• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Bars, bowling alleys, and movie theaters cost too much to run and visit. Americans have run out of places to hang out and we're paying with our health

2

The labor market could become so backward that the economy will have to shed jobs to keep unemployment steady

3

Sam Altman says a 'cool use case' for ChatGPT is a daily AI podcast about your kids. The replies were brutal

1

Bars, bowling alleys, and movie theaters cost too much to run and visit. Americans have run out of places to hang out and we're paying with our health

2

The labor market could become so backward that the economy will have to shed jobs to keep unemployment steady

3

Sam Altman says a 'cool use case' for ChatGPT is a daily AI podcast about your kids. The replies were brutal
Finance

Why Urban Outfitters Is Getting Kicked Out of a Major Stock Market Index

By
Jeff Bukhari
Jeff Bukhari
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Jeff Bukhari
Jeff Bukhari
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 13, 2017, 4:10 PM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

The tough times continue for Urban Outfitters.

Amid a bout of sales turmoil, the company has been booted from the S&P 500, after that index raised its market cap guidelines Friday afternoon. The change, set to go into effect before trading on March 20th, will relegate the retailer and its $2.87 billion market cap to the S&P MidCap 400, which as of that date will include companies that have a market cap between $1.6 billion and $6.8 billion.

But while Urban Outfitters’ slide out of the S&P 500 is something to take note of, it’s just a symptom of the considerable problems that the company faces. Urban Outfitters’ sales have been sluggish as of late, causing an up-and-down stock performance over the last couple of years. After reaching an all-time high of $47.01 two years ago, shares of the company (URBN) have fallen more than 48%, sitting at $24.34 in midday trading Monday. The price slump has brought the share price within a couple dollars of its lowest level since September 2011.

Last week, Urban Outfitters released a disappointing quarterly earnings report. The company, which owns retailers Anthropologie and Free People as well as the chain that shares its name, generated $1.03 billion in revenue for the quarter, with earnings per share coming in at $0.55. Both figures slightly missed analysts’ expectations, and profit margins fell to 33% from 34.5% a year ago due to the company’s increasing reliance on discounting to keep customers coming into its stores.

Lagging sales at brick and mortar locations have prompted Urban Outfitters to focus more and more on online retailing. Sales over the internet increased at a double-digit pace last quarter, but that news isn’t actually as good as it sounds. High delivery expenses and other logistical costs have eaten into the company’s profits, even when taking into consideration the fact that online commerce needs no storefront and retail employees. In three years, Urban Outfitters said it expects online sales to roughly equal store sales, which will make profit margins lower than they already are unless the company comes up with some creative organizational solutions.

Slumping store sales, a problem that retailers in general are dealing with, seem to be causing the company’s biggest problems. Combining all three of its brands, Urban Outfitters operates roughly 330 stores in the U.S., with a slew of them having opened in just the last few years. In the past, Urban Outfitters has been able to grow revenue by opening new locations even when same-store sales figures were essentially flat, but it’s getting hard to justify opening more new stores.

The company has plans to open only 15 new locations in North America this year, down from the 26 it opened last year and the 29 it opened in 2015. In the company’s earnings call last week, CEO Richard Hayne said he felt there has been a retail bubble, where there are now too many retailers that have too many locations. Hayne said he’d rather wait until the bubble fully bursts and rents come down before committing to signing more leases to open more storefronts.

About the Author
By Jeff Bukhari
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in Finance

Alex Karp, wearing a hat, gives a peace sign
AIpalantir
Palantir CEO Alex Karp celebrates 93% revenue growth as stock soars after blockbuster earnings: ‘For the first time people believe us’
By Preston ForeAugust 3, 2026
2 hours ago
Sea’s MariBank wants to export its Singapore digital banking playbook: First stop, the Philippines
BankingBanks
Sea’s MariBank wants to export its Singapore digital banking playbook: First stop, the Philippines
By Angelica AngAugust 3, 2026
5 hours ago
Palantir CEO Alex Karp
AIpalantir
Palantir shares jump 13% as U.S. AI demand sends revenue soaring past targets
By Preston ForeAugust 3, 2026
5 hours ago
The Danube is running dry, and Europe’s power grid is suffering as a result
EnvironmentEuropean Union
The Danube is running dry, and Europe’s power grid is suffering as a result
By Justin Spike and The Associated PressAugust 3, 2026
6 hours ago
Conventional vs. FHA home loans: Which is better for you?
Personal Financemortgages
Conventional vs. FHA home loans: Which is better for you?
By Joseph HostetlerAugust 3, 2026
6 hours ago
ph
EconomyRestaurants
The real reason a Pizza Hut frozen in the 1990s still draws crowds isn’t nostalgia
By The ConversationAugust 3, 2026
6 hours ago

Most Popular

Bars, bowling alleys, and movie theaters cost too much to run and visit. Americans have run out of places to hang out and we're paying with our health
North America
Bars, bowling alleys, and movie theaters cost too much to run and visit. Americans have run out of places to hang out and we're paying with our health
By Catherina GioinoAugust 2, 2026
2 days ago
The labor market could become so backward that the economy will have to shed jobs to keep unemployment steady
Economy
The labor market could become so backward that the economy will have to shed jobs to keep unemployment steady
By Jason MaAugust 1, 2026
2 days ago
Sam Altman says a 'cool use case' for ChatGPT is a daily AI podcast about your kids. The replies were brutal
AI
Sam Altman says a 'cool use case' for ChatGPT is a daily AI podcast about your kids. The replies were brutal
By Holly Van Leuven and Morning BrewAugust 3, 2026
15 hours ago
Electric air taxis are finally ready for takeoff
Magazine
Electric air taxis are finally ready for takeoff
By Alexei OreskovicAugust 3, 2026
19 hours ago
Current price of oil as of August 3, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of August 3, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerAugust 3, 2026
15 hours ago
As Trump balks again at escalating war, Iran smells ‘blood in the water’ and looks to exploit its newfound strategic advantage, experts say
Middle East
As Trump balks again at escalating war, Iran smells ‘blood in the water’ and looks to exploit its newfound strategic advantage, experts say
By Jason MaAugust 2, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.