The bottom line for Levi’s (LEVI) has gotten some love from a culturally relevant, must-watch new miniseries.
“Another great example of the organic strength of our core is the 25% increase in our iconic 517s, which were famously worn by Carolyn Bessette and prominently featured in the popular show ‘Love Story,'” Levi’s CEO Michelle Gass said on a late Tuesday earnings call.
“Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette” hit FX and Hulu on Feb. 12 (Levi’s quarter ended March 1). It’s a nine-episode limited series that dramatizes the whirlwind courtship and high-profile marriage of the iconic 1990s power couple.
Bessette, in particular, was viewed at the time as a style icon — something this generation was reminded of in the series. She famously wore 517 Levi’s bootcut jeans out and about in New York City. The style — worn in the series — is still sold at Levi’s and is now available in a women’s cut.
The price? A reasonable $110.
The 517 jeans performance was a key component in Levi’s better-than-expected quarter.
Levi’s sales climbed 14.1% year over year to $1.74 billion, driven by broad-based organic growth across all geographic regions and a significant 16% surge in direct-to-consumer sales.
The company’s performance was bolstered by a 23% increase in its Beyond Yoga brand and a resurgence in core denim categories, with women’s apparel up by 13%.
Gross profit margins dipped slightly to 61.9% due to the impact of the Trump administration’s tariffs. But Levi’s successfully offset much of this pressure through strategic price increases and reduced promotional activity.
It lifted its full fiscal year earnings per share guidance to a range of $1.42 to $1.48, compared to the prior estimate of $1.40 to $1.46.
“Category leadership and favorable denim trends support the thematic case for outperformance. Levi’s brand position as the #1 market share holder with clear opportunity to further expand the audience, regional penetration, and channel representation,” Stifel analyst Peter McGoldrick wrote in a note.
Shares rose about 12% in premarket trading on Wednesday.
Brian Sozzi is Yahoo Finance’s Executive Editor and a member of Yahoo Finance’s editorial leadership team. Follow Sozzi on X @BrianSozzi, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Tips on stories? Email brian.sozzi@yahoofinance.com.
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