainable footing. As she put it, Hollister was already performing well, and now the flagship Abercrombie brand has staged a revival of its own, giving the retailer two engines of growth rather than one.
What the Doubters Are SayingHowever, not everyone is convinced the good times will continue. After the stock jumped following last week's results, Citi took the opposite path and turned cautious, downgrading its rating on Abercrombie from Buy to Neutral. Analyst Paul Lejuez acknowledged there was plenty to like in the report, but that after such a sharp move, the stock's risk/reward profile was no longer attractive.
There was also a catch buried in the headline numbers—a substantial chunk of the quarter's profit came from a one-off tariff refund, a windfall that flattered the results and will not repeat indefinitely. Strip out that temporary boost, and while the business is still performing well, its actual profitability is more modest than the reported figures suggest, something investors chasing the stock would do well to remember.
Abercrombie's valuation is also starting to look less like a bargain. This time last year, the stock traded at 7x earnings; today, that same multiple is above 12. That kind of re-rating leaves far less margin for error in future results, and puts additional pressure on the company to keep delivering.
Plenty of Momentum, But Beware Some Profit-TakingSo where does that leave investors today? The bull case remains a powerful one—Abercrombie is undoubtedly a well-run business with some real momentum behind it. Set against that are two main bearish caveats: the flattering effect of a $100 million one-off tariff refund and a share price that's already come an awfully long way in a short space of time.
For now, it looks like shares are trying to consolidate at the upper end of last week's jump, near the $150 mark, and it would be no surprise to see some profit-taking set in over the coming sessions. That might in fact be the best-case scenario for those of us on the sidelines, as it would take the steam out of the recent run and hand investors a chance to buy into a stock that clearly has a lot of momentum behind it.
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Should You Invest $1,000 in Abercrombie & Fitch Right Now?Before you consider Abercrombie & Fitch, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Abercrombie & Fitch wasn't on the list.
While Abercrombie & Fitch currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
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Investors often turn to recommendations made by Wall Street analysts before making a Buy, Sell, or Hold decision about a stock. While media reports about rating changes by these brokerage-firm employed (or sell-side) analysts often affect a stock's price, do they really matter?
Before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage, let's see what these Wall Street heavyweights think about Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF - Free Report) .
Abercrombie currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 1.93, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 14 brokerage firms. An ABR of 1.93 approximates between Strong Buy and Buy.
Of the 14 recommendations that derive the current ABR, seven are Strong Buy and one is Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 50% and 7.1% of all recommendations.
Brokerage Recommendation Trends for ANF
Check price target & stock forecast for Abercrombie here>>>
The ABR suggests buying Abercrombie, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.
Do you wonder why? As a result of the vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover, their analysts tend to rate it with a strong positive bias. According to our research, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" recommendation.
In other words, their interests aren't always aligned with retail investors, rarely indicating where the price of a stock could actually be heading. Therefore, the best use of this information could be validating your own research or an indicator that has proven to be highly successful in predicting a stock's price movement.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), is a reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance. So, validating the Zacks Rank with ABR could go a long way in making a profitable investment decision.
ABR Should Not Be Confused With Zacks RankIn spite of the fact that Zacks Rank and ABR both appear on a scale from 1 to 5, they are two completely different measures.
The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.
It has been and continues to be the case that analysts employed by brokerage firms are overly optimistic with their recommendations. Because of their employers' vested interests, these analysts issue more favorable ratings than their research would support, misguiding investors far more often than helping them.
In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.
In addition, the different Zacks Rank grades are applied proportionately to all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide current-year earnings estimates. In other words, this tool always maintains a balance among its five ranks.
There is also a key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank when it comes to freshness. When you look at the ABR, it may not be up-to-date. Nonetheless, since brokerage analysts constantly revise their earnings estimates to reflect changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in predicting future stock prices.
Is ANF a Good Investment?Looking at the earnings estimate revisions for Abercrombie, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased 7.4% over the past month to $11.01.
Analysts' growing optimism over the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by strong agreement among them in revising EPS estimates higher, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to soar in the near term.
The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for Abercrombie. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
Therefore, the Buy-equivalent ABR for Abercrombie may serve as a useful guide for investors.
Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF - Free Report) could be a solid choice for investors given the company's remarkably improving earnings outlook. While the stock has been a strong performer lately, this trend might continue since analysts are still raising their earnings estimates for the company.
The upward trend in estimate revisions for this teen clothing retailer reflects growing optimism of analysts on its earnings prospects, which should get reflected in its stock price. After all, empirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements. This insight is at the core of our stock rating tool -- the Zacks Rank.
The five-grade Zacks Rank system, which ranges from a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record of outperformance, with Zacks #1 Ranked stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 2008.
For Abercrombie & Fitch, there has been strong agreement among the covering analysts in raising earnings estimates, which has helped push consensus estimates considerably higher for the next quarter and full year.
The chart below shows the evolution of forward 12-month Zacks Consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Current-Quarter Estimate RevisionsFor the current quarter, the company is expected to earn $2.95 per share, which is a change of +25.0% from the year-ago reported number.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Abercrombie has increased 5.5% over the last 30 days, as three estimates have gone higher while one has gone lower.
Current-Year Estimate RevisionsFor the full year, the earnings estimate of $11.01 per share represents a change of +11.7% from the year-ago number.
There has been an encouraging trend in estimate revisions for the current year as well. Over the past month, three estimates have moved up for Abercrombie versus no negative revisions. This has pushed the consensus estimate 7.42% higher.
Favorable Zacks RankThe promising estimate revisions have helped Abercrombie earn a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). The Zacks Rank is a tried-and-tested rating tool that helps investors effectively harness the power of earnings estimate revisions and make the right investment decision.
You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Our research shows that stocks with Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and 2 (Buy) significantly outperform the S&P 500.
Bottom LineInvestors have been betting on Abercrombie because of its solid estimate revisions, as evident from the stock's 49.1% gain over the past four weeks. As its earnings growth prospects might push the stock higher, you may consider adding it to your portfolio right away.
Have you evaluated the performance of Abercrombie & Fitch's (ANF - Free Report) international operations during the quarter that concluded in July 2026? Considering the extensive worldwide presence of this teen clothing retailer, analyzing the patterns in international revenues is crucial for understanding its financial resilience and potential for growth.
In today's increasingly interconnected global economy, a company's ability to tap into international markets can be a pivotal factor in shaping its overall financial health and growth trajectory. For investors, understanding a company's reliance on overseas markets has become increasingly crucial, as it offers insights into the company's sustainability of earnings, ability to tap into diverse economic cycles and overall growth potential.
Presence in international markets can act as a hedge against domestic economic downturns and provide access to faster-growing economies. However, this diversification also brings complexities due to currency fluctuations, geopolitical risks and differing market dynamics.
In our recent assessment of ANF's quarterly performance, we discovered notable trends in its overseas revenue sections, which are typically modeled and scrutinized by Wall Street analysts.
The recent quarter saw the company's total revenue reaching $1.27 billion, marking an improvement of 4.8% from the prior-year quarter. Next, we'll examine the breakdown of ANF's revenue from abroad to comprehend the significance of its international presence.
Trends in ANF's Revenue from International MarketsOf the total revenue, $201.99 million came from Europe, Middle East and Africa during the last fiscal quarter, accounting for 16%. This represented a surprise of +1.37% as analysts had expected the region to contribute $199.26 million to the total revenue. In comparison, the region contributed $167.37 million, or 15%, and $197.21 million, or 16.3%, to total revenue in the previous and year-ago quarters, respectively.
During the quarter, Asia Pacific including Oceania contributed $44.16 million in revenue, making up 3.5% of the total revenue. When compared to the consensus estimate of $29.91 million, this meant a surprise of +47.65%. Looking back, Asia Pacific including Oceania contributed $46.5 million, or 4.2%, in the previous quarter, and $37.15 million, or 3.1%, in the same quarter of the previous year.
Revenue Projections for Overseas MarketsIt is projected by analysts on Wall Street that Abercrombie will post revenues of $1.37 billion for the ongoing fiscal quarter, an increase of 5.8% from the year-ago quarter. The expected contributions from Europe, Middle East and Africa and Asia Pacific including Oceania to this revenue are 14.5%, and 2.2%, translating into $197.49 million, and $30.2 million, respectively.
For the entire year, the company's total revenue is forecasted to be $5.5 billion, which is an improvement of 4.5% from the previous year. The revenue contributions from different regions are expected as follows: Europe, Middle East and Africa will contribute 14.7% ($810.59 million), and Asia Pacific including Oceania 2.6% ($141.65 million) to the total revenue.
Key TakeawaysAbercrombie's leaning on foreign markets for its revenue stream presents a mix of chances and challenges. Therefore, a vigilant watch on its international revenue movements can greatly aid in projecting the company's future direction.
In a world where international interdependencies and geopolitical conflicts are ever-increasing, Wall Street analysts closely monitor these trends for companies having international presence to adjust their earnings forecasts. Of course, there are several other factors, including a company's standing within its home borders, that influence analysts' earnings forecasts.
At Zacks, a company's changing earnings outlook is given considerable attention due to its proven, strong influence on a stock's price performance in the near term. The connection here is straightforward and positive: when earnings estimates are revised upward, the stock price generally follows suit, increasing as well.
The Zacks Rank, our proprietary stock rating tool, comes with an externally validated impressive track record. It effectively utilizes shifts in earnings projections to act as a dependable barometer for forecasting short-term stock price trends.
Currently, Abercrombie holds a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), signifying its potential to outperform the overall market's performance in the forthcoming period. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Assessing Abercrombie & Fitch's Stock Price Movement in Recent TimesOver the past month, the stock has gained 49.1% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's 3.9% increase. The Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector, of which Abercrombie is a part, has risen 2.8% over the same period. The company's shares have increased 97% over the past three months compared to the S&P 500's 2.2% increase. Over the same period, the sector has declined 2.8%
The market’s first takeaway from Abercrombie & Fitch Co‘s (NYSE:ANF) second-quarter earnings was obvious: a roughly $100 million tariff refund helped fuel a blowout quarter. Management spent much of its earnings call making a different argument—that the business itself outperformed expectations by even more.
That distinction matters because investors are now deciding whether Wednesday’s sharp 40% stock rally reflects a one-time accounting benefit or evidence that the retailer’s turnaround continues to strengthen underneath the headlines.
Abercrombie Says the Underlying Business Outperformed ExpectationsChief Executive Officer Fran Horowitz acknowledged the impact of the tariff refund but emphasized it was not what drove the quarter’s outperformance.
“While we benefited from tariff refunds in the quarter, we beat our outlook by more than the refund on both operating margin and earnings per share,” she said.
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The company reported record second-quarter revenue of $1.27 billion and adjusted earnings per share of $4.17, comfortably ahead of Wall Street expectations. Although the tariff refund provided a meaningful boost, management repeatedly pointed investors back to the operating performance of the core business.
Chief Financial Officer Robert Ball broke down the numbers. Abercrombie’s operating margin exceeded the company’s May outlook by roughly 990 basis points. About 790 basis points came from the tariff refund, but “the remaining approximately 200 basis points came primarily from favorable gross margin and operating leverage on stronger sales.”
His conclusion was unequivocal: “While the refund was meaningful, the underlying business performed above our expectations.”
Abercrombie’s Pricing Power Helped Drive the BeatManagement also pointed to healthy consumer demand rather than aggressive discounting as another reason the business exceeded expectations.
Ball said average unit retail — the average selling price of merchandise — “came in stronger than expected on reduced promotional activity,” adding that “the consumers are responding really well to the assortments.” Importantly, he noted that stronger pricing was accompanied by higher unit sales, describing the quarter as “balanced, which is what we like to see.”
Executives highlighted broad-based momentum across the business. Abercrombie delivered 8% sales growth, Hollister returned to sequential acceleration, APAC sales climbed 19%, and the company recorded its 15th consecutive quarter of top-line growth.
The company also raised its full-year outlook for both sales and profitability, citing a “strong start to August” and improving confidence in the second half.
