Key Points

• Revenue (GAAP) rose 1.9% year over year in the second quarter of 2025, but Net results swung from a profit to a loss due to a $6.8 million U.K. exit charge.

• Forged and Cast Engineered Products margins decreased as backlog dropped 9% from the previous quarter amid trade policy uncertainty.

• No forward guidance provided; Restructuring aims to improve annual operating income by at least $5 million following the U.K. facility exit.

• These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires ›

Ampco-Pittsburgh (NYSE:AP), a maker of engineered products for steel and process industries, released its earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2025 on August 12, 2025. The most important news in the release was the net loss (GAAP), which reversed from a profit in the prior year due to a one-time cost of exiting the U.K. cast roll operations. Revenue (GAAP) edged up to $113.1 million compared to $111.0 million in the prior year. In the absence of Wall Street analyst estimates, these actual results serve as the key benchmark for performance. Management reported that despite improvements in certain areas, ongoing challenges in global steel demand and trade policy volatility hurt the bottom line. Operating margins and profits declined, with restructuring costs weighing heavily on results.

Company Overview and Focus

Ampco-Pittsburgh (NYSE:AP) produces engineered industrial equipment, with its main business lines centered on forged and cast rolls, open die-forged products, and custom-engineered heat exchange coils. The company operates two segments: Forged and Cast Engineered Products (FCEP) and Air and Liquid Processing (ALP). FCEP supplies vital parts to steel mills and related industries worldwide. ALP specializes in products for energy, military, and pharmaceutical end markets.

Recently, the company has focused on operational efficiency programs and restructuring, including the planned exit from its U.K. cast roll business to combat persistent losses. Key success factors include demand for steel, adaptation to geopolitical developments affecting trade, maintaining strong customer relationships, and managing inflation and supply costs, especially in ALP’s markets.

Quarterly Highlights and Financial Developments

Total sales (GAAP) rose slightly, but margin trends moved in the opposite direction. The FCEP segment, which delivers rolls and engineered products for the steel and extrusion markets, saw its GAAP revenue inch higher to $77.9 million, but adjusted operating margin (non-GAAP) slipped from 12.96% in the prior year to 8.68%. Management explained that "Margins for the FCEP segment were adversely affected by higher manufacturing costs relative to base pricing and variable-index surcharges passed through to customers during the quarter, a weaker sales mix and lower manufacturing cost absorption."

Another major concern is the sequential 9% drop in FCEP backlog from March 31 to June 30, 2025, suggesting wavering demand as customers hesitate amid uncertainties over steel tariffs. As CEO Brett McBrayer described, Backlog in the Forged and Cast Engineered Products segment at June 30, 2025 declined 9% from March 31, 2025 as roll customers began a pause of orders to await less uncertainty surrounding tariffs. While the company points to recent E.U. trade deals as a step forward, the near-term impact on order flow is clear.

This quarter’s results were also marked by significant one-time costs. A $6.8 million charge related to severance, accelerated depreciation, and associated costs of closing the U.K. cast roll operation drove overall results negative for the period. Management estimates operating income will improve by at least $5 million per year following the U.K. exit. The company also booked a $0.7 million benefit from employee retention tax credits.

While the ALP segment’s sales remained essentially flat at $35.2 million, the segment’s adjusted margin improved to 11.16% (non-GAAP) as better product mix helped shore up earnings. This demonstrates ALP’s resilience, even as broader market signals remain uncertain for the company’s larger FCEP segment. Notably, inflation and supply chain pressures in ALP are being partly managed through selective price increases.

Looking Ahead and Management Commentary

No explicit financial guidance or outlook was given for the remainder of fiscal 2025. However, management stated that following the U.K. cast roll facility exit, it expects annual operating income will improve by at least $5 million. The release further noted that With less uncertainty on trade policy now with the recent E.U. deal, we expect an improved environment in 2026 after our U.K. exit.”

