Apparel & Beauty

Ulta (ULTA) drives Q2 2025 growth with new stores and a clear pivot away from Target. Discover how the brand's core business and customer base are set to fuel its next chapter.

Summary: Gap Inc. showed real progress in Q2 2025, with overall visits up 3.6% year over year. Old Navy drove the gains with a 4.8% boost, while Gap posted positive traffic despite a smaller store base. A strong spring surge, partly fueled by tariff pull-forward, gave way to softer summer visits. Meanwhile, the return of middle-income shoppers signals that revitalization efforts are resonating. 

Discover how three major players in the sports and activewear space – DICK’s, lululemon, and Academy Sports – are navigating current economic headwinds through strategic adaptation.

Q2 2025 data shows how a bifurcated retail landscape is impacting mid-market retailers, as traffic to the Kohl's and Macy's banners fell while visits to Macy's luxury brands remained resilient.

Off-price apparel chains Burlington, Ross, and Citi Trends are thriving. Overall visits and same-store visits grew, driven by value-conscious shoppers. Customer loyalty is also up, particularly for Ross. This success is fueled by a treasure-hunt model that resonates with consumers.

TJX saw strong Q2 2025 performance, exceeding company guidance. HomeGoods led same-store visit growth, while the newest brands, Sierra and Homesense, drove overall traffic increases. The company is also successfully penetrating rural and semi-rural markets, creating a path for continued domestic growth.

The first half of 2025 shows a bifurcated retail market. While foot traffic is up for experiences and value brands, it lags for discretionary items. This is driving leasing momentum in prime locations, even as overall retail sales are propped up by high-income households.

Kohl's has emerged as an unlikely meme stock. Is there anything lying beyond the internet buzz? We took a look at the company's foot traffic to find out.