American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. AEO is expected to register growth in its top line when it reports second-quarter fiscal 2026 results on Sept. 9, after market close. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $1.37 billion, which indicates a rise of 6.5% from the year-ago figure.
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. Quote
The consensus estimate for quarterly earnings is pegged at 21 cents per share, indicating a 53.3% decline from the year-ago quarter's number. However, the consensus estimate for earnings has remained stable in the past 30 days.
The company’s earnings beat the consensus estimate by 27.3% in the last reported quarter. AEO delivered an earnings surprise of 48.6% in the trailing four quarters, on average.
Things to Know About AEO’s Upcoming Results
AEO’s second-quarter performance is likely to have benefited from continued momentum at Aerie and OFFLINE, supported by healthy demand across product categories and selling channels. Aerie’s strength appears to be broad-based, reflecting compelling assortments, stronger brand visibility and deep customer engagement. The brand’s head-to-toe merchandising approach across intimates, sleepwear and apparel has also encouraged customers to build complete outfits, while disciplined promotions and targeted pricing strategies have supported healthier selling trends. OFFLINE has remained another important growth driver, with customers responding well to fresh silhouettes, coordinated sets, new fabrications and curated product drops.
At the American Eagle brand, improving trends in several categories may also have supported the quarter. Men’s apparel has maintained momentum across tops and bottoms, while women’s fashion tops and tees have continued to attract customers. Management also noted encouraging signs of improvement in the women’s business as the quarter progressed, aided by quick merchandising adjustments and a sharper focus on styles and fits showing stronger demand. The company’s ability to chase winning products and introduce fresh assortments could have helped it respond more effectively to changing customer preferences during the summer selling period.
AEO’s elevated marketing efforts and customer-engagement initiatives are another factor likely to have aided demand. Across American Eagle and Aerie, the company has been investing in campaigns, influencer programs, creator communities and entertainment partnerships designed to strengthen brand awareness and attract both new and existing customers. American Eagle has also been shifting its focus toward improving conversion, while digital engagement showed encouraging momentum heading into the quarter. Meanwhile, the opening of the company’s new West Coast distribution center should support better inventory placement and fulfillment flexibility, strengthening AEO’s ability to serve demand across stores and digital channels.
Nevertheless, several pressures may have weighed on second-quarter profitability. American Eagle entered the period with softness in women’s bottoms, particularly denim, and management expected additional markdown activity as it worked to clear less productive merchandise and improve inventory quality ahead of the key back-to-school season. Tariffs also represented a meaningful cost headwind compared with the prior year, while continued spending on advertising was expected to increase operating expenses. In addition, management acknowledged a competitive and fluid retail environment, making disciplined execution, product relevance and effective promotional management especially important for preserving margins.
Our model predicts second-quarter fiscal 2026 total revenues to increase 6.2% year over year. We expect sales for the American Eagle brand to decline 1%. Sales for the Aerie brand are expected to increase by 19.4%.
What the Zacks Model Unveils for AEO
Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for American Eagle 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 this is not the case here.
American Eagle currently has an Earnings ESP of -4.00% and a Zacks Rank of 2. You can uncover the best stocks before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
AEO’s Valuation Picture & Price Performance
With a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 9.55X, below the high level of 18.29X and the Retail - Apparel and Shoes industry’s average of 13.05X, the stock offers compelling value for investors seeking exposure to the sector.
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AEO stock has lost 21.9% in the past six months compared with the industry’s 17.5% decline.
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Stocks With the Favorable Combination
Here are three companies, which, according to our model, have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this season:
Victoria's Secret VSXY has an Earnings ESP of +5.20% and currently sports a Zacks Rank of 1. 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%.
Costco Wholesale Corporation COST currently has an Earnings ESP of +1.45% and a Zacks Rank of 3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its upcoming quarter’s revenues is pegged at $94.46 billion, indicating a 9.6% rise from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter.
The consensus estimate for Costco’s earnings is pegged at $6.51 per share, implying 10.9% growth from the year-ago quarter. COST delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 1%, on average.
Deckers Outdoors Corporation DECK currently has an Earnings ESP of +1.60% and a Zacks Rank of 3. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its upcoming quarter’s revenues is pegged at $1.5 billion, indicating a 5.6% rise from the figure reported in the prior-year quarter.
The consensus estimate for Costco’s earnings is pegged at $1.8 per share, implying a 1.1% decline from the year-ago quarter. DECK delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 15.2%, on average.
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American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO): Free Stock Analysis Report
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Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST): Free Stock Analysis Report
Victoria's Secret & Co. (VSXY): Free Stock Analysis Report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).