Investors will likely keep a close eye on order trends in the FCEP segment, upcoming cost savings from restructuring, and the company’s ability to manage cost inflation and supply constraints in ALP. The effect of trade policy changes and customer order patterns will be critical to watch in upcoming quarters, as will any updates on margin or backlog recovery.

Revenue and net income presented using U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) unless otherwise noted.

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JesterAI is a Foolish AI, based on a variety of Large Language Models (LLMs) and proprietary Motley Fool systems. All articles published by JesterAI are reviewed by our editorial team, and The Motley Fool takes ultimate responsibility for the content of this article. JesterAI cannot own stocks and so it has no positions in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

• It's easy to make mistakes when you're trying to make your home look high-end.
• Luxury interior designer Bilal Rehman said small furniture and cluttered spaces can look cheap.
• Rehman also advised against sacrificing aesthetics for comfort when decorating a luxury space.

If I've learned anything from watching Architectural Digest home tours, it's that everyone wants a luxury home.

Figuring out how to create that high-end feel is easier said than done, though, particularly if you're working with a tight budget or small space. Some people inadvertently make their spaces look second-rate when they aim for a luxury look.

Bilal Rehman, a luxury interior designer, told Business Insider about the most common ways he sees people make their homes look cheap — and how to avoid the mistakes in your own home. 

Luxury interior designer Bilal Rehman has gone viral for his decor takes.

Rehman owns Bilal Rehman Studio, a luxury design studio based in Houston, Texas.

Rehman designs for people of all incomes, but he got his start in luxury decor, specializing in high-end spaces.

"I have an appreciation for the world of luxury because of the attention to detail and the craftsmanship," he told BI of why he likes to work in luxury homes. 

Rehman turned his expertise into a viral sensation with his TikTok account, where he shares his home decor advice and has amassed millions of views on his videos. 

He spoke to BI about one of the most popular topics on his TikTok, sharing ways people miss opportunities to make their spaces look luxurious in almost every room of their homes.

Buying furniture that's the wrong size for your space quickly makes it look cheap, Rehman said.

"I think the No. 1 thing that they do is that they don't use the proper scale of furniture or accessories or rugs in their space," Rehman said when asked how people most often make their homes look cheap.

If you don't have much floor space, it might be your instinct to fill your home with small pieces, but Rehman said that may actually make your space look less put together.

"People think that just because you're in an apartment, you have to buy small-scale furniture, and that's not true," he said. "Go buy the big couch, buy the big rug, buy the coffee table that's oversized because what people don't realize is that scale makes your space feel bigger."

Rehman said your space will look more luxurious if you fill it with a handful of statement pieces rather than too many small pieces.

"There's a fine art of not cramming your space with too much stuff and underdoing it to where all the furniture feels like it's miniature," Rehman said. 

Kitchens can look cheap when they aren't cohesive.

Rehman said kitchens often look "cluttered" and cheap when you fill your cabinets with flatware, dinnerware, and glassware that don't match, particularly if you have open cabinetry.

"It doesn't look cohesive or expensive. It starts to look like you went and dug through a bargain bin to find all these pieces, but for the same price, you could buy a really beautiful matching set of mugs or plates or appliances to elevate your space," Rehman said. 

He also advised people to think about aesthetics as well as function for any item that will live on their countertops, pointing to Smeg toasters as an example.

"There are cheaper alternatives, of course, but Smeg is a great player in the game of taking something utilitarian and making it artistic," he added. "I have a chrome Smeg toaster on my countertop and I love it. It's just so pretty to look at, and it's taking something so basic and making it elevated."

A cluttered bathroom can look really low-end.

It can be natural to fill your bathroom counters with products, but Rehman told BI that not having more sophisticated storage can make your space feel cheap. 

"Do not have all your products on the countertop," Rehman said. "Especially if you're dealing with a smaller bathroom, that empty visual space is your friend that makes your bathroom feel high-end."

He said to prioritize putting out items you use daily, and find other storage solutions for things you use less often.