Why Investors Should Look Beyond the Tariff RefundThe tariff refund undoubtedly inflated reported earnings. Management itself estimated the benefit at roughly $1.75 per diluted share during the quarter.
But the more important message from the earnings call was that executives wanted investors to separate the one-time benefit from the underlying trajectory of the business. They argued that stronger merchandise execution, lower promotional activity, healthier margins and continued demand were enough to produce results above internal expectations even before accounting for the refund.
For investors, the next question is whether that operational momentum persists after the tariff benefit disappears. Future quarters will no longer enjoy the same windfall, making the company’s underlying sales growth, pricing discipline and margin performance the metrics that matter most.
If those trends continue, Wednesday’s rally may prove to have been about more than a one-off refund.
ANF Stock Price Activity: Abercrombie & Fitch shares were up 40.20% at $152.68 on Wednesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
The trendy, casual retailer Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF +1.83%) just hit it out of the park.
In the second quarter of its fiscal year 2026, Abercrombie reported $4.17 adjusted earnings per diluted share, up from $2.33 one year ago. Revenue of $1.27 billion rose 5% year over year.
Wall Street consensus estimates had only expected $1.99 of adjusted EPS. Shares had soared roughly 33%, as of 12:53 p.m. ET today.
The quarter builds on continued momentum, with the company achieving its 15th consecutive quarter of sales growth. But here's the real reason the stock is skyrocketing today.
Image source: Getty Images.
Significantly raising guidanceIn addition to the big earnings beat, Abercrombie's management team significantly raised its full-year guidance.
The company now expects annual sales growth of 5%, up from a prior range of 3% to 5%.
Operating margin is expected to land within a range of 14.5%-15%, up from a prior outlook of 12%-12.5%. Diluted earnings per share are expected to be within a range of $13.10-$13.60, up from a prior range of $10.20-$11.00.
That's an enormous lift, so it makes sense that investors are buying the stock hand over fist.
Part of the boost during the second quarter, however, is due to tariff refunds. Abercrombie & Fitch received $100 million in tariff refunds associated with the Supreme Court's ruling that tariffs enacted by the Trump administration through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were illegal.
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Abercrombie's CFO, Robert Ball, said the tariffs added about $1.75 to diluted EPS in the quarter. Ball also said the company expects to recognize an additional $20 million of tariff refunds in its third quarter.
Even so, the core business is performing very well, and momentum is expected to continue in the back half of the year.
Abercrombie & Fitch had a nearly 20% operating margin in the quarter. While tariff refunds added 7.9% to that number, the company had only guided for about a 10% operating margin in the quarter.
Abercrombie picked up another 2% from favorable gross margin and operating leverage, due to stronger sales.
CEO Fran Horowitz said the brand is seeing success globally and across genders, with knits, woven shirts, pants, and shorts all performing well.
Horowitz also said the company's partnership with the NFL continues to appeal to sports fans, while Hollister's partnership with Target has brought in new customers and strengthened its relationship with existing ones.
Where can the stock go from here?Following the big move, Abercrombie now trades at about 14 times forward earnings.
The company is also repurchasing stock and has bought back 7% of its shares since the year began. Management now plans to return at least $500 million to shareholders through repurchases in fiscal 2026; so far, it has repurchased $282 million.
The new guidance also suggests that quarterly sales growth will accelerate from here, and management believes it can achieve industry-leading margins again this year.
Companies like Abercrombie are somewhat tied to the economy and consumer spending, so that's a potential risk as inflation remains elevated.
But I do think long-term investors can buy Abercrombie & Fitch, given the strength in the underlying business. Investors may want to dollar-cost average into the stock right now, as I suspect some near-term-minded investors will take profits after the big gains.
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF) Q2 2026 Earnings Call August 26, 2026 8:30 AM EDT
Company Participants
Mohit Gupta - Vice President of Investor Relations
Fran Horowitz-Bonadies - CEO & Director
Robert Ball - CFO & Executive VP
Conference Call Participants
Dana Telsey - Telsey Advisory Group LLC
Corey Tarlowe - Jefferies LLC, Research Division
Matthew Boss - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Marni Shapiro - The Retail Tracker
Katherine Delahunt - Morgan Stanley, Research Division
Mauricio Serna Vega - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
Jonathan Keypour - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
Janine Hoffman Stichter - BTIG, LLC, Research Division
Angus Kelleher-Ferguson - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division
Janet Kloppenburg - JJK Research Associates, Inc.
Presentation
Operator
Good day, and welcome to the Abercrombie & Fitch Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2026 Earnings Conference Call. Today's call is being recorded. [Operator Instructions] At this time, I would like to turn the conference over to Mohit Gupta. Please go ahead.
Mohit Gupta
Vice President of Investor Relations
Thank you. Good morning, and welcome to our second quarter 2026 earnings call. Joining me today on the call are Fran Horowitz, Chief Executive Officer; Scott Lipesky, Chief Operating Officer; and Robert Ball, Chief Financial Officer.
Earlier this morning, we issued our second quarter earnings release, which is available on our website at corporate.abercrombie.com under the Investors section. Also available on our website is an investor presentation. Please keep in mind that we will make certain forward-looking statements on the call. These statements are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are subject to the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations and assumptions we mentioned today.
These factors and uncertainties are discussed in our reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, we
Retailers often have to choose between protecting margins and driving sales. Abercrombie & Fitch Co (NYSE:ANF) says it managed to do both in the second quarter.
During the company’s earnings call, executives pointed to one of the quarter’s most overlooked strengths: customers continued buying even as promotions eased.
Chief Financial Officer Robert Ball said, “AUR came in stronger than expected on reduced promotional activity,” adding that “the consumers are responding really well to the assortments.” AUR, or average unit retail, measures the average selling price of merchandise.
• Abercrombie & Fitch stock is at critical resistance. What’s behind ANF new highs?
Abercrombie Says Better Products, Not Bigger Discounts, Drove SalesRather than relying on markdowns, management credited stronger assortments and disciplined inventory management for the quarter’s performance. Ball described the results as “balanced, which is what we like to see,” noting that stronger pricing came alongside higher unit sales.
He later emphasized that demand wasn’t simply shifting toward higher-priced products. “That is not just a mix dynamic. That is true sales units out the door,” he said, while adding that the company “haven’t taken any sort of additional price increases.”
Chief Executive Officer Fran Horowitz echoed that message, saying the quarter’s outperformance was “primarily driven from lower discount levels” and that the company’s “read-and-react model is really working for us.”
For investors, the takeaway is that Abercrombie’s improved profitability appears to be coming from stronger brand appeal and disciplined execution — not heavier promotions or higher prices. That’s a more durable growth story than simply selling the same products at deeper discounts.
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Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF - Free Report) ) shares have surged over 30% on Wednesday after reporting stronger-than-expected Q2 results this morning and a substantial increase in full-year guidance.
The rally has pushed ANF back into positive territory for the year and reflects renewed confidence that the apparel retailer can sustain its recent momentum.
Still, after such a dramatic one-day move, investors have to ask whether Abercrombie's improving outlook justifies chasing the rally or if much of the good news is already being priced in.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Abercrombie Crushes Q2 ExpectationsAbercrombie posted record Q2 sales of $1.27 billion, rising 5% year over year and topping the Zacks Consensus of $1.24 billion. Abercrombie brand sales increased 8% despite flat companywide comparable sales and a 3% decline at Hollister.
More importantly, excluding a one-time tariff benefit, adjusted earnings were up 4% YoY to $2.42 per share and crushed EPS expectations of $1.95 by 24%.
Notably, Abercrombie’s reported Q2 adjusted EPS of $4.17 included a $1.75-per-share benefit from roughly $100 million of tariff refunds.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Raised Guidance & Share Repurchase TargetsManagement also raised its fiscal 2026 guidance, now expecting roughly 5% sales growth and EPS of $13.10-$13.60, compared with its previous forecast of 3-5% sales growth and EPS outlook of $10.20-$11.00.
The update reflects an estimated $120 million in total IEEPA tariff refunds, with a $20 million benefit expected in Q3. It’s also noteworthy that Abercrombie increased its share repurchase target to at least $500 million from around $450 million.
ANF's Valuation Remains ReasonableDespite Wednesday's surge, Abercrombie stock doesn't look excessively expensive relative to its improved earnings outlook.
With shares trading over $140, ANF is still trading at just 10X forward earnings given management’s new FY26 EPS guidance.
That valuation appears to leave room for further upside if Abercrombie can indeed sustain its sales growth and earnings momentum.
However, investors should remember that tariff refunds have provided a sizable boost to this year's profitability. At the same time, flat comparable sales suggest the underlying growth picture isn't quite as spectacular as the stock's one-day move implies.
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Bottom Line: Should Investors Chase ANF's Rally?Abercrombie's Q2 beat, higher guidance, and still-reasonable valuation certainly support the bullish reaction. However, after a 30% surge, investors may be better served waiting for a more attractive entry point rather than chasing ANF shares immediately.
Keeping that in mind, ANF currently lands a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), which supports a more measured stance despite the company's encouraging earnings outlook. Existing shareholders have plenty of reasons to stay optimistic, but new investors may want to let the post-earnings excitement settle before jumping in.
ToplineAbercrombie and Fitch shares spiked to an 18-month high Wednesday, reporting a large boost in operating income fueled by $100 million worth of tariff refunds in its second quarter earnings.
Abercrombie & Fitch expect further tariff refunds next quarter.
Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Key FactsAbercrombie shares were up 34.8% as of 45 minutes before markets closed, reaching their highest point since January 2025.
The apparel company benefited from about $100 million in tariff refunds, which boosted operating income to $253 million, up from $207 million in the same period last year, according to its earnings report.
Earnings per share reached $4.17, a massive expectations beat, topping the $1.99 EPS analysts forecasted, according to FactSet.
The retailer also recorded net sales of $1.3 billion in the second quarter, up 5% compared to last year.
After the Supreme Court ruled against President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs earlier this year, the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled several U.S. companies that paid the tariffs were entitled to refunds.
Abercrombie reported $90 million in tariff expenses last year, dropping its full-year operating margin outlook by 1.7% and representing about 16% of the company's entire net income in 2025.
What To Watch ForAbercrombie expects to receive $20 million in tariff refunds for its third quarter.
Big NumberAt least 2.5%. That is how much Abercrombie raised its operating margin outlook for the full year by, forecasting a range between 14.5% and 15%.
Key BackgroundAbercrombie is one of several U.S. companies that has reported tariff refunds this month. U.S. retailers reported over $5 billion in refunds last week alone, with Walmart accounting for a whopping $2.9 billion of those refunds. Other companies reporting tariff refunds included Target ($994 million), Home Depot ($730 million) and TJ Maxx owner TJX ($331 million). Many retailers have suggested they plan to reinvest their tariff refunds into their companies as opposed to passing them on to consumers who paid higher retail prices. Walmart has said it intends to deploy as much of its refund back into lowering prices for consumers, while Costco has said it plans to do the same, though it is not yet clear how much money in tariff refunds the big-box store has received.
Further ReadingAmericans’ Top Retailers Are Getting Billions In Tariff Refunds—Including Walmart, Target—But Many Consumers Still Aren’t (Forbes)
Shares of Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF +1.83%) rocketed higher on Wednesday after the apparel and accessories purveyor boosted its full-year profit forecast.
Image source: Getty Images.
Consistent, broad-based growth Abercrombie & Fitch's net sales rose 5% year over year to $1.3 billion in its fiscal 2026 second quarter, which ended on Aug. 1. That marked the retailer's 15th straight quarter of growth.
Abercrombie & Fitch saw gains in all its major geographic regions. Its Asia-Pacific segment enjoyed particularly strong growth, with sales up 19%.
The company's Abercrombie and Hollister brands both delivered record Q2 revenue, with sales up 8% and 2%, respectively.
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Hollister struck a partnership with discount retail giant Target in June that launched it into the home and decor category.
"Hollister's collaboration with Target, the brand's first meaningful wholesale and category expansion in the U.S., has performed very well against expectations and added nicely to top-line growth this quarter," CEO Fran Horowitz said during a conference call with analysts.
