Back in March, things fell apart for Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU). The company had to pull product off the shelf, after it determined that the fabric in many of its pants was too sheer. That news hammered the stock, sending it down 8% in the week after the announcement. Lululemon jumped to make good on the bad news, and now it seems to have turned itself around. With first-quarter earnings coming out next week, what should investors be on the lookout for?
Product issues addressed
Under Armour Inc (NYSE:UA) and The Gap Inc. (NYSE:GPS) both had a chance to make something of Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU)’s bad news, but neither acted quickly enough. As a result, Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) is likely to see less damage to its top and bottom lines in next week’s earnings announcement. The company initially announced an impact on comparable sales of between 3% and 6%. I would be surprised if the damage was that bad, and the original comparable sales increase of 11% no longer seems out of reach.
Competition on the horizon
With its biggest 2013 issue behind it, Lululemon Athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) and investors can now look forward to the rest of the year. That means readdressing the threat that competitors pose. The Gap Inc. (NYSE:GPS) has a specific yogawear brand, Athleta, and also carries similar clothing at its Gap and Old Navy stores. Under Armour Inc (NYSE:UA) also has a huge yogawear line — its Studio collection — which has driven growth for the women’s business.
Both Gap and Under Armour are making moves into new international markets, while Lululemon has been dragging behind. On the company’s last call, it said that it was going to focus on the U.K. and Hong Kong in 2013. So far, the business has been slow to expand internationally, as Lululemon uses a very conservative expansion model.
In addition to its two focal areas, Lululemon is going to start “establishing local community connections and introducing [its] beautiful product to guests in a variety of markets in Europe and Asia.” The time that those connections take to build means that Under Armour and Gap have a chance to move more quickly.
Gap, especially, has the brand-name strength to make quick moves internationally. Its Old Navy brand is diving headfirst into Japan, opening nine stores in the country last quarter. That gives it a jump on yoga distribution, and it puts Lululemon on the back foot.
The bottom line
While I’m expecting good things from Lululemon next week — and for the rest of the year — I’ll be keeping an extra-close watch on the company’s expansion plan. Lululemon has the upper hand in North America, by virtue of being the first mover; if it wants to replicate its success overseas, it needs to move faster. Next week, I’ll be looking for speed.
The article What’s in Store for Lululemon? originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Andrew Marder.
Fool contributor Andrew Marder has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Lululemon Athletica and Under Armour. The Motley Fool owns shares of Under Armour.
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