Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing shares jump after it lifts profit outlook
Customers at Fast Retailing Co. in Tokyo, Japan. It leaves a Uniqlo store operated by .
Akio Kon | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Fast Retailing Shares rose more than 9% to a record high on Friday after Uniqlo’s Japanese parent upgraded its annual outlook and strong international growth boosted quarterly profit.
Reflecting the strong performance in the first half and favorable foreign exchange assumptions, the company raised its full-year operating profit outlook to 700 billion yen ($4.4 billion) from its previous forecast of 650 billion yen.
Shares of Fast Retailing rose to record levels
The company sees a long road ahead for expansion, with CEO Tadashi Yanai signaling “significant growth ahead” in a presentation on Thursday.
Fast Retailing reported a strong set of interim results for the six months ending 28 February 2026; revenues rose 14.8% year over year to 2.06 trillion yen, and operating profit rose 31.7% to 400.6 billion yen, as strong global demand for Uniqlo supported broad-based growth across regions.
In the company’s earnings release, it was stated that Uniqlo International led the performance, with revenue increasing 22.4% and profits increasing 37.4%, supported by strong sales in Greater China, Southeast Asia and Western markets, as well as continued traction in apparel throughout the year.
However, the retailer acknowledged that conflict in the Middle East had begun to impact costs, particularly due to rising shipping costs in some markets, adding that earlier adjustments to production and logistics had helped mitigate supply chain risks. “This will not have a major impact in terms of production and distribution,” the company said.
Fast Retailing’s brand portfolio includes Uniqlo, GU, Theory, Comptoir des Cotonniers and PLST.
