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1. Company Snapshot

1.a. Company Description

a.k.a. Brands Holding Corp.operates a portfolio of online fashion brands in the United States, Australia, and internationally.It offers apparel, footwear, and accessories through its online stores under the Princess Polly, Culture Kings, Petal & Pup, mnml, and Rebdolls brands, as well as operates eight physical stores under the Culture Kings brand name.


The company was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

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1.b. Last Insights on AKA

Recent performance of a.k.a. Brands Holding Corp. was driven by a 6.8% increase in net sales to $159.0 million, with U.S. sales up 21.6%. However, the company reported a net loss of $(9.4) million. The negative driver behind this performance is the significant net loss, which is a concern for investors. The company's management has been working to expand in retail and omnichannel initiatives, which sets the stage for growth. Despite this, the net loss and lack of profitability are major concerns.

1.c. Company Highlights

2. Disappointing Q3 Earnings, But Signs of Recovery

The company reported a decline in net sales of 1.9% to $147.1 million, and 2.7% on a constant currency basis compared to the same period last year. The net sales decline was largely due to supply chain disruptions, particularly in the U.S. business, which saw a 3.6% decline. However, the Australia region continued to grow, with sales increasing 5.1%. Gross margin increased 110 basis points to 59.1%, ahead of expectations. Adjusted EBITDA was $7 million, and EPS came out at -$0.46, slightly below estimates of -$0.44.

Publication Date: Nov -16

📋 Highlights
  • Adjusted EBITDA: $7 million achieved despite supply chain disruptions impacting in-stock levels and newness.
  • Regional Sales Performance: U.S. sales declined 3.6%, while Australia grew 5.1%; Q4 growth tracking low single digits.
  • Gross Margin Expansion: Increased 110 basis points to 59.1%, exceeding expectations amid margin improvements.
  • Q4 Guidance: Net sales projected at $598–$602 million (4–5% growth), adjusted EBITDA of $23–$23.5 million.
  • Inventory Normalization: Q3 inventory down 9% YoY, expected to stabilize flat by year-end with improved product availability.

Operational Highlights

The company made meaningful progress on its strategic priorities, including opening Princess Polly's 11th store, expanding wholesale partnerships, and refinancing debt. The Australia region continues to be a growth driver, with sales increasing 5.1%. The company remains committed to building its brands for the long term, delivering high-quality fashion to customers, and balancing growth and profitability. As Ciaran Long noted, "We will attract and retain customers on our direct-to-consumer channels through trend-driven exclusive merchandising and distinctive marketing strategies."

Guidance and Outlook

The company expects net sales to be between $598 million to $602 million, representing growth in the 4% to 5% range. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between $23 million to $23.5 million. Analysts estimate next year's revenue growth at 4.7%. The company's guidance suggests a recovery in sales growth, driven by improved inventory levels and a strong performance in the Australia region.

Valuation Metrics

With a P/S Ratio of 0.23, the stock appears to be reasonably valued. However, the EV/EBITDA ratio of 57.75 suggests that the market is pricing in significant growth expectations. The ROE of -22.3% and ROIC of -3.47% indicate that the company is currently unprofitable. The Net Debt / EBITDA ratio of 32.11 highlights the company's high debt levels relative to its EBITDA.

3. NewsRoom

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a.k.a. Brands (NYSE:AKA) Shares Down 4.5% – Time to Sell?

Dec -02

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a.k.a. Brands Holding Corp. (AKA) Q3 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

Nov -06

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a.k.a. Brands (AKA) Reports Q3 Loss, Misses Revenue Estimates

Nov -05

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a.k.a. Brands Holding Corp. Reports Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Nov -05

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Earnings Preview: a.k.a. Brands (AKA) Q3 Earnings Expected to Decline

Oct -29

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Does a.k.a. Brands (AKA) Have the Potential to Rally 48.44% as Wall Street Analysts Expect?