"It makes it feel bigger. It makes it feel cleaner. And honestly, when everything is organized, it's so much easier to get ready in the morning and get ready at nighttime when you know where everything is," Rehman said. "When you're dealing with a bathroom, really be intentional on what's out and what's hidden and put away."

And if you don't have much storage space, remember to invest in functional items with aesthetic appeal, like coordinating soap-bottle sets or a nice toothbrush holder.

Rehman also thinks traditional bath mats don't create a luxurious look.

Rehman said thinking strategically about your choice of bath mat can make a huge difference in your home, particularly if you have limited space in your bathroom. 

"Don't buy a whole bunch of different bath mats, like the small bath mats meant to go in front of the toilet or the shower or the sink," Rehman advised. "Instead, try to get a large-scale rug or a large-scale runner that creates this unified piece in your bathroom and makes it feel clean and simple."

If you're hesitant about putting a real rug in your bathroom, Rehman said to remember that there are plenty of water-friendly rugs on the market.

"Just get a cool rug from Ruggable and throw it in your washing machine every couple of weeks," he added. "That looks so much better in the end than all these mismatched mats that are moving all over the place."

Rehman thinks matching bedroom sets can look cheap.

Matching bedroom sets might seem like the easiest solution to making your room look cohesive, but Rehman said it's rare for the set to look as good in your home as it does in the store.

"It looks so good when you walk into a store, and everything matches because they set it up in a certain way, but the second you take it home and you put it in your bedroom, it literally just looks like you went to a big-box store, picked up that room, and dropped it into your house," Rehman said.

"It has no personality, it doesn't look collected, it doesn't look designer, it doesn't feel high-end at all," he said. "Instead of doing that, the same money that you're spending on that, spend it on mismatched pieces that are cohesive."

Rehman said it's a better idea to find pieces that complement each other, as this will make the space look more intentional.

It's also a big mistake to forget to decorate the exterior of your home, according to Rehman.

Rehman advised people to approach decorating the outside of their homes just as they do their interiors.

"Don't be afraid to accessorize your outdoor space," he said, pointing to items like rugs and layered looks. "Put art on your brick on the outside of your house."

"You're going to walk outside, and there's going to be a seamless flow from the inside to the out," Rehman said. "It just makes your space feel so much grander and so much more put together."

He said investing in pieces that complement the natural colors of your environment can help make the space feel even more cohesive and chic.

And most importantly, remember that comfort and aesthetics can go hand in hand.

Of course, the furniture you choose for your home, especially pieces like couches and beds, should be comfortable, but Rehman said it's just as important to prioritize its appearance.

"When people are going to buy furniture, they focus so heavily on the comfort and they don't focus on the style," he said. "They end up buying this big, bubbly couch that has lots of padding, and it has a built-in cupholder and USB chargers. That's great for maybe a movie room, but in your main living room, where you're entertaining, you want to feel sexy, and you want to have people over, and you want to create different moods."

Rehman said there are so many affordable, comfortable pieces with aesthetic appeal that he doesn't understand why people wouldn't pick prettier pieces whenever possible.

"In today's market, there's been so much innovation with the world of design and furniture that finding things that are stylish and comfortable is so much easier than it was five years ago," he said. "Just take that little extra step and go find things that are the best of both worlds."

Key Points

• Earnings per share (GAAP) rose 32.9% to $1.13 compared to Q2 2024, driven by higher net income and improved margins.

• Tax-equivalent net interest margin (non-GAAP) expanded by 0.44 percentage points to 3.59%.

• The quarterly dividend increased 7.4% to $0.29 per share compared to Q2 2024.

• These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires ›

First Capital (NASDAQ:FCAP), a community bank with a sizable presence in southern Indiana and Kentucky, reported its second quarter 2025 earnings on July 25, 2025. The release detailed robust growth in profitability, including a 32.9% year-over-year jump in GAAP earnings per share to $1.13 and a 16.2% increase in revenue to $12.4 million (GAAP) compared to Q2 2024. While there were no consensus analyst estimates available for direct comparison, the quarter showed advances in both asset yields and deposit management, despite noninterest expense growth and flat noninterest income. Overall, the quarter points to solid profitability, increased efficiency, and a reinforced capital base.

