Levi Strauss & Co. (NYSE:LEVI) Shares Gap Up on Earnings Beat

Shares of Levi Strauss & Co. (NYSE:LEVI) gapped up before the market opened on Wednesday after the company announced better than expected quarterly earnings. The stock had previously closed at $19.71, but opened at $22.65. Levi Strauss & Co. shares last traded at $21.8360, with a volume of 2,782,425 shares changing hands.

The blue-jean maker reported $0.42 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.37 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $1.74 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.65 billion. Levi Strauss & Co. had a net margin of 9.20% and a return on equity of 25.08%. Levi Strauss & Co.’s revenue for the quarter was up 14.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.38 EPS.

Levi Strauss & Co. Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 6th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 22nd will be issued a dividend of $0.14 per share. This represents a $0.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 22nd. Levi Strauss & Co.’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 38.36%.

Trending Headlines about Levi Strauss & Co.

Here are the key news stories impacting Levi Strauss & Co. this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Levi beat Q1 estimates on both revenue and EPS and raised full-year sales and profit guidance, driven by broad-based growth and strength in direct-to-consumer (DTC) channels — a primary catalyst for the stock rally. Business Wire: Q1 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts are bullish: BTIG reaffirmed a Buy and set a $27 target (~37.5% upside from $19.63) and Needham reaffirmed Buy with a $28 target (~42.6% upside), supporting upside expectations. Benzinga: BTIG & Needham Notes
• Positive Sentiment: Other sell‑side coverage echoed the bullish view (Bank of America, Needham coverage highlighted margin upside, DTC momentum and an undemanding valuation), reinforcing investor confidence. TipRanks: Analyst Notes
• Positive Sentiment: Levi declared a quarterly dividend (0.14 per share; ~2.9% yield annualized), which can attract income-minded investors and support the share price.
• Neutral Sentiment: Broader market tailwinds — U.S. futures rose after reports of a temporary de‑escalation in Iran — helped lift retail and cyclical names, providing a favorable backdrop for LEVI. Investopedia: Market Movers
• Neutral Sentiment: Product/innovation narratives (AI try‑on features) and category moves (Dockers sale discussion) are getting coverage — these are strategic positives but longer‑term and may not move near‑term price materially. Yahoo Finance: AI Try‑On
• Negative Sentiment: Levi announced the planned retirement of longtime Chief Financial & Growth Officer Harmit Singh; transition risk exists until a successor is named, which can introduce short-term uncertainty. Business Wire: CFGO Retirement
• Negative Sentiment: Macro and geopolitical risks (tariff impacts, gas prices, and broader consumer caution) remain a headwind; analysts note leverage to discretionary spending despite the strong quarter. Proactive: Preview & Macro Risks

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have commented on LEVI shares. Needham & Company LLC restated a “buy” rating and set a $28.00 target price on shares of Levi Strauss & Co. in a report on Wednesday. BTIG Research restated a “buy” rating and set a $27.00 target price on shares of Levi Strauss & Co. in a report on Wednesday. UBS Group reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Levi Strauss & Co. in a report on Thursday, March 12th. Telsey Advisory Group reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $27.00 price objective on shares of Levi Strauss & Co. in a report on Wednesday, April 1st. Finally, Raymond James Financial began coverage on shares of Levi Strauss & Co. in a report on Tuesday, December 23rd. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $26.00 price objective on the stock. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $26.69.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, SVP David Jedrzejek sold 7,093 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $21.38, for a total transaction of $151,648.34. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 98,193 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,099,366.34. The trade was a 6.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Jason Gowans sold 40,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.83, for a total transaction of $873,200.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 92,199 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,012,704.17. The trade was a 30.26% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 49,341 shares of company stock worth $1,068,909. 1.08% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Levi Strauss & Co.

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in LEVI. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC acquired a new position in Levi Strauss & Co. during the fourth quarter worth $26,000. US Bancorp DE boosted its position in Levi Strauss & Co. by 260.5% during the third quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 1,121 shares of the blue-jean maker’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 810 shares during the period. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. boosted its position in Levi Strauss & Co. by 140.7% during the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,425 shares of the blue-jean maker’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 833 shares during the period. Hara Capital LLC boosted its position in Levi Strauss & Co. by 8,080.0% during the second quarter. Hara Capital LLC now owns 2,045 shares of the blue-jean maker’s stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 2,020 shares during the period. Finally, Kestra Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in Levi Strauss & Co. during the fourth quarter worth $39,000. 69.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Levi Strauss & Co. Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 1.55 and a quick ratio of 0.94. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $20.06 and its 200 day simple moving average is $21.08. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.87, a PEG ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.34.

About Levi Strauss & Co.

Levi Strauss & Co is a global apparel company best known for its denim jeans and casual wear. Founded in 1853 in San Francisco by Bavarian immigrant Levi Strauss, the company pioneered the modern blue jean with the introduction of rivet-reinforced work pants. Over its more than 160-year history, Levi Strauss has evolved into a lifestyle brand, offering a broad portfolio that includes denim for men, women and children, as well as tops, outerwear, footwear and accessories.

The company’s flagship label, Levi’s®, is recognized worldwide for its iconic styles such as the 501® Original Fit Jeans, while additional brands, including Dockers®, Target core metric, and Denizen® by Levi’s, cater to diverse price points and consumer segments.