Updated: December 10, 2025
1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLWS) just went from sleepy micro-cap to headline-grabber. After the company announced a new Chief Information Officer with a mandate to accelerate artificial intelligence (AI) and digital commerce, the stock exploded higher, putting it squarely on traders’ radar even as its balance sheet and earnings remain under serious pressure. [1]
Below is a structured look at what changed this week, how the business is actually performing, what analysts expect, and where the major risks sit as of December 10, 2025.
FLWS stock price today: big bounce, still a damaged chart
As of the close on December 9, 2025, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM shares finished at $4.94, up 32.8% on the day. The stock traded between $3.77 and $5.18, with volume of about 6.3 million shares, far above normal levels. [2]
According to MarketBeat, that surge pushed FLWS above its 200-day moving average around $4.83, a level technicians often watch as a sign of a potential trend change. [3]
Even after the spike, though:
- The 52‑week range sits around $2.93 to $9.17, meaning the stock is still roughly 46% below its high. [4]
- Over the last year, FLWS has lost more than half of its value, badly lagging the broader market. [5]
In short: Tuesday’s rally is huge, but it’s happening against a backdrop of long-running share-price damage.
What triggered the rally? An AI-heavy CIO hire
The immediate catalyst is clearly leadership and AI.
On December 8, 2025, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM announced it has appointed Alexander Zelikovsky as Chief Information Officer (CIO). He will report directly to CEO Adolfo Villagomez and oversee enterprise IT, data architecture, cybersecurity, business intelligence, and support for AI and digital commerce initiatives across the company’s more than 18 brands. [6]
The company’s own press materials frame the hire as a way to:
- Accelerate digital transformation and omnichannel growth
- Modernize technology platforms and data infrastructure
- Push harder into AI-driven personalization, business optimization and e‑commerce [7]
Zelikovsky brings over 25 years of technology leadership experience, including roles at Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, Kimberly‑Clark and Pitney Bowes, where he worked on large‑scale digital and omnichannel transformations. [8]
The market reaction has been dramatic:
- Insider Monkey notes that FLWS was one of the best performers in Tuesday’s session, linking the move explicitly to the CIO appointment and AI adoption push. [9]
- QuiverQuant data show the stock up more than 20% intraday with unusually high trading volume, reinforcing the idea that news‑driven speculative flows are at work. [10]
This is classic “new narrative” behavior: investors are suddenly re‑rating a beaten‑down retailer as an AI + digital transformation story, even though the underlying fundamentals haven’t yet turned.
Under the hood: earnings still weak, turnaround just beginning
Fiscal 2026 Q1: revenue down, losses up
The most recent numbers come from the company’s fiscal 2026 first quarter, ended September 28, 2025, reported on October 30. [11]
Key highlights from the company and Zacks coverage:
- Revenue: $215.2 million, down 11.1% year over year. [12]
- Net loss:$53.0 million, or −$0.83 per share, versus a loss of $34.2 million (−$0.53 per share) a year earlier. [13]
- Adjusted EBITDA loss: widened to $32.9 million from $27.9 million in the prior-year quarter. [14]
- Gross margin: fell from 38.1% to 35.7%, mainly due to the deleveraging effect of lower sales. [15]
Zacks notes the quarter delivered a −40.7% earnings “surprise” versus consensus and that the company has missed EPS estimates in each of the last four quarters, underscoring a pattern of disappointing results. [16]
Management describes fiscal 2026 as a “pivotal year of stabilization” and highlights progress in marketing efficiency and cost optimization, but explicitly acknowledges there is “much more work ahead.” [17]
Full‑year 2025: shrinking revenue, much larger losses
On a trailing‑twelve‑month basis, data compiled by StockAnalysis show: [18]
- Revenue: about $1.69 billion, down ~8% from roughly $1.83 billion the prior year.
- Net income: around −$219 million, a huge step down from 2024, partly due to a large impairment charge.
- EPS (ttm): roughly −$3.44.