Company Overview and Business Focus

First Capital is a regional community bank that operates 17 locations across Indiana and Kentucky. Its operations focus on offering personal, residential, and commercial banking services in the areas it serves. With a leading deposit market share in Harrison and Bullitt counties, the bank supports both consumer and business customers, emphasizing local relationships and steady growth.

In recent years, the company's strategy has shifted from traditional thrift banking to a broader commercial focus. This means larger exposure to business and commercial real estate lending, where yields can be higher but risk management becomes more important. The main success drivers for the bank are strong deposit funding, disciplined lending standards, and compliance with regulatory requirements to protect against sector and credit risks.

Quarter Highlights and Financial Review

The quarter saw notable profitability gains. Net income (GAAP) grew 35.7% to $3.8 million. The company's return on average assets (a measure of how efficiently company assets generate profits) rose to 1.24% for the three months ended June 30, 2025, and return on average equity (profitability relative to shareholder investment) increased to 12.6%. These improved returns reflect the company’s ability to both grow and manage its loan and deposit books.

This came from higher interest earned on loans and securities, as well as taming the costs of deposits and other funding. The company's net interest margin (non-GAAP, tax-equivalent basis) -- the difference between income earned from loans and investments versus interest paid on deposits and borrowings, as a percentage of average earning assets -- expanded to 3.59%, up from 3.15% for Q2 2024. This expansion signals the bank's success in both increasing asset yields and holding down liability costs. The average yield on earning assets rose to 4.82% for the three months ended June 30, 2025, while average funding costs actually declined slightly to 1.64%.

Noninterest income, which covers fees and other revenue streams outside of lending, stayed nearly flat, moving down by just $5,000 (GAAP). While headline results held steady, there were offsetting swings inside the line: securities-related losses were higher, and income from gains on loan sales and bank-owned life insurance both softened. The standout item, a $46,000 gain from a one-time policy redemption, highlights fluctuations that may not recur in future quarters.

Total noninterest expense (GAAP), which includes salaries, facilities, technology, and marketing, rose to $7.5 million. Key areas driving this increase in noninterest expenses included staff compensation and benefits (up $308,000), upgrades to call center and ATM infrastructure, advertising, and technology licensing. While these costs suggest a commitment to improving operations and digital access for customers, they also contributed to higher overall expenses for the quarter.

Credit quality remains a focus, as shown by a decrease in provisions for credit losses and a modest uptick in net charge-offs for the quarter ended June 30, 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Nonperforming assets (consisting of nonaccrual loans, accruing loans 90 days or more past due, and foreclosed real estate) fell to $4.0 million as of June 30, 2025, down from $4.5 million at December 31, 2024. The allowance for credit losses rose to 1.48% of gross loans as of June 30, 2025, showing continued caution, especially given commercial real estate loans make up 28.9% of the portfolio as of December 31, 2024. The bank’s regulatory leverage ratio stands at 10.8% as of June 30, 2025, signaling strong capital adequacy and positioning the company well above minimum required thresholds.

From a funding perspective, total deposits climbed to $1.11 billion as of June 30, 2025, supporting the bank’s ability to fund loans and invest in operations. Cash and equivalents jumped to $134.6 million at June 30, 2025, up sharply from $105.9 million at December 31, 2024, further bolstering liquidity.

For dividend investors, the quarterly dividend was raised 7.4% to $0.29 per share compared to Q2 2024, continuing a trend of annual increases.

Outlook and What to Watch Ahead

Management did not provide quantitative forward guidance for the next quarter or for fiscal 2025. There was no specific forecast for revenue, earnings, or credit metrics, with leadership pointing instead to ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty shaping their approach to credit risk and provisioning levels.

