The retailer reported better-than-expected earnings and revenue for the third quarter
Shares of Urban Outfitters, Inc. (NASDAQ:URBN) are 13.2% higher at $45.85, after the retailer posted better-than-expected results for the third quarter. While its namesake brand struggled, its Anthropologie and Free People brands were the main catalysts for a robust 6.3% increase in net sales, as well as earnings of $1.10 per share on income of $102.91 billion.
As a result, Urban Outfitters stock is on track for its best single-day percentage gain since May 2023. The $46 level is keeping a lid on today's gains, but the security is still trading at its highest mark since July. Year over year, URBN is now up 30.5%.
The upbeat results boosted analyst sentiment, with no less than seven covering brokerages adjusting their target prices higher. Citigroup appears to be the most optimistic, moving up to $59 from $42. There's room for more price-target hikes too, as the average 12-month target price of $43.33 is a 3.8% discount to the equity's current perch.
There's room for upgrades too, considering nine of 11 analysts in coverage rate URBN a "hold" or worse, and a shift could provide further tailwinds. What's more, the 5.24 million shares sold short account for 8.5% of the equity's total available float.
Options traders are flooding Urban Outfitters stock's normally quiet options pits. So far, 2,986 puts and 2,828 calls have crossed the tape, which is 11 times the average intraday volume. New positions are opening at the most active, weekly 11/29 40-strike put.