The most talked about and market moving research calls around Wall Street are now in one place. Here are today's research calls that investors need to know, as compiled by The Fly.Top 5 Upgrades: Baird upgraded Henry Schein (HSIC) to Outperform from Neutral with a price target of $100, up from $78. The firm believes the bias across its dental names remains to the upside.UBS upgraded BlackRock (BLK) to Buy from Neutral with a $1,280 price target. The upgrade is supported by strong Q4 results, positive comme ...

Core Viewpoint - V.F. Corporation (NYSE:VFC) is currently viewed as a luxury stock with mixed ratings from analysts, reflecting concerns about its long-term growth potential and execution risks. Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - JPMorgan raised the price target for V.F. Corporation to $19 from $17 while maintaining a Neutral rating [1] - Williams Trading reaffirmed a Sell rating with a price target of $14, citing concerns over the company's long-term targets and execution risks [2] - Piper Sandler adjusted the price target to $18 from $14 while also maintaining a Neutral rating after an investor meeting with management [3] Group 2: Company Performance and Brand Analysis - V.F. Corporation operates various brands including The North Face, Vans, JanSport, Timberland, and Kipling [4] - The company faces ongoing weakness at Vans, with performance impacted by weak trends in company-owned stores and reliance on promotions, indicating limited brand health [3] - The North Face's recent outperformance is seen as heavily weather-driven and not sustainable as a long-term growth engine [2]

Core Insights - Segall Bryant & Hamill sold 654,898 shares of V.F. Corporation for an estimated $10.61 million, reflecting a strategic reduction in their stake during the fourth quarter [2][10] - The fund's remaining stake in V.F. Corporation is valued at $77.44 million, down $6.18 million from the previous quarter, influenced by price movements [2] - V.F. Corporation's stock price as of February 13, 2026, is $20.30, which has decreased by 18.7% over the past year, underperforming the S&P 500 by 30.5 percentage points [3] Company Overview - V.F. Corporation reported a total revenue of $9.59 billion and a net income of $223.94 million for the trailing twelve months [4] - The company offers a dividend yield of 1.77% and operates a diversified business model that includes wholesale distribution and direct-to-consumer sales [4][6] - V.F. Corporation is recognized for its iconic brands such as The North Face, Vans, Timberland, and Supreme, targeting a global customer base across various demographics [9] Market Context - The recent sale of shares by Segall Bryant & Hamill comes after V.F. Corporation's stock experienced a significant recovery, rising approximately 112% since hitting a multi-year low in April 2025 [11] - The current stake in V.F. Corporation now represents 1.05% of Segall Bryant & Hamill's reported U.S. equity assets, indicating a strategic shift in their investment portfolio [3]

Group 1 - The core focus of VF Corporation's recent activities is on the progress of its "Reinvent" brand restructuring plan and expansion in the Chinese market, with significant actions taken to revitalize The North Face brand and upgrade store networks in China [1] - The company opened its first Smartwool brand store in Beijing in January 2026, indicating an acceleration in localized operations [1] - These developments may influence market expectations regarding the company's long-term growth potential [1] Group 2 - VF Corporation's stock price exhibited significant volatility over the past week, with a trading range fluctuation of 7.77%, closing at $20.30 on February 13, 2026, reflecting a slight weekly decline of 0.20% [2] - Trading activity increased, with a volume of 7.02 million shares and a transaction value of approximately $142 million on February 12, indicating heightened short-term trading activity [2] - The apparel manufacturing sector saw a slight increase of 0.96% during the same period, slightly outperforming the broader market [2] Group 3 - Institutional interest in VF Corporation remains high, with market sentiment influenced by ratings and target prices; Telsey Advisory Group maintained a "Market Perform" rating with a target price of $16 as of January 28, 2026 [3] - Piper Sandler raised its target price from $14 to $18 on January 30, 2026, while maintaining a neutral rating [3] - The current average target price from institutions is $19.06, which is below the current stock price, reflecting cautious market sentiment regarding the effectiveness of the company's transformation efforts [3]

Core Viewpoint - The company is undergoing a significant transformation through its "Reinvent" plan, which aims to restore growth and improve profitability, with a focus on key brands and market expansion, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region [2]. Recent Events - The "Reinvent" plan has entered its second phase, with restructuring actions largely completed by the end of the first quarter of fiscal year 2026. The focus will be on whether this plan can continue to drive the recovery of key brands like Vans and The North Face in major markets, especially through initiatives such as upgrading store networks and establishing membership centers in China [2]. Performance and Operations - The company released its mid-year report for fiscal year 2026 on October 28, 2025. Market attention will be on subsequent quarterly and annual financial reports to assess actual progress in revenue growth, profitability improvement, and debt structure optimization [3]. Brand Market Activities - The company is actively expanding in the Chinese market, having opened the first national store for the Smartwool brand in Beijing in January 2026. Future focus will be on the localization of brands like The North Face and Vans in China, store network expansion, and consumer response [4]. Institutional Perspectives - Institutional views can influence market sentiment. For instance, Telsey Advisory Group maintained a "market perform" rating for the company on January 28, 2026. Future adjustments in ratings or target prices by other significant institutions will also be noteworthy [5].

