Independent Research, US Dominant Players, Investment Talk

Investment Talk

Independent Research, US Dominant Players

Investment Talk is for readers who wish to learn about companies that are potentially outside of their own circle of research, as well as those who are longing to become part of a community of like-minded investors and learn more about investment research. I would describe myself as a long-term investor who typically takes a 3Y to 5Y outlook, before reassessing once that period matures. I follow the adage that one should research, reach a conclusion, and then verify and continue to hold so long as the thesis remains intact. My own investing style is one that seeks to find dominant players within their respective market who have shown signs of monopoly or oligopolistic behaviour, unlikely to be disrupted, in tandem with discovering market disruptors who have a high likelihood of disrupting their respective market. Equally (and weighted accordingly) I seek to discover more nuanced, misunderstood, situations with a shorter time frame.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>On March 21st, Lululemon reported FY23 results. All things considered, the results were good. Guidance, however, caused some upset. Lululemon shares are down ~29% this year; after being down just 6% before the report, and is currently the 8th worst-performing stock in the S&amp;P 500.</li><li>Lululemon’s implied 11.5% revenue growth for 2024 is a notable deceleration from years prior; having averaged an annual revenue growth rate of 24.4% over the last 5 years.</li><li>This year’s revenue guidance is closer to, but still behind, the 5 years before that; where Lululemon averaged 15.7% annual revenue growth.</li></ul>

On March 21st, Lululemon reported FY23 results. All things considered, the results were good. Guidance, however, caused some upset. Lululemon shares are down ~29% this year; after being down just 6% before the report, and is currently the 8th worst-performing stock in the S&amp;P 500.Lululemon’s implied 11.5% revenue growth for 2024 is a notable deceleration from years prior; having averaged an annual revenue growth rate of 24.4% over the last 5 years.This year’s revenue guidance is closer to, but still behind, the 5 years before that; where Lululemon averaged 15.7% annual revenue growth.

Research Firm with a Qualitative Overlay, Pearl Gray Equity and Research

Pearl Gray Equity and Research

Research Firm with a Qualitative Overlay

Quantitative fund & research firm with a qualitative overlay. 

Our coverage: General U.S. with a skew towards the primary sector. 

Methods: Smart Beta/Factor Pricing, Neural Networks, Street Gossip, and Common Sense.

<ul>
<li>The company's international sales growth is somewhat of a hidden asset, as the arena is underserved.</li>
<li>Lululemon's regional brand exposure is expanding with new store openings.</li>
<li>The stock is theoretically undervalued, which is why the stock is undervalued.</li>
</ul>


The company's international sales growth is somewhat of a hidden asset, as the arena is underserved.
Lululemon's regional brand exposure is expanding with new store openings.
The stock is theoretically undervalued, which is why the stock is undervalued.


Lululemon: Underestimated Is An Understatement

Independent Investment Research & Investor, Maverick Equity Research

Maverick Equity Research

Independent Investment Research & Investor

Independent Investment Research & Investor: value, dividend and growth stocks. Risk management & hedging for an all weather portfolio.

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul><li>Zooming out first for a big picture perspective - helpful away from the news &amp; chatter:</li><li>Bears Make Headlines &amp; Lose Money, Bulls Make Money! As always … !</li><li>The bear case sounds very smart very often, only problem is, it’s quite rarely right … !</li></ul>

Zooming out first for a big picture perspective - helpful away from the news &amp; chatter:Bears Make Headlines &amp; Lose Money, Bulls Make Money! As always … !The bear case sounds very smart very often, only problem is, it’s quite rarely right … !

The S&P 500 Report: Performance, Profitability, Sentiment & More - #Ed 5

<ul><li>Beanie Babies, Tamagotchis, fidget spinners, heelys, silly bandz, pogs, pet rocks, mood rings, cabbage patch kids…</li><li>Every generation has its share of fad products, fashion statements, and hairstyles.</li><li>But what separates a fad from a sustainable trend? Understanding the difference between the two can be challenging.</li></ul>

Beanie Babies, Tamagotchis, fidget spinners, heelys, silly bandz, pogs, pet rocks, mood rings, cabbage patch kids…Every generation has its share of fad products, fashion statements, and hairstyles.But what separates a fad from a sustainable trend? Understanding the difference between the two can be challenging.

Equity Research Focusing on the Consumer Sector, Small Cap Consumer Research

Small Cap Consumer Research

Equity Research Focusing on the Consumer Sector

Small Cap Consumer Research, LLC is a leading company-sponsored equity research provider focusing on the consumer sector (apparel, brand licensing and specialty retailing segments).

<ul><li>We are cutting our projections and price target for Express, but maintaining our Buy rating after the company missed 3Q projections and guided to a materially weaker than expected 4Q.</li><li>Further, with inventories heavier than expected ahead of the Holiday season (up 14% YoY, or flat if Bonobos is excluded) we expect the season to remain aggressively promotional and, in the near term, offset any gains from cost savings and other S,G&A reductions (and probably spill over into Q1FY24).</li><li>Our new price target of $20 (down from $40) translates to 8.2X our new, materially lowered FY24 EBITDA projection.</li></ul>

We are cutting our projections and price target for Express, but maintaining our Buy rating after the company missed 3Q projections and guided to a materially weaker than expected 4Q.Further, with inventories heavier than expected ahead of the Holiday season (up 14% YoY, or flat if Bonobos is excluded) we expect the season to remain aggressively promotional and, in the near term, offset any gains from cost savings and other S,G&A reductions (and probably spill over into Q1FY24).Our new price target of $20 (down from $40) translates to 8.2X our new, materially lowered FY24 EBITDA projection.

EXPR: 3Q Review; Cleaning Up the Mess; Reiterate Buy, Lowering PT to $20

United States

lululemon athletica Inc. designs and retails athletic clothing.  The Company produces fitness pants, shorts, tops and jackets for yoga, dance, running, and general fitness. lululemon serves customers throughout the world.

Lululemon Athletica (LULU US)

Why Lululemon Isn’t Under Armour

Lululemon’s implied 11.5% revenue growth for 2024 is a notable deceleration from years prior; having averaged an annual revenue growth rate of...

Investment Talk

Lululemon: Underestimated Is An Understatement

The company's international sales growth is somewhat of a hidden asset, as the arena is underserved. Lululemon's regional brand exposure is...

Pearl Gray Equity and Research

The S&P 500 Report: Performance, Profitability, Sentiment & More - #Ed 5

Zooming out first for a big picture perspective - helpful away from the news & chatter: Bears Make Headlines & Lose Money, Bulls Make Money! As...

Maverick Equity Research

Fads and Second Acts

Beanie Babies, Tamagotchis, fidget spinners, heelys, silly bandz, pogs, pet rocks, mood rings, cabbage patch kids… Every generation has its share...

Investment Talk

EXPR: 3Q Review; Cleaning Up the Mess; Reiterate Buy, Lowering PT to $20

We are cutting our projections and price target for Express, but maintaining our Buy rating after the company missed 3Q projections and guided to...

Small Cap Consumer Research