These sales increases, along with roughly $100 million in tariff refunds, drove Abercrombie & Fitch's operating income to $253 million. Its adjusted earnings per share, in turn, climbed to $4.17 from $2.32 in the prior-year period.
Management chose to pass much of these profits on to stockholders via share repurchases. Abercrombie & Fitch has spent $282 million to buy back a whopping 7% of its shares so far in 2026.
Buybacks are set to continue This solid first-half performance prompted the company to boost its full-year financial forecast. Management now sees net sales rising by 5%, resulting in net income of $13.10 to $13.60 per share.
"We expect to grow sales and earnings per share, underpinned by double-digit operating margins, while delivering strong cash flow and returns of cash to shareholders through at least $500 million of share repurchases," Horowitz said.
Joe Tenebruso has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Target. The Motley Fool recommends Abercrombie & Fitch. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Shares of Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF - Free Report) have been strong performers lately, with the stock up 44.2% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $154.58 in the previous session. Abercrombie has gained 17.4% since the start of the year compared to the 2.4% gain for the Zacks Retail-Wholesale sector and the -10.6% return for the Zacks Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry.
What's Driving the Outperformance?The stock has a great record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our earnings consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on August 26, 2026, Abercrombie reported EPS of $2.42 versus consensus estimate of $1.95.
For the current fiscal year, Abercrombie is expected to post earnings of $10.8 per share on $5.47 in revenues. This represents a 9.53% change in EPS on a 3.81% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $11.53 per share on $5.68 in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of 6.79% and 3.83%, respectively.
Valuation MetricsWhile Abercrombie has moved to its 52-week high in the recent past, investors need to be asking, what is next for the company? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company has run ahead of itself.
On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as these give investors a variety of ways to comb through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). The individual style scores for Value, Growth, Momentum and the combined VGM Score run from A through F. The idea behind the style scores is to help investors pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.
Abercrombie has a Value Score of A. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are C and A, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of A.
In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 13.7X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is not in-line with the peer industry average of 15.4X. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 10.4X versus its peer group's average of 9.4X. This is good enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective, making Abercrombie an interesting choice for value investors.
Zacks RankWe also need to look at the Zacks Rank for the stock, as this is even more important than the company's VGM Score. Fortunately, Abercrombie currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to rising earnings estimates.
Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if Abercrombie passes the test. Thus, it seems as though Abercrombie shares could have potential in the weeks and months to come.
How Does ANF Stack Up to the Competition?Shares of ANF have been soaring, and the company still appears to be a decent choice, but what about the rest of the industry? One industry peer that looks good is Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (BOOT - Free Report) . BOOT has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) and a Value Score of B, a Growth Score of B, and a Momentum Score of B.
Earnings were strong last quarter. Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. beat our consensus estimate by 35.50%, and for the current fiscal year, BOOT is expected to post earnings of $9.01 per share on revenue of $2.61 billion.
Shares of Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. have gained 5.9% over the past month, and currently trade at a forward P/E of 17.72X and a P/CF of 15.95X.
The Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry is in the top 36% of all the industries we have in our universe, so it looks like there are some nice tailwinds for ANF and BOOT, even beyond their own solid fundamental situation.
The proven Zacks Rank system focuses on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find winning stocks. Nevertheless, we know that our readers all have their own perspectives, so we are always looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong picks.
Of these, value investing is easily one of the most popular ways to find great stocks in any market environment. Value investors use tried-and-true metrics and fundamental analysis to find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.
Luckily, Zacks has developed its own Style Scores system in an effort to find stocks with specific traits. Value investors will be interested in the system's "Value" category. Stocks with both "A" grades in the Value category and high Zacks Ranks are among the strongest value stocks on the market right now.
One company to watch right now is Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF - Free Report) . ANF is currently holding a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and a Value grade of A. The stock holds a P/E ratio of 8.98, while its industry has an average P/E of 13.05. Over the past year, ANF's Forward P/E has been as high as 15.83 and as low as 5.99, with a median of 9.26.
Another valuation metric that we should highlight is ANF's P/B ratio of 3.31. The P/B ratio is used to compare a stock's market value with its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. ANF's current P/B looks attractive when compared to its industry's average P/B of 5.66. ANF's P/B has been as high as 6.85 and as low as 2.50, with a median of 3.69, over the past year.
Finally, investors will want to recognize that ANF has a P/CF ratio of 6.14. This metric focuses on a firm's operating cash flow and is often used to find stocks that are undervalued based on the strength of their cash outlook. ANF's P/CF compares to its industry's average P/CF of 12.60. Within the past 12 months, ANF's P/CF has been as high as 13.48 and as low as 4.77, with a median of 6.76.
Value investors will likely look at more than just these metrics, but the above data helps show that Abercrombie & Fitch is likely undervalued currently. And when considering the strength of its earnings outlook, ANF sticks out as one of the market's strongest value stocks.
The Retail-Wholesale group has plenty of great stocks, but investors should always be looking for companies that are outperforming their peers. Has Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF - Free Report) been one of those stocks this year? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Retail-Wholesale peers, we might be able to answer that question.
Abercrombie & Fitch is one of 187 individual stocks in the Retail-Wholesale sector. Collectively, these companies sit at #4 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different sector groups. The average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups is measured, and the sectors are listed from best to worst.
The Zacks Rank is a proven model that highlights a variety of stocks with the right characteristics to outperform the market over the next one to three months. The system emphasizes earnings estimate revisions and favors companies with improving earnings outlooks. Abercrombie & Fitch is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
Within the past quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for ANF's full-year earnings has moved 6.5% higher. This shows that analyst sentiment has improved and the company's earnings outlook is stronger.
Based on the latest available data, ANF has gained about 17.4% so far this year. In comparison, Retail-Wholesale companies have returned an average of 2.4%. This means that Abercrombie & Fitch is performing better than its sector in terms of year-to-date returns.
Another stock in the Retail-Wholesale sector, ASOS PLS (ASOMY - Free Report) , has outperformed the sector so far this year. The stock's year-to-date return is 46.7%.
Over the past three months, ASOS PLS' consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 2.9%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Looking more specifically, Abercrombie & Fitch belongs to the Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry, a group that includes 38 individual stocks and currently sits at #88 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have lost about 10.6% so far this year, so ANF is performing better this group in terms of year-to-date returns. ASOS PLS is also part of the same industry.
Abercrombie & Fitch and ASOS PLS could continue their solid performance, so investors interested in Retail-Wholesale stocks should continue to pay close attention to these stocks.
Investors might want to bet on Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF - Free Report) , as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade is essentially a reflection of an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.
The sole determinant of the Zacks rating is a company's changing earnings picture. The Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years is tracked by the system.
Individual investors often find it hard to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, since these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time. In these situations, the Zacks rating system comes in handy because of the power of a changing earnings picture in determining near-term stock price movements.
As such, the Zacks rating upgrade for Abercrombie is essentially a positive comment on its earnings outlook that could have a favorable impact on its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. That's partly because of the influence of institutional investors that use earnings and earnings estimates for calculating the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their transaction of large amounts of shares then leads to price movement for the stock.
For Abercrombie, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade fundamentally mean an improvement in the company's underlying business. And investors' appreciation of this improving business trend should push the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsEmpirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, so it could be truly rewarding if such revisions are tracked for making an investment decision. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Earnings Estimate Revisions for AbercrombieThis teen clothing retailer is expected to earn $10.80 per share for the fiscal year ending January 2027, which represents no year-over-year change.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for Abercrombie. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 6.5%.
Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.
You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>
The upgrade of Abercrombie to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.
Key Takeaways Abercrombie posted record Q2 sales as revenues rose 5%, marking its 15th consecutive quarter of growth.ANF raised its fiscal 2026 sales-growth and operating-margin outlook on stronger performance.Strong cash flow flexibility supported $177 million in Q2 share repurchases and plans for capital returns. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF - Free Report) delivered second-quarter fiscal 2026 results that topped expectations. It reported earnings per share (EPS) of $2.42 and adjusted EPS of $4.17. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $1.95. Revenues rose 4.8% year over year to $1.27 billion, beating the consensus estimate of $1.24 billion by 1.9%.
The quarter benefited from record net sales, broad-based regional growth and a strong operating performance. Comparable sales were flat on a constant-currency basis, while both Abercrombie and Hollister brands posted record second-quarter sales.
As a result, ANF’s shares have gained 35.7% during trading hours yesterday. This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company stock has surged 51.8% in the past six months against the industry’s 14.4% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ANF's Record Sales Drive GrowthAbercrombie reported net sales of $1.27 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, up 5% year over year. The company marked its 15th consecutive quarter of growth, supported by higher sales across regions and brands.
The Americas remained the largest contributor, with sales increasing 5% year over year to $1.02 billion and comparable sales rising 1%. APAC sales climbed 19% to $44.2 million, with comparable sales up 13%, while EMEA sales grew 2% to $202 million despite comparable sales declining 4%.
Abercrombie Brands Lead Portfolio GainsAbercrombie brand generated net sales of $596.8 million, up 8% year over year, with comparable sales increasing 4%. Hollister sales reached $669.9 million, up 2%, although comparable sales declined 3%. We had expected sales to rise 2.1% year over year to $563.7 million for Abercrombie and 4% to $683.1 million for Hollister.
The brand performance highlighted continued strength in the company’s core lifestyle offerings. Management noted that both brands achieved record second-quarter net sales, with Abercrombie brands leading overall growth.
ANF Expands Margins With Refund BenefitANF posted adjusted operating income of $252.7 million, up 50.3% from the year-ago quarter. Adjusted operating margin improved to 19.9% from 13.9%. The company benefited from approximately $100 million of IEEPA tariff refunds, which reduced cost of sales and supported profitability.
Selling expense increased to $444 million, up 18.3% from the year-ago quarter, while general and administrative expense rose to $204.8 million, up 16.8% from the year-ago quarter. Higher investments in stores, marketing and payroll partially offset the benefit from stronger sales and tariff refunds.
ANF Maintains Strong Financial FlexibilityANF ended the quarter with cash and equivalents of $627.7 million and total liquidity of approximately $1.1 billion, including available borrowing capacity under its ABL facility. Inventory stood at $591.7 million compared with $593 million in the prior-year period.
The company continued returning capital to shareholders, repurchasing 2 million shares for approximately $177 million during the quarter. Year to date, ANF repurchased 3.2 million shares for $282 million, reducing shares outstanding by 7% from the beginning of the year.
Abercrombie Raises Fiscal 2026 OutlookAbercrombie raised its fiscal 2026 outlook, now expecting net sales growth of around 5% compared with the prior forecast of 3-5%. The company also increased its operating margin outlook to 14.5-15% from 12-12.5%.
For the fiscal year, ANF expects net income per diluted share of $13.10-$13.60 and share repurchases of at least $500 million. Capital expenditures are projected at around $250 million, while the company continues to plan approximately 30 net store openings, 80 remodels and rightsizes, and 20 closures.
Other Stocks to ConsiderWe have highlighted three other top-ranked stocks, namely, Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) , American Eagle Outfitters (AEO - Free Report) and Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (BOOT - Free Report) .
Target offers guests fashionable, differentiated merchandise and everyday essentials at discounted prices. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Target’s current financial-year sales and EPS indicates growth of 4.4% and 11.4%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers. TGT delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 10.5%, on average.
American Eagle is a specialty retailer of casual apparel, accessories and footwear. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2.
The consensus estimate for AEO’s current financial-year sales and EPS indicates growth of 5.7% and 17.3%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers. AEO delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 48.5%, on average.
Boot Barn is a leading lifestyle retailer in the United States, specializing in western and work-related footwear, apparel, and accessories, which currently has a Zacks Rank of 2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Boot Barn’s current financial-year sales and EPS is expected to rise 15.7% and 22.6%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures. BOOT delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 11.4%, on average.
Abercrombie & Fitch is rated Buy, reflecting continued strong performance, a resilient balance sheet, and a still-conservative valuation despite the ~75% rally since last covering it. Q2 delivered record sales, the 15th consecutive quarter of net sales growth, and a guidance boost for sales, margins, EPS, and buybacks, supported by tariff refunds. ANF maintains a debt-free balance sheet, $627.72M in cash, robust cash flow, and plans for at least $500M in buybacks, yielding >7.77% at current prices.
