Analyst Targets 46% Upside for Lululemon Stock After Earnings

Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) is signaling another volatile post-earnings move, with the shares trading up 10.8% ahead of the bell -- set to open at a record high. This comes after the yoga apparel maker reported a second-quarter earnings beat of 71 cents per share on stronger-than-expected revenue of $723.5 million, thanks to a 20% rise in same-store sales.

Analysts have been quick to chime in, too, which is likely creating tailwinds for the shares. Among an onslaught of bullish notes, Barclays boosted its price target by $50 to $200 -- a 46% premium to last night's close at $137. Elsewhere, Canaccord Genuity upped its LULU price target to $152 from $137, calling the results "remarkable," but cautioned that, "with the stock already seemingly priced to perfection, any hint of disappointment could lead to a sharp pullback."

This cautious stance is still seen among a number of analysts covering LULU stock, even with the shares boasting a 74.3% year-to-date lead heading into today's trading. In addition to long-term support atop its 60-day and 80-day moving averages, a recent pullback from the equity's Aug. 27 record high at $140.42 was quickly contained by its 10-day trendline. As such, more upbeat analyst attention could keep the wind at Lululemon's back.

This skepticism hasn't been confined to analysts, either, with short sellers starting to target the stock in recent months. Since bottoming at a record low 3.59 million shares in mid-February, short interest on LULU is up 27.2%. The stock's ability to rally to record highs in the face of such intense selling pressure may speak to its underlying strength.