In other words, this is not a “small earnings miss” story. FLWS is in the middle of a multi‑year reset with shrinking sales and very negative profitability.
Turnaround levers: cost savings and marketing efficiency
Management is trying to repair the P&L through a mix of cost cuts and better marketing:
- CFO James Langrock says the company delivered $17 million in savings in fiscal 2025 and now targets an additional $50 million in gross savings over the next two years, before associated costs. [19]
- The Q1 release emphasizes “improved marketing spend effectiveness” and lower labor costs as key drivers of lower operating expenses. [20]
Third‑party coverage paints a similar picture. StockStory’s earlier analysis of 2025 results highlighted double‑digit revenue declines, a deep negative operating margin (~−17%), and a market cap in the low‑300‑million‑dollar range, underscoring how much value has been destroyed in the last few years. [21]
Debt and balance-sheet risk: the loudest red flag
If earnings are the bruise, the balance sheet is the open fracture.
A new analysis from Simply Wall St on December 10, 2025 focuses squarely on FLWS’s debt load: [22]
- Total debt (Sept 2025): about $262.9 million, up from $229.8 million a year earlier.
- Cash: only $7.75 million.
- Net debt: roughly $255 million.
- Short- and long-term liabilities: about $346.4 million due within 12 months and $276.5 million beyond 12 months.
- Cash + near‑term receivables: only around $47.8 million, leaving a shortfall of roughly $575 million versus total liabilities.
Simply Wall St notes that such a liability gap is heavy relative to a market capitalization of roughly $314–315 million and argues that the company would likely need a major recapitalization if it had to satisfy creditors immediately. [23]
The same piece highlights that FLWS: [24]
- Generated a loss at the EBIT level of around $59 million over the past 12 months.
- Posted negative free cash flow (about −$24 million).
- Saw revenue decline roughly 8.1% over the year.
Their verdict: the stock is on the “risky” side of the spectrum, with debt and ongoing losses combining into a capital‑structure problem that investors cannot ignore.
Valuation and micro-cap status: not as “cheap” as it looks?
You might expect a company with shrinking sales, heavy debt and persistent losses to trade at a rock‑bottom valuation. A separate Simply Wall St P/S‑ratio analysis from October 22 suggests reality is more nuanced. [25]
Key points from that note:
- The wider U.S. specialty retail industry trades at a median price‑to‑sales (P/S) ratio of about 0.5x.
- FLWS trades around 0.2x sales, well below that median. [26]
- However, FLWS’s revenue fell 8% over the last year and about 24% over the last three years in aggregate, while the industry is forecast to grow. [27]
- Consensus in that analysis called for another ~4% revenue decline in the coming year, versus +7.1% growth for the broader industry. [28]
The conclusion: FLWS isn’t “obviously cheap” when you factor in the expected revenue contraction and operational risk. Investors paying 0.2x sales are not necessarily stealing the stock if the top line continues to shrink.
Meanwhile, Zacks’ “Bear of the Day” piece from last month leaned heavily on the stock’s free‑fall from a 52‑week high around $9 and a very bearish technical picture before this week’s rebound. [29]
Analyst ratings and price targets: cautious, but with upside
Analyst coverage of FLWS is relatively thin and not perfectly consistent across data providers, but a few themes stand out.
Price targets and rating distribution
- MarketBeat summarizes Wall Street coverage as two Hold ratings and two Sell ratings, for an overall “Reduce” consensus and a 12‑month price target of $7.50, implying about 52% upside from the recent $4.94 close. [30]
- StockAnalysis reports a similar $7.50 target and labels the consensus as Hold, again indicating roughly 50% upside against current levels. [31]
- Investing.com / TradingView and Zacks show an older, more conservative $6.00 target from a single analyst, with a Neutral/Hold stance. [32]
- A Sete News roundup from November, drawing on yet another data feed, cited six analysts with an average $6.00 target, and described the majority of ratings at that time as Buy. [33]
Taken together, these sources suggest:
- Consensus expectations point to upside from current prices, but
- The tone is cautious, skewing toward Hold/Reduce rather than outright “Strong Buy.”
