Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU) AI Stock Analysis

NASDAQ: LULUAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

LULU AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU) is an athletic apparel and accessories retailer operating company-owned stores and direct-to-consumer digital platforms. While the company achieved a 5-year revenue CAGR of 20.3% through FY2026, top-line growth decelerated to 4.9% in FY2026 and revenue contracted 4.3% year-over-year in the quarter ended July 31, 2026. The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 8.0x after a 1-year share price drop of 41.0%.

Market cap
$11.25B
Revenue (TTM)
$11.09B
P/E
8.0x
fwd 10.7x
1Y return
-41.0%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$104.91
8.0% vs last close

Bull case

  • Lululemon trades at a trailing P/E of 8.0x and an EV-to-EBITDA of 4.9x, well below the S&P 500 Consumer Cyclical peer medians of 20.1x and 13.8x.
  • The balance sheet remains liquid with a current ratio of 2.19 and $1.39B in cash and short-term investments as of July 31, 2026.
  • The company has demonstrated consistent execution against expectations, delivering earnings beats in each of the last 4 quarters.

Bear case

  • Revenue growth has turned negative, dropping 4.3% year-over-year in the quarter ended July 31, 2026, while quarterly earnings contracted 5.9%.
  • Analyst estimates anticipate further headwinds, projecting FY2027 EPS to fall 27.1% to $9.66 and FY2028 revenue to decline 1.1% to $10.35B.
  • Shareholder returns have lagged broad markets, evidenced by a 1-year return of -41.0% and short interest standing at 14.6% of float.

What Lululemon does

Lululemon Athletica Inc. designs and retails athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories tailored for women and men. Founded in 1998 and based in Vancouver, Canada, the company operates across two principal segments: Company-Operated Stores and Direct to Consumer. Its products serve healthy lifestyle and fitness activities such as yoga, running, and training, featuring lines of pants, shorts, tops, and jackets. Lululemon distributes items via company-operated stores, outlets, warehouse sales, temporary sites, mobile apps, and its lululemon.com website, alongside wholesale partnerships with yoga studios, health clubs, and fitness centers. As of January 30, 2022, the company operated 574 company-operated stores globally.

Growth and profitability

Lululemon increased annual revenue from $6.26B in FY2022 to $11.10B in FY2026, though annual sales expansion moderated from 42.1% in FY2022 to 4.9% in FY2026. Gross margin stood at 56.6% in FY2026 compared to a peak of 59.2% in FY2025, while operating margin was 19.9%. Net income reached $1.58B in FY2026 with diluted EPS of $13.30, down from $1.81B and $14.70 in FY2025. Over the trailing twelve months, revenue was $11.09B with an operating margin of 13.2% and EPS of $12.15. In the quarter ended July 31, 2026, quarterly revenue fell 4.3% year-over-year and quarterly earnings declined 5.9%.

LULU income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of July 31, 2026, Lululemon held $1.39B in cash and short-term investments alongside total debt of $2.14B, resulting in net debt of $751.4M. Shareholders' equity was $4.79B against total assets of $8.48B, yielding a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45 and a current ratio of 2.19. In FY2026, operating cash flow was $1.60B, supporting capital expenditures of $680.8M and free cash flow of $921.7M. The company allocated $1.18B to share buybacks in FY2026, contributing to a 5-year share count reduction of 13.3%.

LULU balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

At $97.10, Lululemon trades at a trailing P/E of 8.0x, a forward P/E of 10.7x, and an EV-to-EBITDA of 4.9x. These multiples sit below the median of its S&P 500 Consumer Cyclical peers, which report a trailing P/E of 20.1x, forward P/E of 15.7x, and EV-to-EBITDA of 13.8x. The company's price-to-sales ratio is 1.0x versus 2.0x for the peer group. Over the past year, the stock fell 41.0% while the S&P 500 (SPY) gained 16.8%, and its 5-year return is -75.9% compared to 83.0% for the SPY.

LULU key metrics →

What analysts expect

Wall Street coverage consists of 1 Strong Buy, 0 Buys, 29 Holds, 1 Sell, and 4 Strong Sells. The mean price target is $104.91, representing an 8.0% premium over the last close of $97.10. For the fiscal year ending January 31, 2027, consensus models forecast revenue of $10.47B and EPS of $9.66, an earnings decline of 27.1%. For the following fiscal year, 25 analysts project revenue of $10.35B and EPS of $8.65. Lululemon has beaten EPS estimates in each of the last 4 quarters, and its next earnings release is scheduled for December 10, 2026.

LULU forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Quarterly sales contraction of 4.3% and an earnings decline of 5.9% for the quarter ended July 31, 2026, indicate near-term operational deceleration.
  • Free cash flow generation decreased from $1.58B in FY2025 to $921.7M in FY2026 alongside a compression in gross margin to 56.6%.
  • Analyst sentiment is largely cautious with 29 Hold ratings and projected earnings reductions to $9.66 in FY2027 and $8.65 in FY2028.
  • The stock is trading 30.2% below its 200-day moving average and short interest comprises 14.6% of the float.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this LULU AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: LULU income statement, LULU balance sheet, LULU key metrics, LULU analyst forecast, LULU chart. See the LULU stock overview for the latest quote and news.

LULU AI stock analysis FAQ

Does Lululemon pay a dividend?

No, Lululemon Athletica Inc. does not currently pay a dividend. The company directs capital toward operational expenditures, capital expenditures ($680.8M in FY2026), and share repurchases ($1.18B in FY2026).

What are the consensus analyst price targets and expectations for LULU?

The consensus mean price target is $104.91, which is 8.0% above the October 16, 2026 closing price of $97.10. Analysts anticipate full-year EPS of $9.66 on revenue of $10.47B for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2027.

How does Lululemon's valuation compare to industry peers?

Lululemon trades at a trailing P/E of 8.0x and an EV-to-EBITDA of 4.9x. Both multiples are lower than the median of its S&P 500 Consumer Cyclical peers, which carry a trailing P/E of 20.1x and an EV-to-EBITDA of 13.8x.

What is Lululemon's current debt and cash position?

As of July 31, 2026, Lululemon reported $1.39B in cash and short-term investments against $2.14B in total debt, resulting in net debt of $751.4M and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45.

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