Looking ahead, investors may want to monitor trends in loan growth, especially within commercial real estate lending. Further developments in noninterest income, which remains susceptible to market volatility and nonrecurring items, are also important. The company's strong capital position and deposit base provide reassurance, but sector risks from commercial lending and credit costs will continue to be critical topics in future quarters.

Revenue and net income presented using U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) unless otherwise noted.

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• Sundresses are a summer closet staple, so I tried on options at Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy.
• The Gap dress was too thin, and the Banana Republic option was a little out of my price range.
• Even though it was the least expensive, the Old Navy piece was my favorite.

Summer is in full swing, which means it's time for floral prints, bold colors, and short hemlines.

It's the perfect season to refresh your wardrobe with light, breezy styles, and in my opinion, there's no closet staple more practical or comfortable than a good sundress.

As someone who loves all things feminine and frilly, sundresses are a personal favorite. To find a new go-to for the season, I headed to three retailers that never miss when it comes to wearable fashion — Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy.

Here's how my search for the perfect sundress went.

Old Navy was my first stop.

I love Old Navy's trendy and accessible styles, so I was excited to spot the puff-sleeve linen-blend mini dress while browsing.

Although the dress comes in a few different colors and patterns, I chose the white option with a light-blue floral design.

The dress had a few quirks, but it was comfortable and flattering.

This dress looked nice on the rack, but I was even more pleased once I tried it on.

The silhouette of the dress fell nicely along my curves, which I found flattering. I also liked the structured square neckline, side pockets, and the buttons down the front.

However, I noticed that the thread on a couple of buttons was fraying slightly, which made me question whether it would hold up beyond the summer.

The material was comfortable and lightweight, made from a blend of 55% linen and 45% viscose rayon. That said, the fabric was a bit sheer, and I could see the outline of the pockets through the dress. So, I'd be a little concerned about it becoming see-through in direct sunlight.

Overall, though, I loved the dress and would wear it for multiple summer occasions. I would happily pay the $45 price, as it's a perfect style for weekend barbecues, brunches, and garden parties.

My next stop was Banana Republic, which offers more elevated pieces.

Considering Banana Republic's upscale aesthetic, I knew I could count on the brand for stylish resort wear finds.

I was immediately drawn to the linen-blend seamed bodice mini dress on the rack, thanks to its beautiful yellow hue and flattering A-line silhouette.

The dress was nice, but it was a little more than I was hoping to spend.

The color and pattern of the dress were bold yet elegant, and the deep-V-neckline added an eye-catching touch. The Banana Republic option was made from almost the same blend as the Old Navy dress — 55% linen and 45% rayon.

Overall, the design was lightweight and flattering, and I loved the subtle cinch at the waist and the pleating across the midsection.

However, my one gripe with this dress was the $120 price tag. Although it was nicely made and well-constructed, I wouldn't pay triple digits for it.

Lastly, I popped into Gap to try one more option.

Gap has pleasantly surprised me over the past few years with its versatile selection of basics and fashion-forward clothing.

Upon walking in, the flutter-sleeve tie-waist mini dress immediately grabbed my attention. The material seemed thinner than the others, but that's not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to staying cool in the peak of summer.

This option was flattering, but the fabric felt a bit flimsy.

I was pleasantly surprised by how this dress looked on me. I especially appreciated the adjustable waist tie, and I loved the V-neckline and flowy sleeves paired with the pleated hemline on the skirt.

It looked romantic yet modest, which would be appropriate for a range of summer events like family gatherings or bridal showers.

However, the delicate fabric, which turned out to be 100% rayon, seemed like it might easily rip or get damaged in the wash.

The Gap dress cost $55. It wasn't terribly overpriced, but I don't think the cost was fully justified considering the fabric composition.

The Old Navy dress turned out to be my favorite.

I'd wear every option I tried on, but the Old Navy sundress turned out to be my favorite for its overall design, fit, and comfort.