Earnings forecasts
On the earnings front:
- Zacks, writing after the October quarter, referred to a current-year EPS forecast of roughly −$0.62 on ~$1.59 billion in revenue, with the next quarter expected to be profitable on a seasonal holiday boost. [34]
- MarketBeat’s moving‑average note, compiled from analyst models, references a much smaller full‑year loss of about −$0.07 per share, highlighting how widely estimates can diverge depending on methodology and fiscal year definitions. [35]
The common thread is that analysts still expect a loss, not a quick return to healthy profitability.
Micro-cap, high-volatility profile
Several outlets now classify FLWS firmly in micro-cap territory, with a market cap around $270–315 million depending on the day’s price. [36]
An Insider Monkey screen of “11 Best Micro‑Cap Stocks to Invest In According to Analysts” recently placed FLWS at number 10, noting: [37]
- 30% upside based on analyst targets as of December 9.
- Ownership by around 16 hedge funds, suggesting some institutional interest despite the small size.
- The same twin narrative: weak recent results (Q1 loss of $0.83 per share on revenue down ~11%) but a leadership team that says it is using data and operational discipline to drive a turnaround.
Short interest is significant as well. Sete News, citing October data, reports more than 11 million shares sold short against a float just above 31 million, implying elevated short positioning. [38]
When you combine:
- Micro‑cap size
- Heavy leverage
- Deep losses
- High short interest
- A sudden “AI transformation” headline
…you get the recipe for extreme volatility in both directions.
Strategy pivot: new CEO, new marketing chief, new CIO
The CIO hire isn’t happening in isolation. FLWS has been rebuilding its leadership bench in 2025: [39]
- Long‑time founder Jim McCann stepped back from the CEO role earlier this year, with Adolfo Villagomez (ex‑Home Depot) now leading the company.
- In October, 1‑800‑FLOWERS.COM named Melanie Babcock, a Home Depot veteran, as Chief Marketing and Growth Officer, with a brief that explicitly includes digital and AI‑driven growth initiatives. [40]
- The CIO appointment now adds a technology leader with deep experience in e‑commerce, omnichannel systems and large‑scale IT modernization. [41]
Operationally, the company is also experimenting with logistics and delivery partnerships, such as its collaboration with Uber Direct to support same‑day Valentine’s Day deliveries, reflecting a push to modernize distribution. [42]
Put together, the strategy has three pillars:
- Cost optimization (the $50 million savings target)
- Data‑driven marketing and customer focus
- Technology and AI investments to make the network of brands and florists more efficient and more personalized
The big open question is whether these moves can reverse the multi‑year decline fast enough to ease balance‑sheet risk.
Bulls vs. bears: how investors are reading FLWS now
Given the mix of news and data, the investment debate around FLWS going into 2026 stacks up roughly like this:
The bullish case
Supportive arguments showing up in recent research include: [43]
- Turnaround team in place: New CEO, new marketing chief and now a tech‑savvy CIO give the company a more modern leadership profile.
- AI and digital commerce optionality: If FLWS can leverage data and AI to improve marketing ROI, inventory management and personalization, there is potential operating leverage on the existing revenue base.
- Valuation vs. targets: Even cautious consensus price targets ($6–7.50) imply meaningful upside from ~ $5, assuming the company hits its savings goals and stabilizes revenue.
- Micro‑cap asymmetry: For investors comfortable with small‑cap risk, a company of this size with a network of well‑known brands (Harry & David, Cheryl’s Cookies, 1‑800‑Flowers, etc.) can look attractive if the turnaround takes hold.
The bearish case
More skeptical takes — including recent work from Zacks, MarketBeat and Simply Wall St — lean on: [44]
- Heavy leverage and thin liquidity: Net debt around $255 million and a large liability gap versus cash and receivables create genuine recapitalization risk if conditions worsen.
