Why is Fast Retailing stock sliding today?

Fast Retailing's stock experienced a significant drop of 3.7% to ¥72,070 on Friday due to investors reacting to the company's mixed annual earnings. The Uniqlo parent reported a strong operating profit of 743.1 billion yen, marking the fifth consecutive record, while revenue increased to 3.9633 trillion yen, a 16.6% rise. However, these impressive figures did not fully satisfy market expectations.

For the fiscal year 2027, the company anticipates revenue and business profit growth at double-digit rates, but net profit growth is only expected to reach 3.2%. Fast Retailing projects a net profit of 560 billion yen for FY27, which would be its seventh consecutive year of record earnings. Nevertheless, the modest growth rate compared to previous years proved to be the main disappointment.

The company also disclosed that retail giant GU reported a fourth-quarter loss, and ongoing structural reforms in mainland China pose challenges. Given that the stock carries a high valuation multiple well above its five-year median, shares are currently priced above their intrinsic value, making them particularly sensitive to any guidance shortfall.

The stock initially opened higher but quickly reversed, plummeting as much as 4.48% during early Tokyo trading. The broader market environment further exacerbated the pressure, as the Nikkei 225 fell 0.5% due to overnight losses on Wall Street.