Core Viewpoint - The North Face, once a dominant outdoor brand in China, is experiencing declining sales in the Greater China market due to various competitive and operational challenges [4][6][8]. Financial Performance - For the fiscal years 2023-2025, The North Face's revenue growth in the Asia-Pacific region is projected to be 31%, 37%, and 20%, showing a downward trend [4]. - In the first three quarters of fiscal year 2026, revenue growth rates for The North Face in the Asia-Pacific region were 16%, 7%, and -1% [4]. - The parent company, VF Corporation, reported a 6% and 4% decline in revenue from the Greater China region for the third quarter and the first three quarters of fiscal year 2026, respectively [4]. Market Challenges - The North Face faces significant competition in the Chinese market from both counterfeit products and a growing number of domestic brands, leading to a loss of market share [6][20]. - The brand's image has suffered due to a lack of proactive measures against counterfeiting and a failure to maintain its brand identity [14][20]. - The outdoor market in China has become increasingly competitive, with brands like Camel and Arc'teryx gaining traction, while The North Face struggles to differentiate itself [20][23]. Consumer Perception - The North Face was once a popular choice among university students in China, often referred to as the "college uniform," but has since faced backlash due to the prevalence of counterfeit products [11][13]. - Many consumers now associate the brand with being overly common and have shifted their preferences to other brands that offer better value or unique features [11][23]. Strategic Initiatives - VF Corporation has launched the "Reinvent" plan to enhance brand building and operational performance, with a focus on revitalizing The North Face in the Asia-Pacific market [26][28]. - The North Face has opened new high-end concept stores and membership centers in key cities to strengthen its brand presence and engage with consumers [28][30]. - The company aims to expand its store network and improve localized operations, with plans to upgrade around 30 stores in China by the end of 2025 [30].

Core Thesis - V.F. Corporation (VFC) is experiencing a significant growth trajectory, with 75% of its business showing growth this quarter, an increase from 65%-70% last quarter and 60% in 1Q26, indicating a broad-based recovery across multiple segments and geographies [3][6] Financial Performance - As of February 5th, VFC's share price was $20.10, with trailing and forward P/E ratios of 37.16 and 18.42 respectively [1] - The Americas region has shown particularly strong performance, noted as one of the best in over three years, with positive gross margin trends and an optimistic outlook for reaching or exceeding a long-term target of 55% [4] Direct-to-Consumer Channel - Growth in the direct-to-consumer (DTC) channel is highlighted as a key driver of consumer demand, providing a fast lever for scaling new products, especially through digital platforms [4][6] Brand Performance - Vans brand is stabilizing despite facing revenue headwinds, with expected declines in the mid-single digits for 4Q26, while global e-commerce growth marks the first increase in over four years [5] - Altra is being cultivated as a high-potential brand, with a revenue target of $1 billion, emphasizing a disciplined approach to debt and a focus on organic growth [6] Management Strategy - Management maintains a transparent guidance philosophy aimed at achieving the top end of revenue ranges, with a focus on robust DTC and digital execution [6] - The company has seen a stock price appreciation of approximately 72% since previous bullish coverage, reflecting improved revenue, EPS, gross margins, and debt reduction [7]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of understanding that past performance does not guarantee future results, highlighting the need for careful analysis before making investment decisions [2][3] Group 1 - The article discusses the lack of any current stock or derivative positions held by the author in the companies mentioned, indicating a neutral stance [1] - It clarifies that the information provided is not a specific offer for products or services, nor does it constitute financial advice [2] - The content is presented as factual and up-to-date, but it does not guarantee accuracy or completeness in the analysis of the subjects discussed [2][3]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of understanding that past performance does not guarantee future results, highlighting the need for careful analysis when considering investments [2][3]. Group 1 - The article states that the information presented is believed to be factual and up-to-date, but it does not guarantee accuracy, indicating a need for investors to conduct their own research [2][3]. - It clarifies that no specific investment recommendations are being made, and the views expressed may not reflect the opinions of the platform as a whole [3]. - The article notes that the authors may not be licensed or certified, which suggests that readers should be cautious in interpreting the analysis provided [3].

Core Insights - The performance of V.F. (VFC) in international markets is crucial for assessing its financial resilience and growth prospects [1][2] Group 1: International Revenue Performance - VFC's total revenue for the quarter was $2.88 billion, reflecting a 1.5% increase year-over-year [4] - Asia-Pacific revenue was $408.4 million, accounting for 14.2% of total revenue, which was a decline of 7.16% from the expected $439.9 million [5] - European revenue reached $928.7 million, making up 32.3% of total revenue, also falling short by 2.72% from the anticipated $954.64 million [6] Group 2: Future Revenue Projections - Analysts project VFC's total revenue for the current fiscal quarter to be $2.13 billion, a decrease of 0.7% from the previous year [7] - Expected contributions from Asia-Pacific and Europe for the current quarter are 16% ($340.15 million) and 41% ($871.87 million), respectively [7] - For the full year, total revenue is anticipated to be $9.24 billion, down 4.1% from last year, with Asia-Pacific and Europe projected to contribute 15.4% ($1.42 billion) and 37.2% ($3.43 billion) of total revenue [8] Group 3: Market Context and Analyst Sentiment - The interconnected global economy presents both opportunities and challenges for VFC, making the analysis of international revenue trends essential for forecasting [9][10] - Recent stock performance shows VFC's shares increased by 7.9% over the past month, outperforming the S&P 500's 0.7% increase [13] - Over the last three months, VFC's stock rose by 33.8%, while the S&P 500 increased by only 2.1% [13]