- Persistently negative earnings and cash flow: The company is still burning cash, with no clear, near‑term path to robust profitability.
- Revenue shrinkage in a growing industry: Analysts expect FLWS revenue to decline further while many peers are projected to grow, challenging the idea that the stock is truly “cheap” even at a low P/S.
- Bearish longer‑term technicals: Before this week’s pop, FLWS had spent much of the year in a downtrend, earning it a “Bear of the Day” label and Sell‑leaning ratings from some research outfits.
- Execution risk on the AI narrative: The market is paying up today for a story — AI, digital, omnichannel — that will take years of execution to prove. Many retailers have tried and failed to reinvent themselves with tech.
Key things to watch into 2026
For investors tracking FLWS from here, the most important checkpoints over the next 12–18 months are likely to include:
- Next earnings (expected Jan 29, 2026): Can the core holiday quarter show stabilization in revenue and a smaller loss than last year? [45]
- Margin trajectory: Do gross and operating margins begin to improve as cost savings and more efficient marketing kick in? [46]
- Debt and cash flow: Any sign of sustained positive free cash flow, refinancing, or equity issuance will say a lot about how management is dealing with the liability overhang. [47]
- Evidence of AI/digital impact: Over time, look for hard metrics — customer retention, order frequency, marketing ROI — to back up the AI and data narrative, not just press releases. [48]
Bottom line
As of December 10, 2025, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM is a high‑beta turnaround stock:
- The CIO appointment and AI messaging have unleashed a powerful short‑term re‑rating, pushing the price sharply higher and above its 200‑day moving average. [49]
- The underlying business is still wrestling with falling revenue, heavy debt, and sustained losses, and multiple independent analyses flag the balance sheet as the single biggest risk. [50]
- Analyst forecasts generally point to continued losses but allow for significant upside to price targets if the turnaround works, while ratings remain clustered around Hold/Reduce rather than Strong Buy. [51]
For traders, FLWS is now firmly in “speculative micro-cap with a fresh catalyst” territory. For longer‑term investors, the core decision is whether the new leadership team can grow into its ambitious AI‑and‑digital story fast enough to outrun the debt and cash‑flow math.
Either way, this is not a low‑drama dividend flower shop anymore — it’s a high‑risk turnaround trying to reinvent itself in real time.
References
1. www.stocktitan.net, 2. stockanalysis.com, 3. www.marketbeat.com, 4. stockanalysis.com, 5. www.nasdaq.com, 6. www.stocktitan.net, 7. www.stocktitan.net, 8. www.stocktitan.net, 9. www.insidermonkey.com, 10. www.quiverquant.com, 11. www.1800flowersinc.com, 12. www.1800flowersinc.com, 13. www.1800flowersinc.com, 14. www.1800flowersinc.com, 15. www.1800flowersinc.com, 16. www.nasdaq.com, 17. www.1800flowersinc.com, 18. stockanalysis.com, 19. www.1800flowersinc.com, 20. www.1800flowersinc.com, 21. stockstory.org, 22. simplywall.st, 23. simplywall.st, 24. simplywall.st, 25. simplywall.st, 26. simplywall.st, 27. simplywall.st, 28. simplywall.st, 29. finance.yahoo.com, 30. www.marketbeat.com, 31. stockanalysis.com, 32. www.investing.com, 33. setenews.com, 34. www.nasdaq.com, 35. www.marketbeat.com, 36. stockanalysis.com, 37. www.insidermonkey.com, 38. setenews.com, 39. stockanalysis.com, 40. stockanalysis.com, 41. www.stocktitan.net, 42. stockanalysis.com, 43. www.insidermonkey.com, 44. simplywall.st, 45. stockanalysis.com, 46. www.1800flowersinc.com, 47. simplywall.st, 48. www.stocktitan.net, 49. www.marketbeat.com, 50. simplywall.st, 51. www.marketbeat.com