Gap's quarterly revenue missed expectations and Old Navy posted its worst comparable sales in recent memory, yet the stock surged double digits anyway. Here is what investors saw in the numbers that the headline figures buried.
A raised profit outlook is outweighing a trimmed sales forecast at Gap Inc. (NYSE:GAP | GAP Price Prediction) this morning, as margin discipline trumps top-line concerns. Gap stock is up 15% to $23.91 after second-quarter fiscal 2026 results landed Thursday evening. The move claws back much of a 17% year-to-date (YTD) decline and validates a report where the Gap brand’s 10% comparable sales and a raised full-year EPS range outweighed a Q2 2026 revenue miss and softer Old Navy performance.
Also, Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF) stock is up 1% to $147.50, extending a rally that has lifted shares 16% YTD on brand momentum and tariff refunds. Kohl’s (NYSE:KSS) stock is up 0.2% to $18.19, holding modest gains after its own refund-boosted results earlier this week.
The SPDR S&P Retail ETF (NYSEARCA:XRT) is up 1% to $87.59, a modest lift that undersells the divergence inside the sector. Meanwhile, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:SPY) is up 0.1% to $771.74, so mall-based apparel names are outrunning the broad market on the tariff-refund tailwind.
Profit Beat and Brand Divergence Drove the Move The Gap’s quarterly revenue came in at $3.65 billion, down 2% year over year (YoY), missing the $3.69 billion analyst consensus. Adjusted diluted EPS of $0.52 topped the $0.48 expected beat expectations, while GAAP results were inflated by the tariff refund recognized in cost of goods sold.
The brand-level split explains the price action. At the namesake banner, The Gap’s net sales rose 9% and comparable sales climbed 10%, marking the brand’s 11th consecutive quarter of positive comps. Banana Republic comparable sales rose 3% for a fifth consecutive positive quarter, while Old Navy net sales fell 4% on comparable sales down 4% and Athleta comparable sales dropped 12%.
The Gap’s management trimmed the company’s full-year net sales growth range to 1% to 1.5% from a prior 1% to 2%, reflecting Old Navy full-year comparable sales now being expected flat to down 1% versus a prior flat to up 1%. The company raised adjusted diluted EPS guidance to $2.35 to $2.45 from $2.30 to $2.40, with Q3 2026 net sales expected to rise 1.5% to 2.5%.
Leadership Reset Gives Old Navy a Name and a Date Richard Dickson, The Gap’s CEO, stated that “continued operational and financial rigor contributed to gross margin strength resulting in the Company exceeding profit expectations,” even as revenue came in modestly below plan. Dickson attributed the Old Navy shortfall partly to a concurrent slowdown in store traffic tied to marketing shortcomings, alongside anticipated weakness in the women’s seasonal assortment. That framing lets investors treat the sales cut as an identified problem with targeted actions underway.
Michael Francis becomes Old Navy’s president and CEO on November 2, succeeding Haio Barbeito. The concrete date gives investors a milestone for the turnaround plan, and it comes as Gap has trimmed its annual sales target because of Old Navy for the second consecutive quarter. Attaching a name and start date to the fix reframes the sales cut as a bridge rather than a running wound.
Peers reporting alongside the retailer benefited from IEEPA tariff refunds that flowed through cost of goods sold, lifting margins broadly this week. Abercrombie & Fitch layered underlying brand momentum on top of its own refund, while Kohl’s used its refund to fund value investments for the back half. The $417 million net recovery is the single biggest tariff recovery of the retail season so far.
The company ended the quarter with $2.5 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments, and $399 million remaining under its buyback authorization after completing a $200 million accelerated share repurchase and $200 million in open-market purchases during the quarter. The board declared a Q3 dividend of $0.175 per share, up 6% YoY, and year-to-date buybacks now stand at $601 million.
What to Watch Investors can watch for Old Navy comp trends heading into Q3, where guidance calls for flat to down 1% and back-to-school marketing can be tested. The Michael Francis start date on November 2 sets a checkpoint for Old Navy’s turnaround thesis, and the Q3 gross margin outlook calls for 25 to 75 basis points of expansion that can keep the profit story intact.
Momentum across ANF and the broader XRT complex suggests the tariff-refund tailwind can keep flattering retail earnings prints through the current reporting cycle. Sizing your retail exposure should account for the fact that these refunds are non-recurring, so second-half comparisons could look tougher without them.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
The retail sector was one of the biggest winners in earnings season, which was especially evident in some of the reports that rolled in last week. Eight major retailers reported earnings within 48 hours, and nearly all beat on headline numbers. But headline numbers rarely tell the story, and this quarter was especially deceiving. Tariff refunds have done to earnings what steroids did to baseball players in the 1990s, and these juiced results can mask underlying weakness.
Take Abercrombie and Fitch Co. NYSE: ANF, for example, which soared more than 35% after its Q2 release on an impressive double beat and buyback increase. But the company accumulated about $100 million in tariff refunds during the period, boosting margin by 790 basis points (bps) and adding $1.75 to the $4.12 earnings per share (EPS) figure. Another $20 million in refunds is expected in Q3, but comps were weak, especially at Hollister.
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To find the real winners, we need to screen out earnings juiced by tariff refunds. That means focusing on comp sales and traffic instead of EPS and revenue, and parsing true operational improvement from one-time windfalls.
Dollar General: The Trade Down King Continues to Grow TrafficCash-strapped consumers trading down to discount stores has been a boon to Dollar General Corp. NYSE: DG, which seems to impress the market every time a conference call rolls around.
Dollar General Today
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In fiscal Q2 2027 results released Aug. 27, the company once again beat top- and bottom-line estimates, with same-store sales (i.e., comps) up 3.5% and growth spread out across all four merchandise categories.
Foot traffic was up for a fifth consecutive quarter, and gross margins expanded by 127 bps.
Crucially, the EPS beat wasn’t reliant on tariff refunds. The company earned $2.48 per share in the period, and management estimates that only 25 cents of that figure came from tariff refunds.
Removing the one-time tariff boost leaves EPS of $2.23 per share, still well above the expected $2.01 and nearly 17% higher than fiscal Q2 2026’s number of $1.86. Management also raised full-year guidance on revenue, comps, and EPS.
DG shares jumped as much as 12% following the earnings call before surrendering most of those gains later in the day. But the bounce off the May lows is confirmed, and the Relative Strength Index (RSI) refuses to dip much below 50. The stock is up 16% in the last three months, and a potential Golden Cross on the 50-day and 200-day moving averages could be the next technical catalyst.
Best Buy: Stock Sell-off Obscures High-Quality BeatBest Buy Co. Inc. NYSE: BBY posted one of the better quarters in the retail sector but fell 4% after the release, despite only $34 million in tariff refunds.
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High memory costs continue to weigh heavily on computing prices, and management expects this tension to persist through year-end. But Best Buy’s fiscal Q2 2027 results deserve a closer look, since the beat was the cleanest in the cohort.
EPS and revenue both easily beat expectations, but the eye-popping number was comps, which grew 4.1% year-over-year (YOY) versus management’s expectation of 1%. Despite soaring memory costs, computing and home theater product sales continued to grow, indicating that consumers are still willing to pay up for big-ticket home entertainment.
Management lifted full-year comp sales guidance to a 1.9% to 3% range, and EPS to $6.70 to $6.90.
BBY shares were up nearly 30% year-to-date (YTD) before earnings, so investors may have been looking for reasons in the report to hit the cash register. But this could be an opportunity for new investors to ride some technical and fundamental tailwinds. The stock is bumping up against its 50-day moving average, which has been a support area since the Golden Cross formed in July, and the RSI is back to its August lows.
Williams-Sonoma: Outlier in Weakest Consumer CategoryFew areas of the retail sector have seen more divergent consumer attitudes than the home furnishings industry.
Williams-Sonoma Today
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According to the most recent Census Bureau Retail Sales report, furniture and home furnishing sales in 2026 fell 1.7% from the same 7-month period last year. But not every home goods store is feeling the heat. The K-shaped economy is alive and well in this space, and Williams-Sonoma Inc. NYSE: WSM continues to grow comps while many competitors struggle.
Williams-Sonoma reported fiscal Q2 2026 results on Aug. 26, and (of course), beat EPS and revenue estimates. But two numbers stand out in the report.
First, comp sales grew 6.2% YOY, accelerating considerably above Q1’s 4.8% number. With furniture sales basically flat in 2026, comp growth of this magnitude shows Williams-Sonoma is taking massive share from competitors struggling to get traffic in the door. Second, management raised full-year operating margin guidance to 17.8% to 18% and said it did not factor in any tariff refunds, implying operational efficiency gains will do the heavy lifting.
The WSM chart has a similar setup to BBY, with investors taking profits following an excellent quarter and a YTD run-up of over 30%. But the Golden Cross hints that the uptrend will take more than a little profit-taking to break, and the 50-day SMA could be another entry opportunity for new investors. The RSI is teetering near 50, but still hasn’t submerged into the bearish zone underneath.
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Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF +1.83%) stock posted massive gains this week following the release of the company's fiscal second-quarter report. The company's share price rocketed 36.2% higher in a stretch that saw the S&P 500 gain 1.1% and the Nasdaq Composite rise 1.8%.
Before the market opened on Wednesday, Abercrombie & Fitch published results for the second quarter of its 2026 fiscal year -- a period that ended Aug. 1. The company reported better-than-expected sales and earnings driven by record performance for key brands, including Abercrombie and Hollister, and also recorded significant earnings tailwinds connected to tariff refunds.
Image source: Getty Images.
Abercombie crushed expectations in fiscal Q2 Abercrombie's fiscal Q2 report delivered a massive earnings beat, with non-GAAP (adjusted) earnings of $4.17 per share, beating the average analyst forecast by $2.21 per share. Tariff refunds played a significant role in the beat, but the company also recorded stronger-than-expected operating efficiency and sales. Revenue rose 5% year over year to reach $1.27 billion and topped the average analyst forecast by roughly $20 million. Sales for the company's Abercrombie brands increased 8% year over year, and sales for Hollister were up 2%.
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What's next for Abercrombie? Along with big beats last quarter, the company also issued encouraging forward guidance. For the fiscal year, the company now anticipates that sales will come in roughly 5% over the $5.27 billion in sales it recorded last fiscal year. Meanwhile, the company is targeting an operating margin between 14.5% and 15% and earnings per share between $13.10 and $13.60. Additionally, the company plans to buy back at least $500 million of its own shares. Whether the company can live up to and exceed its newly elevated valuation remains to be seen, but Abercrombie & Fitch is looking much stronger on the heels of its latest quarterly report.
Keith Noonan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Abercrombie & Fitch. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE:ANF) will release its second earnings report before the opening bell on Wednesday, Aug. 26.
Analysts expect the New Albany, Ohio-based company to report quarterly earnings of $1.97 per share, down from $2.91 per share in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for ANF’s quarterly revenue is $1.25 billion. It reported $1.21 billion last year, according to Benzinga Pro.
On Aug. 20, Abercrombie & Fitch announced the election of Mary Fox to its board of directors.
Abercrombie & Fitch shares gained 3.1% to close at $112.36 on Monday.
Benzinga readers can access the latest analyst ratings on the Analyst Stock Ratings page. Readers can sort by stock ticker, company name, analyst firm, rating change or other variables.
Let’s have a look at how Benzinga’s most-accurate analysts have rated the company in the recent period.
Telsey Advisory Group analyst Dana Telsey maintained an Outperform rating and boosted the price target from $115 to $118 on Aug. 19, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 65%. JP Morgan analyst Matthew Boss maintained a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $110 to $126 on Aug. 18, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 68%. Raymond James analyst Rick Patel downgraded the stock from Outperform to Market Perform on Aug. 18, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 77%. Jefferies analyst Corey Tarlowe maintained a Buy rating and increased the price target from $110 to $135 on Aug. 12, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 60%. UBS analyst Mauricio Serna maintained a Buy rating and increased the price target from $136 to $153 on Aug. 12, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 51%. Trending
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Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF - Free Report) reached a significant support level, and could be a good pick for investors from a technical perspective. Recently, ANF broke through the 20-day moving average, which suggests a short-term bullish trend.
