American Eagle's Aerie is booming, but its namesake brand is lagging despite Sydney Sweeney ads

Actress Sydney Sweeney is displayed on a billboard on the front of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) before ringing the Opening Bell for American Eagle Outfitters on February 09, 2026, in New York City. Spencer Platt | Getty Images American Eagle 's two key brands are moving in different directions. Revenue at the retailer's namesake banner fell during its fiscal first quarter, even after it ramped up its marketing campaign with actress Sydney Sweeney. Meanwhile, sales at its intimates brand Aerie spiked during the quarter. The trends at the retailer appeared to disappoint Wall Street, as shares tumbled more than 10% in extended trading. In the three months ended May 2, comparable sales at the American Eagle banner fell 2%, far worse than the 3.1% growth that analysts had expected, according to StreetAccount. Meanwhile, comparable sales at Aerie soared 25%, beating expectations of 19.1%. Net revenue for the American Eagle brand dropped 2% to $678.4 million, while Aerie revenue jumped about 34% to $480.83 million. Combined, the business saw comparable sales grow 8%, short of expectations of 8.6%, according to StreetAccount. "While results at American Eagle were mixed, our teams are moving decisively to reignite the women's business and strengthen product execution and brand positioning," CEO Jay Schottenstein said in a news release "Looking ahead, our priorities are clear. …