La-Z-Boy’s fourth quarter results were met with a significant negative market reaction, reflecting investor concerns despite the company’s revenue and non-GAAP profit exceeding Wall Street expectations. Management attributed the quarter’s performance to robust growth in its Retail segment, aided by new store openings and a major acquisition in the Southeast. CEO Melinda Whittington acknowledged ongoing challenges in consumer demand, highlighting shifting traffic patterns and volatile trends due to both macroeconomic headwinds and adverse weather late in the quarter. She emphasized that, while some areas like the Joybird brand underperformed, strong in-store execution and higher average tickets partially offset broader industry weakness.
WASHINGTON D.C. — In a weekend that has fundamentally reshaped the American economic landscape, President Trump has officially signed an executive proclamation raising global tariffs to a uniform 15%. This aggressive maneuver follows a Friday afternoon bombshell from the Supreme Court, which struck down the administration's previous "reciprocal" tariff framework.
A number of stocks fell in the afternoon session after the Trump administration's announcement of new global tariffs, reignited trade policy uncertainty. The move came swiftly after the Supreme Court ruled the previous week that the president could not use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) for such duties, a decision that had initially sent markets higher. However, the administration invoked a different authority, the Trade Act of 1974, to impose a 15% global tariff for up to 150 days. The rapid reimposition of trade barriers creates significant uncertainty for companies across multiple sectors that depend on international supply chains and global trade. Investors are now weighing the potential impact of these new duties on corporate earnings and broader economic activity.
Furniture company La-Z-Boy (NYSE:LZB) announced better-than-expected revenue in Q4 CY2025, with sales up 3.8% year on year to $541.6 million. On the other hand, next quarter’s revenue guidance of $570 million was less impressive, coming in 3.2% below analysts’ estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.61 per share was 2.8% above analysts’ consensus estimates.
Furniture company La-Z-Boy (NYSE:LZB) reported revenue ahead of Wall Street’s expectations in Q4 CY2025, with sales up 3.8% year on year to $541.6 million. On the other hand, next quarter’s revenue guidance of $570 million was less impressive, coming in 3.2% below analysts’ estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.61 per share was 2.8% above analysts’ consensus estimates.
Small-cap stocks can be incredibly lucrative investments because their lack of analyst coverage leads to frequent mispricings.
However, these businesses (and their stock prices) often stay small because their subscale operations make it harder to expand their competitive moats.
Consumer discretionary businesses are levered to the highs and lows of economic cycles. Thankfully for the industry, demand trends seem to be healthy as discretionary stocks have gained 11.6% over the past six months.
This performance has nearly mirrored the S&P 500.
Looking back on home furnishings stocks’ Q3 earnings, we examine this quarter’s best and worst performers, including Purple (NASDAQ:PRPL) and its peers.
The Russell 2000 (^RUT) is home to many small-cap stocks, offering investors the chance to uncover hidden gems before the broader market catches on.
However, these companies often come with higher volatility and risk, as their smaller size makes them more vulnerable to economic downturns.
The low valuation multiples for value stocks provide a margin of safety that growth stocks rarely offer.
However, the challenge lies in determining whether these cheap assets are genuinely undervalued or simply on sale due to their potentially deteriorating business models.
A company that generates cash isn’t automatically a winner.
Some businesses stockpile cash but fail to reinvest wisely, limiting their ability to expand.
As the Q3 earnings season wraps, let’s dig into this quarter’s best and worst performers in the home furnishings industry, including Somnigroup (NYSE:SGI) and its peers.
Many small-cap stocks have limited Wall Street coverage, giving savvy investors the chance to act before everyone else catches on.
But the flip side is that these businesses have increased downside risk because they lack the scale and staying power of their larger competitors.
La-Z-Boy currently trades at $39.49 per share and has shown little upside over the past six months, posting a middling return of 3.1%. The stock also fell short of the S&P 500’s 13.6% gain during that period.
Wall Street has issued downbeat forecasts for the stocks in this article.
These predictions are rare - financial institutions typically hesitate to say bad things about a company because it can jeopardize their other revenue-generating business lines like M&A advisory.
Even if a company is profitable, it doesn’t always mean it’s a great investment.
Some struggle to maintain growth, face looming threats, or fail to reinvest wisely, limiting their future potential.
As the craze of earnings season draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of the most exciting (and some less so) results from Q3. Today, we are looking at home furnishings stocks, starting with Leggett & Platt (NYSE:LEG).
La-Z-Boy’s third quarter results were well received by investors, with the market responding positively to a combination of strategic portfolio moves and disciplined cost management. Management attributed the steady performance to growth in its core North American upholstery business, operational improvements in its wholesale segment, and ongoing transformation of its distribution and home delivery network. CEO Melinda Whittington noted that new store openings and the acquisition of a 15-store network in the Southeast U.S. added momentum, while a focus on supply chain efficiency contributed to improved inventory management and cash flow.
A number of stocks jumped in the afternoon session after comments from a key Federal Reserve official bolstered hopes for an interest rate cut. New York Federal Reserve President John Williams stated he sees “room for a further adjustment” in the near term, sparking a significant market rally. Following his remarks, the probability of the central bank cutting rates at its December meeting jumped from 39% to over 73%, according to the CME FedWatch tool. This positive sentiment provided relief to markets amid concerns over high valuations, particularly in AI-related stocks.
After four straight down sessions, Wall Street finally caught a break. Fresh Fed minutes, a stronger dollar, softer oil prices, and - most importantly -Nvidia’s (NVDA | +5% after-hours) explosive earnings turned the mood. The AI trade isn’t dead… in fact, judging by Jensen Huang’s latest comments, it may only just be warming up.
