Release Date: April 03, 2025
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Positive Points
- Guess? Inc (GES, Financial) reported a 5% increase in Q4 revenues, reaching $932 million, with a significant contribution from the acquisition of rag & bone.
- The company's European Wholesale business showed strong performance with mid-single-digit growth despite currency headwinds.
- Guess? Inc (GES) successfully launched Guess? Jeans globally, targeting a younger demographic with sustainable and affordable denim.
- The licensing business exceeded revenue expectations, growing 18% in Q4, driven by strong performance in footwear, fragrances, handbags, and eyewear.
- The company entered a joint venture with Chalhoub Group to manage its Middle East business, expected to contribute meaningfully to growth.
Negative Points
- The Guess? Retail business in the Americas did not meet revenue expectations, with a 14% constant currency comp decline in the US and Canadian stores and e-commerce.
- The Guess? Asia business underperformed, with revenue declines in the upper teens, particularly in South Korea and China due to challenging retail traffic.
- Total company gross margin was below expectations at 44.1%, impacted by higher margin pressure and unfavorable currency effects.
- Adjusted SG&A expenses increased by 11%, driven by the addition of rag & bone and increased marketing investments.
- The company anticipates a challenging consumer environment in fiscal 2026 due to inflationary pressures and unresolved geopolitical issues, impacting growth prospects.
Q & A Highlights
Q: Could you elaborate on the growth drivers for the rag & bone brand and the strategy for the Americas business in fiscal year '26?
A: Carlos Alberini, CEO, highlighted the acquisition of rag & bone as a significant milestone, emphasizing its strong market presence and leadership under Andrew Rosen. The brand's growth is driven by new store openings in Europe and the US, strong e-commerce performance, and new product lines like the Miramar collection. For the Americas, Guess? plans to enhance retail productivity through exclusive product collections, a speed-to-market model, and improved pricing strategies to attract value-conscious consumers.
Q: What is the opportunity for Guess? Jeans in the US and Europe, and how are the initial stores performing?
A: Alberini expressed excitement about Guess? Jeans, noting its focus on sustainability and alignment with Gen Z preferences. The brand has launched successfully in Europe, with Italy being a top performer. In the US, Guess? plans to strengthen its Wholesale team and open flagship stores in West Hollywood and Tokyo. Initial store performance in Europe could improve with a richer fashion collection.
Q: How should we view the opportunity from taking over the G3 license portfolio for dresses and outerwear? Are there plans to take back other licenses?
A: Alberini stated that integrating the G3 outerwear business was a significant move, leveraging Guess?'s existing capabilities. The dresses segment was smaller but aligned with Guess?'s offerings. While there are no immediate plans to take back other licenses, Guess? values long-term licensing relationships that ensure brand consistency and integrity.
Q: What are the expectations for the fiscal year 2026 in terms of revenue growth and operating margin?
A: Dennis Secor, Interim CFO, outlined expectations for revenue growth between 3.9% and 6.2%, with contributions from both Guess? and rag & bone. The adjusted operating margin is projected between 4.5% and 5.4%. The growth will be driven by rag & bone's full-year contribution, the Middle East joint venture, and continued expansion in Europe.
Q: How is Guess? addressing the challenges in the Asia market, particularly in China and South Korea?
A: Alberini acknowledged the challenging market conditions in Asia, with significant declines in China and South Korea. Guess? plans to transition its Greater China business to a third party to improve profitability. The expansion in India and new store openings in key locations like Tokyo are expected to drive future growth in the region.
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
