American Eagle’s second quarter saw a positive market reaction, as management pointed to the impact of high-profile marketing campaigns and targeted product initiatives. CEO Jay Schottenstein credited “the early results of the actions we are taking to reignite performance,” with the Sydney Sweeney and Travis Kelce collaborations fueling new customer acquisition and strengthening brand engagement. Improvements in Aerie’s performance, particularly in intimates and activewear, and disciplined cost controls also contributed to margins holding steady. Management highlighted that lower promotional activity and a focus on key categories helped to stabilize the business, even as same-store sales remained flat year-over-year.
Is now the time to buy AEO? Find out in our full research report (it’s free).
American Eagle (AEO) Q2 CY2025 Highlights:
- Revenue: $1.28 billion vs analyst estimates of $1.23 billion (flat year on year, 4% beat)
- Adjusted EPS: $0.45 vs analyst estimates of $0.20 (significant beat)
- Adjusted EBITDA: $157.8 million vs analyst estimates of $99.38 million (12.3% margin, 58.7% beat)
- Operating Margin: 8%, in line with the same quarter last year
- Locations: 1,185 at quarter end, up from 1,178 in the same quarter last year
- Same-Store Sales fell 1% year on year (4% in the same quarter last year)
- Market Capitalization: $3.12 billion
While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention.
Our Top 5 Analyst Questions From American Eagle’s Q2 Earnings Call
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Jay Sole (UBS) asked how American Eagle will sustain momentum from celebrity campaigns and whether new customers are shopping across categories. CMO Craig Brahmers explained that “the opportunity is to convert this buzz into business and to convert these new customers into repeat customers.”
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Paul Lejuez (Citi) questioned the impact of tariffs and the reliance on price increases for mitigation. CFO Mike Mathias clarified that while pricing is a factor, most mitigation comes from supply chain optimization and vendor negotiations, with minimal customer resistance to selective price increases so far.
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Jonah Kim (TD) inquired about Aerie’s strategy to regain share in intimates and the role of existing versus new customers. President Jen Foyle said intimates make up about one-third of Aerie’s business and highlighted the launch of new campaigns focused on bras and undies to drive growth.
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Alex Stratton (Morgan Stanley) pressed for details on gross margin outlook and sustainability of sales momentum post-campaigns. Mathias cited tariffs and digital mix as key pressures but noted ongoing promotional discipline. Brahmers confirmed additional campaign drops are planned to maintain momentum.
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Cory Tarlow (Jefferies) asked how SG&A was leveraged despite flat comps and what cost controls will stick. Mathias pointed to ongoing restructuring and compensation optimization, with a long-term goal to leverage SG&A as revenue grows three to five percent annually.
Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters
In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will be monitoring (1) the conversion of new customers from celebrity-driven campaigns into repeat shoppers, (2) the effectiveness of supply chain and pricing strategies in offsetting tariff headwinds, and (3) progress in Aerie’s rebound in core categories like intimates and activewear. The execution of digital investments and store optimization plans will also be critical markers for future performance.
American Eagle currently trades at $17.85, up from $13.64 just before the earnings. In the wake of this quarter, is it a buy or sell? The answer lies in our full research report (it’s free).
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