Urban Outfitters Remains Citi's Sole Buy-Rated Stock Heading Into Specialty Apparel Earnings - Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF), American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO)

Citi's Paul Lejuez offered a quick preview into the Specialty Apparel first-quarter earnings season Thursday morning. The analyst lowered estimates on estimates for the sector across the board. "...while we believe that 1Q likely started strong for most,

Macy's, Inc.M

and

Gap IncGPS

confirmed our belief that trends weakened mid quarter. Our concern is that Feb and early March were the exception (the easy-to-hit-fastball over the plate benefiting from favorable weather and easier comparisons), rather than the rule. Specialty retailers have not been good curveball hitters of late..." Lejuez noted. Heading into results over the next two weeks,

Urban Outfitters, Inc.URBN

remains the analyst's sole Buy rating. The remainder sit at Neutral.

Urban Outfitters - expected to report May 18.
American Eagle Outfitters AEO - expected to report May 18.
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. ANF - expected to report May 26
Chico's FAS, Inc. CHS - expected to report May 26
Ascena Retail Group Inc ASNA - has not yet confirmed a definitive earnings date. The Benzinga Pro calendar predicts the company will report results on May 31.

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