greeksoup/ stock research

lululemon athletica Inc.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 11 December 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 2 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue ahead of prior Q3 guidance: Net revenue was $2.6 billion, up 7%, against prior guidance of $2.470 billion to $2.500 billion. Management said revenue and EPS were better than expected.
  • Diluted EPS below prior year: Diluted EPS was $2.59 against $2.87 a year earlier. Net income was $306.8 million against $351.9 million. Source
  • Americas sales and comparables fell: Americas net revenue fell 2% and Americas comparable sales fell 5%. United States revenue was down in constant dollars. Source
  • International revenue rose 33%: International net revenue rose 33%, with China Mainland up 46% and Rest of World up 19%. Source
  • Gross margin fell 290 basis points: Gross margin fell to 55.6% from 58.5%, while gross profit rose 2% to $1.4 billion. Source
  • Operating margin fell to 17.0%: Income from operations fell 11% to $435.9 million. Operating margin was 17.0%, down from 20.5% a year earlier. Source
  • CEO succession plan announced: A CEO succession plan was announced in a separate release the same day. The filing does not name a successor. Source

“We delivered better-than-expected revenue and EPS in the third quarter as a result of our disciplined execution and ongoing strength internationally.”

Meghan Frank, Chief Financial Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net revenue SourceFourth quarter 2025$3.500 billion to $3.585 billionNew
Diluted EPS SourceFourth quarter 2025$4.66 to $4.76New
Net revenue SourceFiscal 2025$10.962 billion to $11.047 billionRaised from $10.850 billion to $11.000 billion
Diluted EPS SourceFiscal 2025$12.92 to $13.02Raised from $12.77 to $12.97
Income from operations reduction from tariffs and de minimis removal SourceFiscal 2025approximately $210 million, net of mitigation
Tax rate SourceFiscal 2025 and fourth quarterapproximately 30%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year net revenue range raised to $10.962 billion to $11.047 billion from $10.850 billion to $11.000 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year diluted EPS range raised to $12.92 to $13.02 from $12.77 to $12.97. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter revenue and EPS ranges were provided for the first time in this release. Source
  • New: A CEO succession plan was announced in a separate press release on the same day. Source
  • New: The board approved a $1.0 billion increase to the stock repurchase program on December 3, 2025. Source

Quarter results and growth drivers

  • Revenue ahead of prior Q3 guidance: Net revenue was $2.6 billion, up 7%, against prior guidance of $2.470 billion to $2.500 billion. Management said revenue and EPS were better than expected.
  • Diluted EPS below prior year: Diluted EPS was $2.59 against $2.87 a year earlier. Net income was $306.8 million against $351.9 million. Source
  • Comparable sales rose 1%: Comparable sales rose 1%, or 2% in constant dollars, the measure the company uses to show underlying growth without currency effects. Source

Segments and regions

  • Americas sales and comparables fell: Americas net revenue fell 2% and Americas comparable sales fell 5%. United States revenue was down in constant dollars. Source
  • Mexico revenue rose after acquisition: Mexico net revenue rose 95%, or 86% in constant dollars, after the company acquired the stores run by a third party. Those stores enter comparable sales in October 2025. Source
  • International revenue rose 33%: International net revenue rose 33%, with China Mainland up 46% and Rest of World up 19%. Source
  • China Mainland comparable sales up 24%: China Mainland comparable sales rose 24%, or 25% in constant dollars. Total international comparable sales rose 18%. Source

“As we enter the holiday season, we are encouraged by our early performance”

Calvin McDonald, Chief Executive Officer

Margins, costs and tariffs

  • Gross margin fell 290 basis points: Gross margin fell to 55.6% from 58.5%, while gross profit rose 2% to $1.4 billion. Source
  • Operating margin fell to 17.0%: Income from operations fell 11% to $435.9 million. Operating margin was 17.0%, down from 20.5% a year earlier. Source
  • SG&A rose as share of sales: SG&A expenses were $988.3 million, or 38.5% of net revenue, against 38.0% a year earlier. Source
  • Effective tax rate edged up: The effective tax rate was 30.5%, compared with 30.2% a year earlier. Source
  • Tariffs built into full-year guidance: Full-year guidance reflects higher tariffs on US imports and removal of the de minimis exemption, net of vendor savings and pricing actions. Source

Demand, inventory and holiday trading

  • Inventory rose 11%: Inventories at quarter end were $2.0 billion, against net revenue growth of 7% in the quarter. Source
  • Early holiday-season performance: Management said the company was encouraged by early holiday-season performance. Source
  • Comparable sales use shifted calendar: Comparable sales compare the 13 weeks ended November 2, 2025 with the 13 weeks ended November 3, 2024, because of the 53rd week in 2024. Source

Cash, capital and returns

  • Cash and revolver capacity: Cash and equivalents were $1.0 billion at quarter end. Committed revolver capacity was $593.0 million. Source
  • Q3 share repurchases: The company repurchased 1.0 million shares for $189.0 million, against 1.1 million shares for $278.5 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Repurchase capacity remains: About $1.6 billion remained authorized on December 11, 2025, after the board's increase. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell: Operating cash flow for the first three quarters was $459.6 million, against $871.3 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net store openings in quarter: The company opened 14 stores and closed 2 in the quarter, starting from 784 stores. Source

Strategy and leadership

  • Investing in growth with discipline: Management said it will keep investing in growth initiatives while maintaining operational rigor. Source
  • CEO succession plan announced: A CEO succession plan was announced in a separate release the same day. The filing does not name a successor. Source
  • Board confidence cited on buybacks: The CFO linked the repurchase authorization increase to board confidence in the brand's prospects. Source

Coming up, as management said on 11 December 2025

  • Fiscal 2025 year end date: Fiscal 2025 ends on February 1, 2026. Source
  • CEO succession details to follow: Details of the CEO succession plan are in a separate press release on the company's website. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Company-operated stores at quarter end Source796
Gross square feet at quarter end Source3,630 thousand
Inventory units change Source+4%

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Guidance estimates depend on tariff rates, sourcing savings, demand and the timing of regulatory changes, and mitigation may prove less effective. Source
  • Demand: Management said its teams stayed focused on improving the U.S. business, where Americas comparable sales fell 5%. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said progress on the action plan has begun and it continues to expect impact in 2026. Source
  • Ahead: Management said third-quarter revenue and EPS were better than expected against prior guidance. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.