** Shares of company ZUMZ.O , which sells apparel and goods
for skaters, snowboarders and other action sports, fall 2% to
$39.88 after Jefferies downgrades ZUMZ to "hold" from "buy"
** Brokerage says the resurgence of appetite for skating
over the recent years is receding; cuts PT to $42 from $52,
implying an upside of 2.7% to stock's last close
** Hardgoods like skateboards and sporting equipments, which
amounted to 19% of ZUMZ's sales in FY 2021 helped by the
COVID-19 led boom, is now "tracking negative" - Jefferies
** Adds apparel, while performing solidly, lacks a major
product catalyst to offset the slowing hardgoods trend
** 2 of 5 analysts covering ZUMZ rate it "buy" or higher,
while the rest rate it "hold"; their median PT is $46
** Stock is up ~9% YTD
(Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru)
((DeborahMary.Sophia@thomsonreuters.com;))