Quarterly earnings results are a good time to check in on a company’s progress, especially compared to its peers in the same sector. Today we are looking at Victoria's Secret (NYSE: VSCO) and the best and worst performers in the apparel retailer industry.

Apparel sales are not driven so much by personal needs but by seasons, trends, and innovation, and over the last few decades, the category has shifted meaningfully online. Retailers that once only had brick-and-mortar stores are responding with omnichannel presences. The online shopping experience continues to improve and retail foot traffic in places like shopping malls continues to stall, so the evolution of clothing sellers marches on.

The 9 apparel retailer stocks we track reported a very strong Q3. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

Thankfully, share prices of the companies have been resilient as they are up 8.6% on average since the latest earnings results.

Victoria's Secret (NYSE: VSCO)

Spun off from L Brands in 2020, Victoria’s Secret (NYSE: VSCO) is an intimate clothing and beauty retailer that sells its own brands of lingerie, undergarments, and personal fragrances.

Victoria's Secret reported revenues of $1.47 billion, up 9.2% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 4.5%. Overall, it was an exceptional quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ gross margin estimates.

Hillary Super, VS&Co Chief Executive Officer, said, “We delivered a standout third quarter, with outperformance on net sales and earnings per share, exceeding the high-end of our guidance. Net sales increased 9% over last year, driven by strength across Victoria’s Secret, PINK and Beauty, and supported by momentum across channels and geographies. These outstanding results reflect disciplined execution of our Path to Potential strategy. Building on the third quarter’s outperformance as well as the solid start to our fourth quarter, we are raising our full year outlook and are well positioned for a successful holiday season and finish to our fiscal 2025.”

Victoria's Secret achieved the biggest analyst estimates beat but had the weakest full-year guidance update of the whole group. Unsurprisingly, the stock is up 45.1% since reporting and currently trades at $60.34.

Is now the time to buy Victoria's Secret? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q3: Zumiez (NASDAQ: ZUMZ)

With store associates called “Zumiez Stash Members”, Zumiez (NASDAQ: ZUMZ) is a specialty retailer of street and skate apparel, footwear, and accessories.

Zumiez reported revenues of $239.1 million, up 7.5% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 2%. The business had an exceptional quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 4.2% since reporting. It currently trades at $26.11.

Is now the time to buy Zumiez? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q3: Torrid (NYSE: CURV)

Promoting a message of body positivity and inclusiveness, Torrid Holdings (NYSE: CURV) is a plus-size women’s apparel and accessories retailer.

Torrid reported revenues of $235.2 million, down 10.8% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 2%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted full-year EBITDA guidance missing analysts’ expectations significantly and a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

Torrid delivered the highest full-year guidance raise but had the weakest performance against analyst estimates and slowest revenue growth in the group. As expected, the stock is down 20.2% since the results and currently trades at $1.05.

Read our full analysis of Torrid’s results here.

Abercrombie and Fitch (NYSE: ANF)

Founded as an outdoor and sporting brand, Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF) evolved to become a specialty retailer that sells its own brand of fashionable clothing to young adults.

Abercrombie and Fitch reported revenues of $1.29 billion, up 6.8% year on year. This number surpassed analysts’ expectations by 0.9%. More broadly, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also logged full-year EPS guidance beating analysts’ expectations but EPS guidance for next quarter slightly missing analysts’ expectations.

The stock is up 43.6% since reporting and currently trades at $94.19.

Read our full, actionable report on Abercrombie and Fitch here, it’s free.

American Eagle (NYSE: AEO)

With a heavy focus on denim, American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE: AEO) is a specialty retailer offering an assortment of apparel and accessories to young adults.

American Eagle reported revenues of $1.36 billion, up 5.7% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 3.1%. It was an exceptional quarter as it also put up a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

The stock is up 19.7% since reporting and currently trades at $24.93.

Read our full, actionable report on American Eagle here, it’s free.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Quality Compounder Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.