It was the most affordable, yet also super flattering, and I could easily see myself wearing it for multiple occasions.

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• Some iconic rom-coms have shocking real-life age gaps between love interests.
• Iconic duos like Julia Roberts and Richard Gere and Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling aren't close in age.
• Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence are over 15 years apart and have played love interests.

You may not realize that a movie set in New York was actually filmed in Canada or that your favorite leading lady has a different hair color in real life.

And on-screen couples you thought were just a few months or years apart might have a bigger real-life age gap than you thought.

Here are some of the most surprising real-life age differences between love interests in popular romantic comedies.

"Silver Linings Playbook" love interests Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence are over 15 years apart.

In the film, Cooper plays a divorcé who falls for a widow, played by Lawrence.

It's unclear exactly how old the characters are supposed to be, but at the time of the premiere, Cooper was 37 and Lawrence was 22.

Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, who famously starred in "When Harry Met Sally," are 14 years apart.

Although the characters are meant to be the same age as the film moves through 12 years of their lives, Crystal and Ryan are over a decade apart. 

The Nora Ephron classic first hit theaters in 1989, when Crystal was 41 and Ryan was 27.

Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, who starred in rom-coms like "Pretty Woman," are 18 years apart.

When the film premiered, Gere was 40 and Roberts was 22.

The two also starred opposite each other in "Runaway Bride" in 1999 when Gere was 49 and Roberts was 31.

Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck were 13 years apart when they starred in "Roman Holiday."

The cult-classic romantic comedy "Roman Holiday" starred Hepburn and Peck as love interests.

Hepburn was 24 and Peck was 37 when the film came out.

"While You Were Sleeping" stars Bill Pullman and Sandra Bullock are over 10 years apart.

In the 1995 film, Bullock played Lucy and Pullman was Jack. At the time of the premiere, Bullock was 30 (almost 31) and Pullman was 41.

Cameron Diaz and Dermot Mulroney, who are engaged in "My Best Friend's Wedding," are nine years apart.

In the film, the two play love interests in their late 20s. But when the film premiered in the summer of 1997, Mulroney was 33 and Diaz was 24.

Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson are over nine years apart, and they starred opposite each other in "How to Lose a Guy in 10 days."

When the 2003 film premiered, Hudson was 23 turning 24 and McConaughey had recently turned 33.

Frequent love interests Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler are eight years apart.

Barrymore and Sandler have starred as love interests in a few films.

When their first movie together, "The Wedding Singer," premiered in 1998, Sandler was 31 and Barrymore was a week from turning 23.

They later worked together on "50 First Dates" in 2004 and "Blended" in 2014. 

Diane Keaton and Woody Allen, who played love interests in "Annie Hall," have a 10-year age difference.

When Keaton played the titular role of Annie Hall, she was much younger than her love interest, played by controversial filmmaker and actor Allen.

The film premiered in April 1977 when Allen was 41 and Keaton was 31.

Repeat movie love interests Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone have an eight-year age difference.

When Stone and Gosling first appeared together in "Crazy, Stupid, Love" in 2011, she was 22 and he was 30.

They went on to reunite for "La La Land" in 2016. 

Renée Zellweger is eight years younger than both of her love interests in "Bridget Jones's Diary."

Zellweger isn't that close in age to either of her love interests from "Bridget Jones's Diary."

Funnily enough, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth were born a day apart (Grant is older), and they were both a little over 40 when the film premiered in 2001.

Zellweger was about a week away from turning 32 at the time. 

Patrick Dempsey and Amy Adams, who starred in "Enchanted," are also more than eight years apart in age.

The musical romantic comedy featured Adams and Dempsey as unlikely love interests.

When the movie premiered in 2007, Dempsey was almost 42 and Adams was 33.

This story was most recently updated on July 10, 2025.

Trump's new proposal includes tax cuts, student loan reforms, and stricter rules for Medicaid and SNAP. Here's what the four biggest changes could mean for you.

