Ralph Lauren hikes annual sales forecast on strong demand for high-end apparel

(Reuters) -Ralph Lauren raised its annual sales forecast after topping quarterly revenue estimates on Thursday, on steady demand for its cable-knit sweaters and Oxford shirts in North America, Europe and China, sending shares of the company 6% up in premarket trading.

Wealthy customers continue to splurge on high-end leather handbags and Polo sweat-shirts, boosting demand across Ralph’s direct-to-customer channels and helping it counter a muted wholesale business and soft e-commerce sales in North America.

The results are in contrast to a pullback in the broader luxury sector, primarily in the key China market, which has hurt larger European fashion houses such as Hugo Boss (ETR:BOSSn), Kering (EPA:PRTP) and luxury bellwether LVMH.

The Club Monaco owner now expects fiscal year 2025 revenue to increase about 3% to 4% compared with a prior forecast of a 2% to 3% rise.

The luxury retailer’s net revenue rose 6% to $1.73 billion in the second quarter ended Sept. 28 from a year earlier. Analysts on average had expected revenue of $1.68 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.