The 20-day simple moving average is a popular investing tool. Traders like this SMA because it offers a look back at a stock's price over a shorter period and helps smooth out price fluctuations. The 20-day can also show more trend reversal signals than longer-term moving averages.
The 20-day moving average can show signals that are similar to other SMAs as well. If a stock's price is moving above the 20-day, the trend is considered positive. When the price falls below the moving average, it can signal a downward trend.
ANF could be on the verge of another rally after moving 16.2% higher over the last four weeks. Plus, the company is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock.
The bullish case only gets stronger once investors take into account ANF's positive earnings estimate revisions. There have been 1 revisions higher for the current fiscal year compared to none lower, and the consensus estimate has moved up as well.
Investors may want to watch ANF for more gains in the near future given the company's key technical level and positive earnings estimate revisions.
Analysts on Wall Street project that Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF - Free Report) will announce quarterly earnings of $1.95 per share in its forthcoming report, representing a decline of 16% year over year. Revenues are projected to reach $1.24 billion, increasing 2.8% from the same quarter last year.
Over the last 30 days, there has been a downward revision of 0.1% in the consensus EPS estimate for the quarter, leading to its current level. This signifies the covering analysts' collective reconsideration of their initial forecasts over the course of this timeframe.
Before a company reveals its earnings, it is vital to take into account any changes in earnings projections. These revisions play a pivotal role in predicting the possible reactions of investors toward the stock. Multiple empirical studies have consistently shown a strong association between trends in earnings estimates and the short-term price movements of a stock.
While investors typically use consensus earnings and revenue estimates as a yardstick to evaluate the company's quarterly performance, scrutinizing analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics can offer a more comprehensive perspective.
That said, let's delve into the average estimates of some Abercrombie metrics that Wall Street analysts commonly model and monitor.
According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Net sales by brand family- Hollister' should come in at $669.82 million. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +2%.
Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Net sales by brand family- Abercrombie' should arrive at $572.57 million. The estimate suggests a change of +3.8% year over year.
It is projected by analysts that the 'Geographic Revenue- Asia-Pacific' will reach $29.91 million. The estimate suggests a change of -19.5% year over year.
The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Geographic Revenue- Europe, Middle East and Africa' will likely reach $199.26 million. The estimate suggests a change of +1% year over year.
Analysts forecast 'Geographic Revenue- Americas' to reach $1.00 billion. The estimate indicates a change of +2.8% from the prior-year quarter.
Analysts predict that the 'Number of stores - Total (EOP)' will reach 845 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 807 in the same quarter of the previous year.
The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Comparable store sales - Total - YoY change' of -0.0%. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 3.0% in the same quarter of the previous year.
Analysts' assessment points toward 'Comparable store sales - Hollister - YoY change' reaching -0.7%. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 19.0% in the same quarter of the previous year.
View all Key Company Metrics for Abercrombie here>>>
Shares of Abercrombie have demonstrated returns of +15.6% over the past month compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2.8% change. With a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), ANF is expected to beat the overall market performance in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Looking for a stock that has been consistently beating earnings estimates and might be well positioned to keep the streak alive in its next quarterly report? Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry, could be a great candidate to consider.
This teen clothing retailer has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 10.02%.
For the most recent quarter, Abercrombie was expected to post earnings of $1.26 per share, but it reported $1.47 per share instead, representing a surprise of 16.67%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $3.56 per share, while it actually produced $3.68 per share, a surprise of 3.37%.
Price and EPS Surprise
Thanks in part to this history, there has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Abercrombie lately. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the stock is positive, which is a great indicator of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with its solid Zacks Rank.
Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Abercrombie currently has an Earnings ESP of +4.49%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on August 26, 2026.
When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss.
Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, but that may not be the sole basis for their stocks moving higher. On the other hand, some stocks may hold their ground even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.
Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
Two factors often determine stock prices in the long run: earnings and interest rates. Investors can't control the latter, but they can focus on a company's earnings results every quarter.
Life and the stock market are both about expectations, and rising above what is expected is often rewarded, while falling short can come with negative consequences. Investors might want to try to capture stronger returns by finding positive earnings surprises.
Hunting for 'earnings whispers' or companies poised to beat their quarterly earnings estimates is a somewhat common practice. But that doesn't make it easy. One way that has been proven to work is by using the Zacks Earnings ESP tool.
The Zacks Earnings ESP, ExplainedThe Zacks Expected Surprise Prediction, or ESP, works by locking in on the most up-to-date analyst earnings revisions because they can be more accurate than estimates from weeks or even months before the actual release date. The thinking is pretty straightforward: analysts who provide earnings estimates closer to the report are likely to have more information.
The core of the ESP model is comparing the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, where the resulting percentage difference between the two equals the Expected Surprise Prediction. The Zacks Rank is also factored into the ESP metric to better help find companies that appear poised to top their next bottom-line consensus estimate, which will hopefully help lift the stock price.
When we join a positive earnings ESP with a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or stronger, stocks posted a positive bottom-line surprise 70% of the time. Plus, this system saw investors produce roughly 28% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.
Stocks with a ranking of #3 (Hold), or 60% of all stocks covered by the Zacks Rank, are expected to perform in-line with the broader market. Stocks with rankings of #2 (Buy) and #1 (Strong Buy), or the top 15% and top 5% of stocks, respectively, should outperform the market; Strong Buy stocks should outperform more than any other rank.
Should You Consider Abercrombie & Fitch?The last thing we will do today, now that we have a grasp on the ESP and how powerful of a tool it can be, is to quickly look at a qualifying stock. Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF - Free Report) holds a #3 (Hold) at the moment and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $1.98 a share six days away from its upcoming earnings release on August 26, 2026.
Abercrombie & Fitch's Earnings ESP sits at +4.49%, which, as explained above, is calculated by taking the percentage difference between the $1.98 Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.9. ANF is also part of a large group of stocks that boast a positive ESP. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
ANF is one of just a large database of Retail and Wholesale stocks with positive ESPs. Another solid-looking stock is TJX (TJX - Free Report) .
TJX, which is readying to report earnings on November 18, 2026, sits at a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) right now. Its Most Accurate Estimate is currently $1.40 a share, and TJX is 90 days out from its next earnings report.
TJX's Earnings ESP figure currently stands at +4.52% after taking the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.34.
ANF and TJX's positive ESP metrics may signal that a positive earnings surprise for both stocks is on the horizon.
Find Stocks to Buy or Sell Before They're ReportedUse the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to turn up stocks with the highest probability of positively, or negatively, surprising to buy or sell before they're reported for profitable earnings season trading. Check it out here >>
Key Takeaways Abercrombie expects Q2 sales growth of 2-4%, supported by Americas, APAC and healthy demand.Tariffs, higher freight costs and investments in marketing, stores and digital are set to pressure margins.ANF shares have rallied 37.8% in three months, while the apparel and shoes industry declined 5.5%. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF - Free Report) is scheduled to report second-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Aug. 26, before the opening bell.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal second-quarter revenues is pegged at $1.24 billion, indicating 2.8% growth from the year-ago quarter’s actual. For quarterly earnings, the consensus mark is pegged at $1.90 per share, implying a decline of 18.1% from the year-ago quarter’s reported number. The consensus estimate for earnings has been unchanged in the past 30 days.
In the last reported quarter, the company’s earnings beat the consensus estimate by 16.7%. ANF has delivered an earnings surprise of 8.1%, on average, in the trailing four quarters.
Factors Likely to Impact ResultsAbercrombie has been benefiting from continued strength in the Americas and APAC regions, which is expected to have supported revenue growth in second-quarter fiscal 2026. Sales in the Americas are expected to have been driven by growth across both brands, positive traffic trends, and healthy engagement in stores and digital channels. APAC’s results are likely to reflect strong customer demand and the region's expanding opportunity.
Our model estimates sales to increase 3.1% in the Americas, 4.1% in EMEA and 0.5% in APAC for second-quarter fiscal 2026.
The company's balanced regional performance, supported by digital strength, strategic store investments and disciplined execution, continues to underpin its growth trajectory and confidence in achieving another quarter of sales growth.
On the last reported quarter’s earnings call, management reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 sales and operating margin outlook, reflecting confidence in brand momentum, disciplined inventory management and healthy customer demand. The successful completion of its merchandising enterprise resource planning rollout, ongoing investments in AI and digital capabilities, and an active store-expansion strategy are expected to have supported growth in the to-be-reported quarter.
For the second quarter of fiscal 2026, Abercrombie expects year-over-year net sales growth of 2-4% from the prior-year level of $1.2 billion, supported by ongoing strength in the Americas and APAC, modest average unit retail (AUR) growth and healthy customer demand. The company expects an operating margin of 10% in the fiscal second quarter, including $20 million in tariff-related impacts.
However, Abercrombie’s fiscal second-quarter performance is expected to have been weighed down by continued weakness in the EMEA region, wherein disruptions related to the Middle East conflict and softer demand trends across select European markets are hurting sales. On the last reported quarter’s earnings, management expected some of these regional headwinds to persist through the remainder of fiscal 2026, making EMEA a key area to watch.
Abercrombie’s profitability is expected to have been under pressure in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 despite delivering sales growth. Increased marketing investments and costs associated with the company's ERP implementation are expected to have weighed on the company’s margins.
Management has been facing tariff-related expenses, rising freight costs, and ongoing investments in marketing, stores and digital capabilities. Although these investments are intended to support long-term growth and brand strength, they are likely to limit near-term margin expansion.
Management assumes a 10% effective tariff rate in the fiscal second quarter and a 15% tariff rate on U.S. imports in the second half of fiscal 2026. However, the benefit from lower tariff assumptions is expected to have been largely offset by higher freight costs and continued investments in marketing and stores. The company also noted that it has not included any potential tariff refunds in its outlook, leaving trade policy and sourcing costs as ongoing risks to profitability and earnings growth.
Our model expects sales to rise 3.2% and the adjusted operating margin to decline 380 bps year over year to 10.1%. We anticipate adjusted earnings per share of $1.94 for second-quarter fiscal 2026, suggesting a 16.5% fall.
What the Zacks Model UnveilsOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Abercrombie this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. But that is not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Abercrombie currently has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank of 3.
ANF’s Stock Performance & Valuation PictureFrom a valuation perspective, Abercrombie is trading at a discount relative to industry benchmarks. The company has a forward 12-month price-to-earnings of 9.57X, lower than the Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry’s average of 13.15X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The recent market movements show that ANF shares have rallied 37.8% in the past three months against the industry's 5.5% decline.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks Poised to Beat Earnings EstimatesHere are some companies, which, according to our model, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat:
Victoria's Secret (VSXY - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +5.20% and a Zacks Rank of 2. The company is likely to register growth in the top and bottom lines when it reports second-quarter fiscal 2026 results. The consensus mark for VSXY’s quarterly revenues is pegged at $1.6 billion, which indicates an 11.2% rise from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The consensus mark for VXSY’s quarterly earnings has moved up by a penny in the past 30 days to 77 cents per share. The consensus estimate indicates a significant 133% rise from the year-ago quarter’s actual. VSXY has an average trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 81.9%.
Five Below Inc. (FIVE - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +20.80% and a Zacks Rank of 2. The company is likely to register growth in the top and bottom lines when it reports second-quarter fiscal 2026 results. The consensus mark for FIVE’s quarterly revenues is pegged at $1.2 billion, which indicates a 17.9% rise from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter.
The consensus mark for Five Below’s quarterly earnings has moved up 3.2% in the past 30 days to $1.28 per share. The consensus estimate indicates an increase of 58% from the year-ago quarter’s actual. FIVE has an average trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 70.1%.
Ulta Beauty Inc. (ULTA - Free Report) currently has an Earnings ESP of +1.20% and a Zacks Rank of 3. ULTA is likely to register top- and bottom-line growth when it reports second-quarter fiscal 2026 results. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its quarterly revenues is pegged at $2.97 billion, which indicates 6.6% growth from the prior-year quarter’s actual.