AT&T is rolling out a protection that prevents unauthorized changes to mobile accounts as the carrier attempts to fight a costly form of account hijacking that occurs when a scammer swaps out the SIM card belonging to the account holder.

The technique, known as SIM swapping or port-out fraud, has been a scourge that has vexed wireless carriers and their millions of subscribers for years. An indictment filed last year by federal prosecutors alleged that a single SIM swap scheme netted $400 million in cryptocurrency. The stolen funds belonged to dozens of victims who had used their phones for two-factor authentication to cryptocurrency wallets.

Wireless Account Lock debut

A separate scam from 2022 gave unauthorized access to a T-Mobile management platform that subscription resellers, known as mobile virtual network operators, use to provision services to their customers. The threat actor gained access using a SIM swap of a T-Mobile employee, a phishing attack on another T-Mobile employee, and at least one compromise of an unknown origin.

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Medical organizations are blasting the Senate's budget bill in the wake of its narrow passage Tuesday, warning of the dystopian health care system that will arise from the $1.1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and other federal health programs if it is passed into law. The bill has moved back to the House for a vote on the Senate's changes.

Over the weekend, an analysis from the Congressional Budget Office estimated that 11.8 million people would lose their health insurance over the next decade due to the cuts to Medicaid and other programs. Those cuts, which are deeper than the House's version of the bill, were maintained in the Senate's final version of the bill after amendments, with few concessions.

Organizations representing physicians, pediatricians, medical schools, and hospitals were quick to highlight the damage the proposal could cause.

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Key Points

• The company benefited from a pre-market open price target raise.

• That didn't exactly make the analyst behind it an Advance bull, however.

Investors were assertively stepping on the gas pedal with Advance Auto Parts (NYSE: AAP) on Thursday. The stock closed more than 5% higher as of the 1 p.m. ET early market close for the Fourth of July holiday, a figure that was well higher than the S&P 500's (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) 0.8% increase. An analyst price target raise had much to do with Advance's advance.

A 16% price target hike

Well before market open that day, Mizuho prognosticator David Bellinger upped his fair-value assessment of Advance's stock. His new level is $44 per share, up notably from the preceding $38. Despite the fairly generous bump, Bellinger maintained his neutral recommendation on the auto parts retailer.

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Image source: Getty Images.

The analyst's modification was due largely to the company's first-quarter performance, according to reports. On the back of Advance delivering headline fundamentals that were significantly better than the consensus pundit estimates, Bellinger raised his own for full-year 2025 and 2026.

For the former period, he now feels that the company will earn $2.34 per share on the bottom line, where previously he had been modeling $2.18. As for 2026, he upped his profitability estimate to $4.00 from $3.75.

Should investors get on board?

Bellinger also devoted some words in his new Advance note to intimating why he left his neutral recommendation unchanged. He thinks that the company will continue to have challenges implementing its current turnaround plan. Many retailers, in his estimation, are facing similar difficulties.

While there was something to admire in Advance's first-quarter earnings beat, I'd agree with the Mizuho analyst that retail is a tough game these days. I also don't believe we'll see sudden spikes in car sales, a dynamic that tends to inject some turbo into the performance of parts retailers like Advance. Therefore, I wouldn't jump in to this particular ride just now.

Should you invest $1,000 in Advance Auto Parts right now?

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Eric Volkman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Shares in auto parts retailer Advance Auto Parts (NYSE: AAP) were lower by more than 8% as of 11 a.m. today. The move came after Goldman Sachs downgraded the stock from neutral to a sell, amid concerns that it was losing market share to competitors. In addition, the Goldman Sachs analyst believes the current valuation relies on a margin recovery, which might not occur in the current environment.

Slow going for Advance Auto Parts

It's hard enough for a Wall Street analyst to refrain from issuing a buy recommendation, so when a heavyweight like Goldman Sachs issues a sell rating, it has a significant impact.