Oct -23

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a.k.a. Brands Holding Corp. to Report Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results on November 5, 2025

Oct -22

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a.k.a. Brands (AKA) Shows Fast-paced Momentum But Is Still a Bargain Stock

Oct -16

4. Business Breakdown

4.a. Revenues by Country

4.b. Revenues by Segment

5. Expected revenues mid-term growth (5.00%)

6. Segments

Next-generation Fashion Brands

Expected Growth: 5.0%

Next-generation fashion brands from a.k.a. Brands Holding Corp. are driven by strong e-commerce capabilities, influencer marketing, and social media engagement. Additionally, they focus on trendy and affordable products, leveraging celebrity partnerships and collaborations to stay relevant. Their ability to quickly respond to changing consumer preferences and tastes also contributes to their 5.0% growth.

7. Detailed Products

Petite Studio

Petite Studio is a fashion brand that offers trendy and affordable clothing for young women.

Princess Polly

Princess Polly is a fashion brand that offers a wide range of clothing, shoes, and accessories for young women.

Culture Kings

Culture Kings is a streetwear brand that offers a wide range of clothing, shoes, and accessories for men and women.

BoohooMan

BoohooMan is a fashion brand that offers trendy and affordable clothing for men.

8. a.k.a. Brands Holding Corp.'s Porter Forces

Forces Ranking

Threat Of Substitutes

The threat of substitutes for a.k.a. Brands Holding Corp. is moderate due to the presence of alternative fashion brands and online marketplaces.

Bargaining Power Of Customers

The bargaining power of customers is high due to the availability of numerous fashion brands and online marketplaces, allowing customers to easily switch between brands.

Bargaining Power Of Suppliers

The bargaining power of suppliers is low due to the company's large scale of operations and ability to negotiate favorable terms with suppliers.

Threat Of New Entrants

The threat of new entrants is moderate due to the presence of barriers to entry, such as high marketing and advertising costs, but also the potential for new entrants to disrupt the market.

Intensity Of Rivalry

The intensity of rivalry is high due to the presence of numerous fashion brands and online marketplaces, leading to intense competition for market share.

9. SWOT Analysis

10. Capital Structure

10.a. Balance Sheet

10.b. Weighted Average Cost of capital

Value
Debt Weight 47.83%
Debt Cost 8.04%
Equity Weight 52.17%
Equity Cost 10.63%
WACC 9.39%
Leverage 91.68%

11. Quality Control: a.k.a. Brands Holding Corp. passed 4 out of 9 key points

12.a Historical Valuation

12.b Price/Earnings Ratio

12.c Margin Valuation

12.d Peers Valuation

Peers Group Analysis

Stock-Card
Tandy Leather Factory

A-Score: 5.1/10

Value: 9.3

Growth: 3.8

Quality: 6.8

Yield: 5.0

Momentum: 0.5

Volatility: 5.3

1-Year Total Return ->

Stock-Card
Honest

A-Score: 4.0/10

Value: 4.7

Growth: 6.0

Quality: 6.4

Yield: 0.0

Momentum: 4.5

Volatility: 2.7

1-Year Total Return ->

Stock-Card
1stdibs

A-Score: 3.9/10

Value: 8.4

Growth: 4.7

Quality: 5.2

Yield: 0.0

Momentum: 1.0

Volatility: 4.0

1-Year Total Return ->

Stock-Card
Big 5 Sporting Goods

A-Score: 3.7/10

Value: 9.8

Growth: 0.6

Quality: 3.6

Yield: 5.0

Momentum: 1.5

Volatility: 2.0

1-Year Total Return ->

Stock-Card
1800Flowers

A-Score: 2.6/10

Value: 9.4

Growth: 1.0

Quality: 2.7

Yield: 0.0

Momentum: 0.5

Volatility: 2.0

1-Year Total Return ->

Stock-Card
A.K.A. Brands

A-Score: 2.3/10

Value: 7.2

Growth: 3.4

Quality: 2.2

Yield: 0.0

Momentum: 0.5

Volatility: 0.7

1-Year Total Return ->

Peers Metrics

12.e Scoring Insights

12.f DCF BETA

Parameters

Short Term Growth

Short term Time

Long-Term Growth

WACC

Target Price

10.8$

Current Price

10.8$

Potential

-0.00%

Expected Cash-Flows