The consensus estimate for earnings has moved up 0.2% in the past 30 days to $6.17 per share, which implies 6.8% growth from the year-ago quarter's actual. ULTA has an average trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 10%.
Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF - Free Report) closed at $105.45 in the latest trading session, marking a +2% move from the prior day. The stock's change was more than the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.21%. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.22%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.16%.
The teen clothing retailer's stock has climbed by 12.3% in the past month, exceeding the Retail-Wholesale sector's gain of 2.36% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.25%.
The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Abercrombie & Fitch in its upcoming release. The company is slated to reveal its earnings on August 26, 2026. The company's upcoming EPS is projected at $1.9, signifying a 18.10% drop compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Meanwhile, the latest consensus estimate predicts the revenue to be $1.24 billion, indicating a 2.76% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year.
ANF's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $10.46 per share and revenue of $5.43 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes of +6.09% and +3.18%, respectively.
It is also important to note the recent changes to analyst estimates for Abercrombie & Fitch. These revisions help to show the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends. As such, positive estimate revisions reflect analyst optimism about the business and profitability.
Our research demonstrates that these adjustments in estimates directly associate with imminent stock price performance. To utilize this, we have created the Zacks Rank, a proprietary model that integrates these estimate changes and provides a functional rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has remained steady. Right now, Abercrombie & Fitch possesses a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Investors should also note Abercrombie & Fitch's current valuation metrics, including its Forward P/E ratio of 9.89. This indicates a discount in contrast to its industry's Forward P/E of 15.48.
The Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 74, placing it within the top 31% of over 250 industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Make sure to utilize Zacks.com to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and more, in the coming trading sessions.
Expanded assortments, broader distribution through new Fanatics partnership and season-long activations bring Abercrombie to more customers and NFL fans Expanded assortments, broader distribution through new Fanatics partnership and season-long activations bring Abercrombie to more customers and NFL fans
Scott D. Lipesky, EVP and COO of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF +0.75%), sold 10,000 shares of Class A Common Stock on Aug. 10, 2026, for a total value of $1.1 million, according to a SEC Form 4 filing.
Transaction summaryMetricValueShares sold10,000Transaction value$1.1 millionPost-transaction shares (directly held)152,534Post-transaction value$18.08 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($115.00); post-transaction value based on Aug. 10, 2026 market close ($118.53).
Key questionsWhat was the mechanism for this transaction?
The sale was executed automatically under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan established on March 6, 2026, which allows corporate insiders to set up pre-arranged trading schedules to avoid concerns about material non-public information.What is the current scale of the insider's equity exposure?
Following this disposition, Scott D. Lipesky maintains a direct stake of 152,534 shares, which accounts for approximately 0.3400% of the company's total shares outstanding.How has the stock performed leading up to this trade?
The shares were sold at $115.00 per share, while the stock closed at $118.53 on the transaction date. As of the Aug. 10, 2026 market close, the company has delivered a one-year total return of 15%.Are there additional equity interests reported in this filing?
This filing reports exclusively on Class A Common Stock held directly by the insider; no indirect holdings or derivative securities were disclosed in this specific transaction report.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-08-10)$118.53Market Capitalization$5.3 billionRevenue (TTM)$5.3 billionNet Income (TTM)$501 millionCompany SnapshotAbercrombie & Fitch operates as an omnichannel apparel retailer offering clothing, personal care products, and accessories for men, women, and children across multiple brands, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie Kids, Hollister, and Gilly Hicks.The company generates revenue through a diversified distribution model encompassing company-operated retail stores, e-commerce platforms, wholesale partnerships, franchise arrangements, and licensing agreements across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific regions.Abercrombie & Fitch targets fashion-conscious consumers across multiple demographic segments through its portfolio of distinct brand concepts, each designed to serve specific customer preferences and price points within the apparel market.
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Abercrombie & Fitch is a significant player in the global apparel retail sector, with approximately 43,200 employees and a market capitalization of $5.3 billion. It leverages a multi-brand portfolio strategy to capture diverse consumer segments while maintaining an integrated omnichannel distribution network that combines physical retail locations with digital commerce capabilities.
The company's competitive positioning is reinforced by its established brand recognition, diversified geographic footprint, and operational scale within the consumer discretionary sector.
What this transaction means for investorsThis sale shouldn't concern investors. It was executed under a Rule 10b5-1 plan, which insiders commonly use to pre-plan trades without appearing to act on material non-public information.
Moreover, the sale represented a small percentage of the executive's holdings. Lipesky still owns a substantial stake in the company's stock, valued at about $18 million.
The business continues to report stable revenue growth and profitability. However, comparable store sales have been decelerating over the last year and fell 1% year over year in the most recent quarter. This was partly self-inflicted, as the company implemented merchandising adjustments that negatively affected sales growth.
It's been a challenging environment for retail, given weak consumer spending in certain categories. However, analysts still see Abercrombie growing earnings at an annualized rate of about 10% over the long term. Assuming the company can deliver on those estimates, the stock's forward price-to-earnings multiple of 9 looks attractive.
Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades, downgrades and initiations, please see our analyst ratings page.
Mizuho analyst Ben Chaiken downgraded Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd (NYSE:NCLH) from Outperform to Neutral and cut the price target from $22 to $17. Norwegian Cruise closed at $18.18 on Monday. See how other analysts view this stock. Raymond James analyst Rick Patel downgraded Abercrombie & Fitch Co (NYSE:ANF) from Outperform to Market Perform. Abercrombie & Fitch shares closed at $105.16 on Monday. See how other analysts view this stock. Keybanc analyst Todd Thomas downgraded Kite Realty Group Trust (NYSE:KRG) from Overweight to Sector Weight. Kite Realty Group Trust closed at $26.48 on Monday. See how other analysts view this stock. Baird analyst Ben Kallo downgraded Ameresco Inc (NYSE:AMRC) from Outperform to Neutral and cut the price target from $36 to $32. Ameresco shares closed at $28.50 on Monday. See how other analysts view this stock. Baird analyst Ben Kallo downgraded Ramaco Resources Inc (NASDAQ:METC) from Outperform to Neutral and maintained the price target of $13. Ramaco Resources closed at $12.23 on Monday. See how other analysts view this stock. Considering buying ANF stock? Here’s what analysts think:
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In the latest close session, Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF - Free Report) was down 3.04% at $108.82. The stock's change was less than the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.65%. Meanwhile, the Dow gained 0.13%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, added 0.81%.
Prior to today's trading, shares of the teen clothing retailer had gained 15.48% outpaced the Retail-Wholesale sector's gain of 4.78% and the S&P 500's gain of 2.38%.
The upcoming earnings release of Abercrombie & Fitch will be of great interest to investors. The company's earnings report is expected on August 26, 2026. The company's upcoming EPS is projected at $1.9, signifying a 18.10% drop compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $1.24 billion, up 2.76% from the year-ago period.
For the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $10.46 per share and a revenue of $5.43 billion, representing changes of +6.09% and +3.18%, respectively, from the prior year.
Investors should also take note of any recent adjustments to analyst estimates for Abercrombie & Fitch. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.
Our research demonstrates that these adjustments in estimates directly associate with imminent stock price performance. To exploit this, we've formed the Zacks Rank, a quantitative model that includes these estimate changes and presents a viable rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, stretching from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), has a noteworthy track record of outperforming, validated by third-party audits, with stocks rated #1 producing an average annual return of +25% since the year 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has remained unchanged. Abercrombie & Fitch currently has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Digging into valuation, Abercrombie & Fitch currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 10.73. This represents a discount compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 16.1.
The Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 95, which puts it in the top 39% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Be sure to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and many more, on Zacks.com.
Clothing retailer, Abercrombie, is set to report its Q2 on August 26. Ahead of the release, shares are up about 20% over the last month. Despite the gains, the stock is still down 11% YTD. I view the forward outlook as positive and could see the company meeting expectations, at the very least.
Bank of America Corp DE increased its holdings in Abercrombie & Fitch Company (NYSE:ANF – Free Report) by 12.3% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 486,134 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 53,161 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE owned about 1.09% of Abercrombie & Fitch worth $44,418,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Parallel Advisors LLC boosted its position in Abercrombie & Fitch by 17.6% in the third quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 967 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock worth $83,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC increased its position in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch by 120.3% during the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 271 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 148 shares during the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio raised its stake in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch by 19.4% during the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 928 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock worth $117,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the period. Kestra Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch by 3.9% during the 4th quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 4,055 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock worth $510,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the period. Finally, Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch by 94.4% in the 4th quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 350 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 170 shares during the last quarter.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth ANF has been the topic of several research reports. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “equal weight” rating and issued a $87.00 price objective on shares of Abercrombie & Fitch in a research report on Monday, July 6th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on shares of Abercrombie & Fitch from $110.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $124.00 price objective on shares of Abercrombie & Fitch in a research note on Wednesday. Needham & Company LLC reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $108.00 target price on shares of Abercrombie & Fitch in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Abercrombie & Fitch in a research report on Tuesday, June 2nd. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $117.55.
Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on ANF
Abercrombie & Fitch Price Performance ANF opened at $112.56 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.80 and a beta of 0.90. Abercrombie & Fitch Company has a one year low of $65.45 and a one year high of $133.11. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $94.29 and a 200-day moving average price of $90.69.
Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 27th. The apparel retailer reported $1.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.26 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $1.11 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.12 billion. Abercrombie & Fitch had a return on equity of 34.36% and a net margin of 9.34%.The firm’s revenue was up 1.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.59 earnings per share. Abercrombie & Fitch has set its Q2 2026 guidance at 1.800-2.000 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 10.200-11.000 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Abercrombie & Fitch Company will post 10.46 earnings per share for the current year.
Insider Buying and Selling at Abercrombie & Fitch In other Abercrombie & Fitch news, COO Scott D. Lipesky sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.00, for a total value of $1,150,000.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer owned 152,534 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $17,541,410. This trade represents a 6.15% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 30,000 shares of company stock valued at $3,300,000. Company insiders own 2.33% of the company’s stock.
About Abercrombie & Fitch (Free Report)
Abercrombie & Fitch Co (NYSE: ANF) is an American specialty retailer that designs, markets and sells casual apparel and accessories for men, women and children. Founded in 1892 by David T. Abercrombie and Ezra Fitch, the company evolved from an outdoor gear outfitter to a global lifestyle brand renowned for its relaxed, preppy aesthetic. Its product assortment includes tops, bottoms, outerwear, intimates, swimwear, fragrances and personal care items.
The company operates under multiple brand names, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie Kids, Hollister and Gilly Hicks, each targeting distinct consumer segments from teens to young adults.
Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than Abercrombie & Fitch GE Vernova’s AI Power Boom Faces a Profit Test Cardinal Health Earnings: Can Perfection Get Priced In Twice? Nebius’ Q2 Beat Shows the AI Bottleneck Is Capacity, Not Demand Legacy Jet Builders Stall While Embraer Accelerates to New Highs Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ANF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Abercrombie & Fitch Company (NYSE:ANF – Free Report).
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The recommendations of Wall Street analysts are often relied on by investors when deciding whether to buy, sell, or hold a stock. Media reports about these brokerage-firm-employed (or sell-side) analysts changing their ratings often affect a stock's price. Do they really matter, though?
Let's take a look at what these Wall Street heavyweights have to say about Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF - Free Report) before we discuss the reliability of brokerage recommendations and how to use them to your advantage.
Abercrombie currently has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 2.00, on a scale of 1 to 5 (Strong Buy to Strong Sell), calculated based on the actual recommendations (Buy, Hold, Sell, etc.) made by 14 brokerage firms. An ABR of 2.00 indicates Buy.
Of the 14 recommendations that derive the current ABR, six are Strong Buy and two are Buy. Strong Buy and Buy respectively account for 42.9% and 14.3% of all recommendations.