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The analyst's channel checks suggest that Advance Auto may be losing market share and experiencing margin pressure, a more significant concern than the company's current valuation. After all, if management can turn around the company's lackluster performance, then the earnings recovery can be dramatic.

Still, this is a company that's been in turnaround mode for over a decade, so a certain amount of skepticism is warranted. It's also a complicated trading environment. While management completed its store optimization program in March, it's still closing distribution centers, with a target to close 12 this year and end the year with 16, followed by the closure of another four next year.

Given the importance of logistics and ensuring in-store parts availability in this industry, it wouldn't be surprising if the company encounters some headwinds.

Image source: Getty Images.

Where next for Advance Auto Parts?

The only way the company can silence the doubters is by delivering on its guidance in 2025. If you believe the company is finally in turnaround mode, then today is a buying opportunity. However, cautious investors will look for at least a few quarters of evidence before drawing any conclusions worth acting on.

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Lee Samaha has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Goldman Sachs Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Lululemon (NASDAQ: LULU) shares dropped roughly 20% in value last week after the company delivered an earnings report that included less enthusiastic earnings expectations for the year. While its revenues are still expected to be relatively in line with previous guidance, the added costs that tariffs will impose led management to dial back earnings estimates, causing the market to hit the stock pretty hard.

To be fair, Lululemon has historically been a fairly expensive stock, and companies need to produce solid results if they want to sustain higher valuations.

Lower guidance

Arguably the biggest factor impacting Lululemon shares right now is the guidance cut. Yes, the apparel retailer beat estimates for the first quarter, but management nonetheless reduced earnings per share (EPS) expectations for the year to a range of $14.58 to $14.78 compared to previous guidance of $14.95 to $15.15.

As with most things these days, the weaker outlook is largely due to President Donald Trump's tariffs. Clothing companies like Lululemon largely hire overseas subcontractors to do the manufacturing of their clothes, which puts them in the crosshairs of Trump's policies. When I wrote about Lululemon in April, I noted that the tariffs Trump was imposing on Vietnam would impact 40% of Lululemon's production. Though those new taxes are currently paused, the president set the tariff rate on imports from that country at 46%.

Image Source: Getty Images

Despite a 7% increase in revenue, Lululemon's earnings fell year over year in its fiscal 2025 first quarter. For the period, which ended May 4, net income was $314 million compared to $321 million a year earlier; a lower overall share count was responsible for its EPS growth. According to CNBC, comp sales increased a mere 1% compared to Wall Street's expectations for a 3% increase.

From what I can see, Lululemon has two main problems. Its costs of production will rise due to tariffs while the premium prices it charges for its goods could be putting a damper on its sales, especially in the United States, where recent Commerce Department reports have shown weak consumer spending growth.

Valuation

One positive that can be pointed out for the stock is its now-lower valuation. According to fullratio.com, Lululemon has historically averaged a P/E ratio of around 42. After the stock's latest pullback, investors can pick up shares for a mere 17 times earnings. Based on the low end of the company's new guidance for 2025, the stock is trading at roughly 18 times forward earnings. But are these valuations low enough to make the stock a buy?

Previously, my stance was that the market conditions Lululemon faces make it a stock to avoid for the time being. That's still my view. CFO Meghan Frank said that the company plans to make some "strategic" price increases on certain items to pass their tariff costs along to their customers. However, I don't see how the company can keep raising prices on what are already $100 leggings. Granted, Lululemon has really branched out into different categories, even offering golf-oriented apparel, but I still think that any price increases will be a problem at a time when U.S. consumers are tightening their belts. The combination of high tariffs and reduced consumer discretionary spending is going to pressure apparel brands like Lululemon and Nike (NYSE: NKE). Until those headwinds abate, there isn't going to be much momentum here.

As a final note, I would also add that Lululemon operates in a highly competitive area of the apparel industry. It's constantly vying for market share and consumer attention with the likes of Nike, Gap (NYSE: GAP), and others. In the end, prices do matter in that fight.

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David Butler has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Lululemon Athletica Inc. and Nike. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.