First quarter GAAP operating loss of $(85) million; Non-GAAP operating loss of $(68) million
Second quarter operating income guidance of $40 to $45 million
On track to complete $200 million accelerated share repurchase program in the second quarter
May 29, 2025
PITTSBURGH — (BUSINESS WIRE) – American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE: AEO) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended May 3, 2025.
“As we noted in our preliminary release, the first quarter was a challenging period for our business. While we are disappointed with the results, we are taking actions to better position the company and drive stronger performance in the upcoming quarters. Our brands remain resilient. The team is executing with urgency as we look to strengthen both the topline and profit flow-through,” commented Jay Schottenstein, AEO’s Executive Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer.
First Quarter 2025 Results:
- Total net revenue of $1.1 billion decreased 5%. Total comparable sales declined 3%.
- Aerie comparable sales decreased 4%. American Eagle comparable sales declined 2%.
- Gross profit was $322 million and the gross margin of 29.6% compared to 40.6% last year.
- Merchandise margins decreased 960 basis points, driven primarily by inventory writedowns and higher in-season markdowns, as well as increased product costs.
- Buying, Occupancy and Warehousing (BOW) expenses as a percentage of sales deleveraged 140 basis points.
- Selling, general and administrative expense of $339 million increased 2% and deleveraged 190 basis points as a percentage of sales. Lower compensation and incentives costs were offset by increased advertising.
- The operating loss was $(85) million. The adjusted operating loss of $(68) million excluded $17 million in impairment and restructuring charges primarily related to the company’s supply chain network optimization project, as previously disclosed.
- Diluted loss per share was $(0.36). Adjusted diluted loss per share was $(0.29). Average diluted shares outstanding were 180 million.
Inventory
Total ending inventory decreased 5% to $645 million with units down 5%. Following the writedown, inventory for the season is better aligned to sales trends.
Shareholder Returns
On March 17, 2025, the company announced a $200 million accelerated share repurchase agreement (ASR). At the closing price on March 14, 2025, this equated to approximately 18.1 million shares, representing approximately 9.5% of the company’s fully diluted outstanding stock. The company is on track to complete the ASR in the second quarter.
In addition to the ASR, the company also completed $31 million in open-market share repurchases and paid $22 million via its quarterly cash dividend of $0.125 per share.
Capital Expenditures
Capital expenditures totaled $62 million in the first quarter. The company expects 2025 capital expenditures to be approximately $275 million, compared to previous guidance of approximately $300 million.
Outlook
The company’s fiscal year 2025 outlook remains withdrawn in light of macro uncertainty and as management reviews forward plans in the context of first quarter results.
The second quarter outlook is as follows:
| Second Quarter 2025 Outlook | |
| Revenue | Down 5% |
| Comparable Sales | Down 3% |
| Gross Margin | Down YoY |
| SG&A | Dollars Flat YoY |
| D&A | Approximately $54 million |
| Operating Income | $40 to $45 million |
| Tax Rate | Approximately 25% |
| Weighted Average Share Count | Approximately 175 million |
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About American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.
American Eagle Oufitters, Inc. (NYSE: AEO) is a leading global specialty retailer with a portfolio of beloved apparel brands including American Eagle, Aerie, OFFL/NE by Aerie, Todd Snyder and Unsubscribed. Rooted in optimism, inclusivity and authenticity, AEO’s brands empower every customer to celebrate their unique personal style by offering casual, comfortable, timeless outfitting and high-quality products that are made to last.
AEO Inc. operates stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with merchandise available in more than 30 countries through a global network of license partners. Additionally, the company operates a robust e-commerce business across its brands. For more information, visit aeo-inc.com.
Non-GAAP Measures
This press release includes operating income and earnings per share presented on an adjusted or non-GAAP basis, which are non-GAAP financial measures. These financial measures are not based on any standardized methodology prescribed by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and are not necessarily comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Non-GAAP information is provided as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, or as superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. We believe that this non-GAAP information is useful as an additional means for investors to evaluate our operating performance when reviewed in conjunction with our GAAP Consolidated Financial Statements and provides a higher degree of transparency. These amounts are not determined in accordance with GAAP and, therefore, should not be used exclusively in evaluating our business and operations. The table included in this release reconciles the GAAP financial measures to the non-GAAP financial measures discussed above for the 13 weeks ended May 3, 2025.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
This release and related statements by management contain forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which represent management’s expectations or beliefs concerning future events, including, without limitation, the results for the second quarter of fiscal 2025. Words such as “outlook,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “may,” “potential,” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. All forward-looking statements made by the company are inherently uncertain because they are based on assumptions and expectations concerning future events and are subject to change based on many important factors, some of which may be beyond the company’s control. Except as may be required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise and even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized. The following factors, in addition to the risks disclosed in Item 1A., Risk Factors, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2025 and in any other filings that we may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in some cases have affected, and in the future could affect, the company’s financial performance and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any of the forward-looking statements included in this release or otherwise made by management: the risk that the company’s operating, financial and capital plans may not be achieved; our inability to anticipate fluctuations in customer demand and respond to changing consumer preferences and fashion trends and to manage our inventory commensurately; the seasonality of our business; our inability to achieve planned store financial performance; our inability to react to raw material cost, labor and energy cost increases; our inability to gain market share in the face of declining shopping center traffic or attract customers to our stores; our inability to respond to changes in e-commerce and leverage omni-channel capabilities; our inability to execute on our key business priorities; our inability to expand internationally; difficulty with our international merchandise sourcing strategies; the impact import tariffs and other trade restrictions imposed by the U.S., China or other countries have had, and may continue to have, on our product costs, as well as the possibility that product costs may be affected by other foreign trade issues, such as, currency exchange rate fluctuations, increasing prices for raw materials, supply chain issues, political instability or other reasons; challenges with information technology systems, including safeguarding against security breaches; changes to U.S. or other countries’ trade policies and tariff and import/export regulations, including, without limitation, uncertainty with respect to the U.S./China trade agreement; and global economic, public health, social, political and financial conditions, and the resulting impact on consumer confidence and consumer spending, as well as other changes in consumer discretionary spending habits, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and liquidity.
The use of the “company,” “AEO,” “we,” “us,” and “our” in this release refers to American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.