Brokerage Recommendation Trends for ANF
Check price target & stock forecast for Abercrombie here>>>
The ABR suggests buying Abercrombie, but making an investment decision solely on the basis of this information might not be a good idea. According to several studies, brokerage recommendations have little to no success guiding investors to choose stocks with the most potential for price appreciation.
Are you wondering why? The vested interest of brokerage firms in a stock they cover often results in a strong positive bias of their analysts in rating it. Our research shows that for every "Strong Sell" recommendation, brokerage firms assign five "Strong Buy" recommendations.
This means that the interests of these institutions are not always aligned with those of retail investors, giving little insight into the direction of a stock's future price movement. It would therefore be best to use this information to validate your own analysis or a tool that has proven to be highly effective at predicting stock price movements.
With an impressive externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, which classifies stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), is a reliable indicator of a stock's near-term price performance. So, validating the Zacks Rank with ABR could go a long way in making a profitable investment decision.
ABR Should Not Be Confused With Zacks RankIn spite of the fact that Zacks Rank and ABR both appear on a scale from 1 to 5, they are two completely different measures.
The ABR is calculated solely based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals (example: 1.28). In contrast, the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model allowing investors to harness the power of earnings estimate revisions. It is displayed in whole numbers -- 1 to 5.
Analysts employed by brokerage firms have been and continue to be overly optimistic with their recommendations. Since the ratings issued by these analysts are more favorable than their research would support because of the vested interest of their employers, they mislead investors far more often than they guide.
In contrast, the Zacks Rank is driven by earnings estimate revisions. And near-term stock price movements are strongly correlated with trends in earnings estimate revisions, according to empirical research.
Furthermore, the different grades of the Zacks Rank are applied proportionately across all stocks for which brokerage analysts provide earnings estimates for the current year. In other words, at all times, this tool maintains a balance among the five ranks it assigns.
Another key difference between the ABR and Zacks Rank is freshness. The ABR is not necessarily up-to-date when you look at it. But, since brokerage analysts keep revising their earnings estimates to account for a company's changing business trends, and their actions get reflected in the Zacks Rank quickly enough, it is always timely in indicating future price movements.
Should You Invest in ANF?In terms of earnings estimate revisions for Abercrombie, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has remained unchanged over the past month at $10.46.
Analysts' steady views regarding the company's earnings prospects, as indicated by an unchanged consensus estimate, could be a legitimate reason for the stock to perform in line with the broader market in the near term.
The size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, has resulted in a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Abercrombie. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>
It may therefore be prudent to be a little cautious with the Buy-equivalent ABR for Abercrombie.
Amundi lifted its holdings in Abercrombie & Fitch Company (NYSE:ANF – Free Report) by 201.2% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 10,411 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock after buying an additional 6,954 shares during the period. Amundi’s holdings in Abercrombie & Fitch were worth $951,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of ANF. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch by 2.0% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 4,781,446 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock worth $601,841,000 after purchasing an additional 94,697 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its position in Abercrombie & Fitch by 56.0% during the fourth quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 2,504,240 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $315,209,000 after purchasing an additional 898,884 shares in the last quarter. Bbfit Investments PTE Ltd. acquired a new position in Abercrombie & Fitch in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $205,539,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in Abercrombie & Fitch by 15.0% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,596,177 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $145,823,000 after buying an additional 208,709 shares during the period. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its position in Abercrombie & Fitch by 41.6% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,310,296 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock worth $119,722,000 after buying an additional 384,845 shares in the last quarter.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Raymond James Financial set a $92.00 target price on shares of Abercrombie & Fitch in a research note on Thursday, May 21st. Telsey Advisory Group dropped their price target on shares of Abercrombie & Fitch from $125.00 to $115.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, May 28th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Abercrombie & Fitch in a report on Tuesday, June 2nd. Morgan Stanley reissued an “equal weight” rating and set a $87.00 price objective on shares of Abercrombie & Fitch in a research report on Monday, July 6th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC restated a “buy” rating and issued a $108.00 target price on shares of Abercrombie & Fitch in a research note on Wednesday, May 27th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Abercrombie & Fitch has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $111.91.
Read Our Latest Analysis on Abercrombie & Fitch
Abercrombie & Fitch Stock Up 1.9% ANF stock opened at $112.55 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $91.88 and a two-hundred day moving average of $90.42. Abercrombie & Fitch Company has a 12 month low of $65.45 and a 12 month high of $133.11. The company has a market capitalization of $5.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.80 and a beta of 0.90.
Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 27th. The apparel retailer reported $1.47 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.26 by $0.21. Abercrombie & Fitch had a net margin of 9.34% and a return on equity of 34.36%. The business had revenue of $1.11 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.12 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.59 EPS. Abercrombie & Fitch’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. Abercrombie & Fitch has set its Q2 2026 guidance at 1.800-2.000 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 10.200-11.000 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Abercrombie & Fitch Company will post 10.46 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Insider Transactions at Abercrombie & Fitch In other news, COO Scott D. Lipesky sold 10,000 shares of Abercrombie & Fitch stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $110.00, for a total value of $1,100,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 162,534 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $17,878,740. This trade represents a 5.80% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. 2.33% of the stock is owned by insiders.
About Abercrombie & Fitch (Free Report)
Abercrombie & Fitch Co (NYSE: ANF) is an American specialty retailer that designs, markets and sells casual apparel and accessories for men, women and children. Founded in 1892 by David T. Abercrombie and Ezra Fitch, the company evolved from an outdoor gear outfitter to a global lifestyle brand renowned for its relaxed, preppy aesthetic. Its product assortment includes tops, bottoms, outerwear, intimates, swimwear, fragrances and personal care items.
The company operates under multiple brand names, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie Kids, Hollister and Gilly Hicks, each targeting distinct consumer segments from teens to young adults.
See Also Five stocks we like better than Abercrombie & Fitch Quantum Earnings Week: Winners and Losers Are Finally Emerging Axon’s Post-Earnings Pullback May Be More About Valuation Than Growth Uber Stock Lags in 2026, But Cash Flow and AV Bets Fuel Upside AppLovin Stock Hits 52-Week Low as Analysts Trim Targets, Stay Bullish Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ANF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Abercrombie & Fitch Company (NYSE:ANF – Free Report).
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Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF - Free Report) closed the most recent trading day at $112.62, moving +1.94% from the previous trading session. The stock outperformed the S&P 500, which registered a daily gain of 0.62%. At the same time, the Dow added 0.28%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 1.3%.
Shares of the teen clothing retailer have appreciated by 23.82% over the course of the past month, outperforming the Retail-Wholesale sector's gain of 7.19%, and the S&P 500's gain of 2.3%.
The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Abercrombie & Fitch in its upcoming release. The company is slated to reveal its earnings on August 26, 2026. In that report, analysts expect Abercrombie & Fitch to post earnings of $1.9 per share. This would mark a year-over-year decline of 18.1%. Simultaneously, our latest consensus estimate expects the revenue to be $1.24 billion, showing a 2.76% escalation compared to the year-ago quarter.
For the annual period, the Zacks Consensus Estimates anticipate earnings of $10.46 per share and a revenue of $5.43 billion, signifying shifts of +6.09% and +4.87%, respectively, from the last year.
Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for Abercrombie & Fitch. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. Therefore, positive revisions in estimates convey analysts' confidence in the business performance and profit potential.
Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. To capitalize on this, we've crafted the Zacks Rank, a unique model that incorporates these estimate changes and offers a practical rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, spanning from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), boasts an impressive track record of outperformance, audited externally, with #1 ranked stocks yielding an average annual return of +25% since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant within the past month. Abercrombie & Fitch is currently a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Looking at its valuation, Abercrombie & Fitch is holding a Forward P/E ratio of 10.57. This denotes a discount relative to the industry average Forward P/E of 17.42.
The Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. With its current Zacks Industry Rank of 94, this industry ranks in the top 39% of all industries, numbering over 250.
The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
You can find more information on all of these metrics, and much more, on Zacks.com.
Scott D. Lipesky, EVP and COO of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF -0.41%), sold 10,000 shares of Class A Common Stock on July 16, 2026. SEC Form 4 filing
Transaction summaryMetricValueTransaction value$1.0 millionShares sold10,000Post-transaction shares (directly held)182,534Post-transaction value$17.77 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($100.00); post-transaction value based on July 16, 2026, market close ($97.37).
Key questionsHow does this transaction align with the executive's equity position?
The sale represents a 5% reduction in Lipesky's direct Class A Common Stock holdings, reflecting a structured liquidity event rather than a comprehensive exit from the equity.What was the regulatory framework governing this disposition?
The transaction was automated under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan established on March 6, 2026, which allows corporate insiders to schedule share sales in advance to avoid concerns regarding material non-public information.What is the scale of the executive's remaining exposure?
Following the sale, Lipesky maintains direct ownership of ~183,000 shares, which had a market value of $17.77 million as of the July 16, 2026, market close.What was the market environment at the time of execution?
Shares were priced at $100.00 per share at the time of the sale, during a period when the company had delivered a 9% one-year total return as of the transaction date.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-07-17)$95.24Market Capitalization$4.2 billionRevenue (TTM)$5.3 billionNet Income (TTM)$501.4 millionCompany SnapshotAbercrombie & Fitch operates as a multi-brand omnichannel apparel retailer offering clothing, personal care products, and accessories for men, women, and children through its portfolio of brands, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie Kids, Hollister, and Gilly Hicks.The company generates revenue through a diversified distribution model encompassing company-operated retail stores, e-commerce platforms, wholesale partnerships, franchise arrangements, and licensing agreements across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific regions.The company serves a broad demographic of fashion-conscious consumers ranging from children to adults, with brand positioning spanning casual lifestyle wear to contemporary apparel across multiple price points and market segments.Abercrombie & Fitch operates as a scaled omnichannel retailer with a market capitalization of $4.2 billion and TTM revenues of $5.3 billion, demonstrating significant scale within the apparel retail sector. The company's competitive positioning is anchored by its portfolio of established brands with distinct market identities, complemented by an integrated retail and digital infrastructure that enables direct-to-consumer engagement. With 43,200 employees globally, ANF maintains operational leverage across its diversified geographic footprint and multi-brand strategy.
What this transaction means for investorsScott D. Lipesky, an executive at Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF), recently sold 10,000 shares of ANF stock, according to a recent SEC filing. Here are some key takeaways for investors.
First, it’s important to recap a fundamental reality about insider transactions: Insiders sell for a multitude of reasons. Sometimes it’s for tax purposes. Sometimes, as in this case, it’s part of a pre-arranged sales plan. Sometimes it’s simply to generate cash flow. Yet some investors always assume it’s because the executive believes the stock is overpriced. While that may be the case, it’s better to never assume and to dig into the results instead.
With that in mind, how is Abercrombie & Fitch doing? The short answer is that the company’s stock has outperformed the market over the last few years. Since 2021, ANF stock has delivered a total return of 182%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.1%. That beats the benchmark S&P 500, which has generated a total return of 83.8%, with a CAGR of 13.0% over the same period.
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What’s more, recent results point to ongoing success for the company. In May, ANF reported first-quarter results. Earnings per share beat consensus estimates ($1.47 vs. $1.27). The company credited improved inventory management and lower promotional activity. Management reiterated a 4% revenue growth rate for the rest of the year, along with operating margins in the 12.0% to 12.5% range. In addition, ANF boasts a strong, debt-free balance sheet.
As for concerns, there are ongoing worries that the overall consumer market could be weakening, which would threaten ANF’s revenue and margins. In addition, geopolitical storm clouds, such as the conflict in the Middle East, have already resulted in lost revenue. Finally, analysts have noted that ANF’s Hollister brand has shown some weakness, with comparable sales down 2% due to increased promotions.
In short, investors seeking a retail stock would do well to consider ANF. Granted, as with all consumer brands, there is uncertainty about consumer health given the current macroeconomic environment. However, ANF stock has shown the ability to deliver excellent performance.
NEW ALBANY, Ohio, July 31, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) will host its quarterly earnings conference call for all interested parties on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. ET. A press release detailing the company’s second quarter results is expected to be issued shortly after 7:30 a.m. ET. In addition, a presentation of the second quarter results will be available on the company’s website at approximately 7:30 a.m. ET.
