Movado Group (MOV): 145-Year-Old Watchmaker Is Suddenly Turning Heads Again

Movado Group (MOV): 145-Year-Old Watchmaker Is Suddenly Turning Heads Again

Thu, September 3, 2026 at 12:37 PM GMT+3 4 min read

• MOV +1.49%

On August 26, Movado Group (NYSE:MOV) reported second-quarter fiscal 2027 results that pushed adjusted earnings per share to $0.54 from $0.23 a year earlier, while net sales climbed 4.9% to $169.8 million. The jewelry and watch company also confirmed it will stop issuing annual financial guidance going forward, choosing instead to focus commentary on near-term trends. For a business built on Swiss craftsmanship and a stable of licensed fashion brands, the quarter marked a fifth straight period of positive momentum, and it came with a few surprises tucked inside the numbers.

More Than A Tariff Rebound

Some of the headline strength came from a one-time source: $3.2 million in IEEPA duty refunds tied to tariffs paid between February 2025 and May 2026, which lifted GAAP gross margin to 59.4% from 54.1%. But strip that out and adjusted gross margin still rose 340 basis points to 57.5%, driven by favorable channel and product mix, strategic pricing, and less discounting. Growth was broad rather than concentrated in one line item. US net sales rose 4.9%, international sales rose 4.9% as well (4.1% in constant currency), and Latin America and India posted particularly strong results.

Movado.com sales jumped 8%, and Olivia Burton sales grew 23%, powered by small-shaped watches focused on the U.K. and US markets. The company also flagged a resurgence in traditional watch interest among younger buyers, pointing to the Baby Face mini strap watch, which sold out more than 400 units on movado.com in under a month. Looking ahead, Movado is expanding its Tapestry partnership to launch Kate Spade watches starting next fiscal year. The balance sheet backs up the momentum, with $211.6 million in cash, no debt, and $16.6 million already returned to shareholders through dividends this year.

The Tailwinds Won't Last

Not every piece of this quarter travels into the second half. Management was explicit that the favorable mix of lower duty rate inventory that padded margins is temporary and is not expected to continue, and second-half gross margin guidance of 55% to 56% reflects that normalization. Sallie DeMarsilis also noted that gross margin gains were partially offset by higher shipping costs tied to fuel surcharges and rising e-commerce volume.

Geographically, the Middle East remains a soft spot, with Efraim Grinberg citing tourism-related headwinds in a region still affected by regional conflict. Operating expenses rose to $85.7 million from $80.6 million, largely on higher performance-based compensation and marketing spend. There is also a smaller but notable item: a $0.2 million pretax charge tied to a misconduct investigation within a Dubai-based Swiss subsidiary branch. And while Movado expects to recover another $6.8 million in IEEPA duties, it has chosen not to recognize that gain until the cash actually arrives, a reminder that not all of this quarter's tailwind is guaranteed to repeat.

What The Smart Money Sees

Hedge fund ownership rose to 25 funds from 20 in the prior quarter, a signal of building institutional interest. Short interest sits at 6.53% of float, enough to reflect real skepticism without suggesting a crowded bearish trade. The stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 20.49 as of September 2, pricing in continued mid-single-digit growth rather than a steep re-rating. Taken together, the rising fund count and moderate short interest suggest sentiment has been improving faster than the valuation has moved to reflect it.

Where This Story Goes Next

Movado's second quarter showed growth that extends beyond the tariff refund headline, with real strength in pricing, digital sales, and newer collections like Olivia Burton. But management itself flagged that the margin tailwind fades in the second half, and the decision to drop annual guidance removes a marker investors had used to gauge the path forward. For the bulls, the Kate Spade launch and younger consumer engagement with traditional watches offer a runway.

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