Conference Call:To access the conference call by phone, participants will need to register to obtain a dial-in phone number and an access code. Register for the call using this link. Webcast:To listen to a live webcast of the call, please visit corporate.abercrombie.com/investors/news-and-events/events/ and click the link to the webcast. Replay:A replay of the webcast will be available at corporate.abercrombie.com/investors shortly after the call ends and will be archived for one year.
Further information is available at corporate.abercrombie.com. Important information may be disseminated initially or exclusively via the website: investors should consult the site to access this information.
About Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) 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.
The company operates a family of brands, including Abercrombie brands and Hollister brands, each sharing a commitment to offer products of enduring quality and exceptional comfort that support global customers on their journey to being and becoming who they are. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. operates approximately 830 stores under these brands across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, as well as the e-commerce sites abercrombie.com, abercrombiekids.com, and hollisterco.com.
Investor Contact: Media Contact:Mo Gupta Kate WagnerAbercrombie & Fitch Co. Abercrombie & Fitch Co.(614) 283-6751 (614) [email protected][email protected]
Shot across iconic New York City locations, the campaign brings together fashion and sport through a cast led by Emily Ratajkowski, Paloma Elsesser, Jaxson Dart and Malik Nabers July 30, 2026 08:00 ET | Source: Abercrombie & Fitch Management Co.
NEW ALBANY, Ohio, July 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Abercrombie & Fitch (“Abercrombie”), a division of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF), unveils their Fall 2026 denim campaign, “Denim Made Iconic.” Highlighting the brand’s origin in New York City dating back to 1892, the campaign was shot in the city by New York-based photographer Cass Bird and features model, actress and New York Times best-selling author Emily Ratajkowski, model Paloma Elsesser and New York Giants players Jaxson Dart and Malik Nabers.
Abercrombie continues to show up in the moments that matter most to its customers, and this campaign is a natural extension of the brand’s continued evolution. Inspired by the energy of New York City and rooted in Abercrombie’s heritage, the campaign brings a modern perspective of what it means to be iconic. Featuring influential faces across both fashion and sport, Abercrombie is reimagining denim through self-expression, authenticity and elevated style, creating pieces that are truly “made iconic.”
The campaign highlights key denim silhouettes across city scenes including the streets of SoHo and subway cars. Women’s styles include the High Rise Wide leg Jean, High Rise Barrel Jean, Low Rise Ultra Loose Jean and High Rise Relaxed, while men’s introduces an updated Relaxed Straight fit and baggy jean designed for greater comfort and ease. Across both collections, new garment-dyed fabrications deliver elevated color, softness and all-day wearability.
“Abercrombie has been at the intersection of fashion, sport and culture throughout our entire 134-year history, and this denim campaign celebrates that heritage and individuality that defines New York City, our customers and the talent bringing it to life,” said Corey Robinson, brand president of Abercrombie & Fitch. “With denim being a core staple of every fall wardrobe, we want to offer silhouettes for all occasions – from our Low Rise Ultra Loose jean for an everyday, casual style to our barrel jean that can be dressed up or dressed down.”
The Abercrombie & Fitch fall denim collection includes 120 styles available in regular, short and long lengths, with sizing ranging from 23 to 39, including Abercrombie’s viral Curve Love denim. The collection launches online at Abercrombie.com on July 30, 2026, and will also be available in Abercrombie & Fitch stores.
About Abercrombie & Fitch:
Abercrombie & Fitch is an effortless, elevated American lifestyle brand, blending heritage and modern style through quality apparel, accessories and fragrance crafted for all of life’s moments. Abercrombie & Fitch is the namesake brand of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. and is sold in more than 300 stores worldwide (including abercrombie kids) and on abercrombie.com globally.
Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF - Free Report) has been one of the most searched-for stocks on Zacks.com lately. So, you might want to look at some of the facts that could shape the stock's performance in the near term.
Shares of this teen clothing retailer have returned +11.1% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.7% change. The Zacks Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry, to which Abercrombie belongs, has lost 0.7% over this period. Now the key question is: Where could the stock be headed in the near term?
While media releases or rumors about a substantial change in a company's business prospects usually make its stock 'trending' and lead to an immediate price change, there are always some fundamental facts that eventually dominate the buy-and-hold decision-making.
Revisions to Earnings EstimatesHere at Zacks, we prioritize appraising the change in the projection of a company's future earnings over anything else. That's because we believe the present value of its future stream of earnings is what determines the fair value for its stock.
Our analysis is essentially based on how sell-side analysts covering the stock are revising their earnings estimates to take the latest business trends into account. When earnings estimates for a company go up, the fair value for its stock goes up as well. And when a stock's fair value is higher than its current market price, investors tend to buy the stock, resulting in its price moving upward. Because of this, empirical studies indicate a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and short-term stock price movements.
Abercrombie is expected to post earnings of $1.90 per share for the current quarter, representing a year-over-year change of -18.1%. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate has changed -2.3%.
The consensus earnings estimate of $10.46 for the current fiscal year indicates a year-over-year change of +6.1%. This estimate has changed -1.4% over the last 30 days.
For the next fiscal year, the consensus earnings estimate of $11.48 indicates a change of +9.8% from what Abercrombie is expected to report a year ago. Over the past month, the estimate has changed -1.5%.
Having a strong externally audited track record, our proprietary stock rating tool, the Zacks Rank, offers a more conclusive picture of a stock's price direction in the near term, since it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions. Due to the size of the recent change in the consensus estimate, along with three other factors related to earnings estimates, Abercrombie is rated Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
The chart below shows the evolution of the company's forward 12-month consensus EPS estimate:
12 Month EPS
Revenue Growth ForecastWhile earnings growth is arguably the most superior indicator of a company's financial health, nothing happens as such if a business isn't able to grow its revenues. After all, it's nearly impossible for a company to increase its earnings for an extended period without increasing its revenues. So, it's important to know a company's potential revenue growth.
For Abercrombie, the consensus sales estimate for the current quarter of $1.24 billion indicates a year-over-year change of +2.8%. For the current and next fiscal years, $5.43 billion and $5.67 billion estimates indicate +3.2% and +4.4% changes, respectively.
Last Reported Results and Surprise HistoryAbercrombie reported revenues of $1.11 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +1.5%. EPS of $1.47 for the same period compares with $1.59 a year ago.
Compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.12 billion, the reported revenues represent a surprise of -0.48%. The EPS surprise was +16.67%.
The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. The company topped consensus revenue estimates three times over this period.
ValuationNo investment decision can be efficient without considering a stock's valuation. Whether a stock's current price rightly reflects the intrinsic value of the underlying business and the company's growth prospects is an essential determinant of its future price performance.
Comparing the current value of a company's valuation multiples, such as its price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and price-to-cash flow (P/CF), to its own historical values helps ascertain whether its stock is fairly valued, overvalued, or undervalued, whereas comparing the company relative to its peers on these parameters gives a good sense of how reasonable its stock price is.
The Zacks Value Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which pays close attention to both traditional and unconventional valuation metrics to grade stocks from A to F (an A is better than a B; a B is better than a C; and so on), is pretty helpful in identifying whether a stock is overvalued, rightly valued, or temporarily undervalued.
Abercrombie is graded A on this front, indicating that it is trading at a discount to its peers. Click here to see the values of some of the valuation metrics that have driven this grade.
ConclusionThe facts discussed here and much other information on Zacks.com might help determine whether or not it's worthwhile paying attention to the market buzz about Abercrombie. However, its Zacks Rank #2 does suggest that it may outperform the broader market in the near term.
While the proven Zacks Rank places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find strong stocks, we also know that investors tend to develop their own individual strategies. With this in mind, we are always looking at value, growth, and momentum trends to discover great companies.
Of these, perhaps no stock market trend is more popular than value investing, which is a strategy that has proven to be successful in all sorts of market environments. Value investors use tried-and-true metrics and fundamental analysis to find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.
On top of the Zacks Rank, investors can also look at our innovative Style Scores system to find stocks with specific traits. For example, value investors will want to focus on the "Value" category. Stocks with high Zacks Ranks and "A" grades for Value will be some of the highest-quality value stocks on the market today.
One company value investors might notice is Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF - Free Report) . ANF is currently sporting a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), as well as a Value grade of A. The stock has a Forward P/E ratio of 8.98. This compares to its industry's average Forward P/E of 14.05. Over the last 12 months, ANF's Forward P/E has been as high as 15.83 and as low as 5.99, with a median of 9.26.
We should also highlight that ANF has a P/B ratio of 3.31. The P/B is a method of comparing a stock's market value to its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This stock's P/B looks attractive against its industry's average P/B of 6.01. ANF's P/B has been as high as 6.85 and as low as 2.50, with a median of 3.69, over the past year.
Finally, investors will want to recognize that ANF has a P/CF ratio of 6.14. This metric focuses on a firm's operating cash flow and is often used to find stocks that are undervalued based on the strength of their cash outlook. ANF's P/CF compares to its industry's average P/CF of 13.37. Within the past 12 months, ANF's P/CF has been as high as 13.48 and as low as 4.77, with a median of 6.76.
These are just a handful of the figures considered in Abercrombie & Fitch's great Value grade. Still, they help show that the stock is likely being undervalued at the moment. Add this to the strength of its earnings outlook, and we can clearly see that ANF is an impressive value stock right now.
Fifth Third Bancorp boosted its position in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch Company (NYSE:ANF – Free Report) by 2,240.5% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 12,826 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 12,278 shares during the quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp’s holdings in Abercrombie & Fitch were worth $1,172,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ANF. Parallel Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch by 17.6% in the 3rd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 967 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $83,000 after acquiring an additional 145 shares during the period. Larson Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch by 120.3% in the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 271 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 148 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio raised its holdings in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch by 19.4% in the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 928 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $117,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the period. Kestra Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in Abercrombie & Fitch by 3.9% in the 4th quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 4,055 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $510,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its stake in Abercrombie & Fitch by 94.4% in the 4th quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 350 shares of the apparel retailer’s stock valued at $44,000 after purchasing an additional 170 shares during the last quarter.
Abercrombie & Fitch Stock Up 3.2% Abercrombie & Fitch stock opened at $93.82 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $4.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.00 and a beta of 0.89. Abercrombie & Fitch Company has a twelve month low of $65.45 and a twelve month high of $133.11. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $86.07 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $91.10.
Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 27th. The apparel retailer reported $1.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.26 by $0.21. Abercrombie & Fitch had a return on equity of 34.36% and a net margin of 9.34%.The company had revenue of $1.11 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.12 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.59 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. Abercrombie & Fitch has set its Q2 2026 guidance at 1.800-2.000 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 10.200-11.000 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Abercrombie & Fitch Company will post 10.46 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Analyst Ratings Changes A number of brokerages have weighed in on ANF. Barclays boosted their price target on Abercrombie & Fitch from $76.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 28th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Abercrombie & Fitch in a research report on Tuesday, June 2nd. BTIG Research reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $120.00 target price on shares of Abercrombie & Fitch in a research note on Wednesday, May 27th. Raymond James Financial set a $92.00 target price on Abercrombie & Fitch in a report on Thursday, May 21st. Finally, Needham & Company LLC restated a “buy” rating and issued a $108.00 price target on shares of Abercrombie & Fitch in a research note on Wednesday, May 27th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $111.91.
Get Our Latest Analysis on Abercrombie & Fitch
About Abercrombie & Fitch (Free Report)
Abercrombie & Fitch Co (NYSE: ANF) is an American specialty retailer that designs, markets and sells casual apparel and accessories for men, women and children. Founded in 1892 by David T. Abercrombie and Ezra Fitch, the company evolved from an outdoor gear outfitter to a global lifestyle brand renowned for its relaxed, preppy aesthetic. Its product assortment includes tops, bottoms, outerwear, intimates, swimwear, fragrances and personal care items.
The company operates under multiple brand names, including Abercrombie & Fitch, Abercrombie Kids, Hollister and Gilly Hicks, each targeting distinct consumer segments from teens to young adults.
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