New York, Jan 30, 2026, 04:54 EST — Premarket
Lululemon Athletica shares dropped 4.3% on Thursday, marking a third consecutive day of losses as investors digest fresh criticism of the company’s product strategy and an impending leadership shuffle. The stock closed at $172.54, lagging behind competitors like Nike, even as major U.S. indexes showed little movement. 1
Why it matters now: Lululemon’s board is facing a CEO transition without a permanent replacement in place, a situation likely to weigh on the stock amid already shaky sentiment. Calvin McDonald will step down as CEO on Jan. 31, with CFO Meghan Frank and chief commercial officer André Maestrini stepping in as interim co-CEOs. 2
The latest flashpoint centers on a push into small accessories like charms and keychains—a move one analyst called both tardy and out of sync with the brand. BNP Paribas analyst Laurent Vasilescu said, “We are disappointed … in the newness for 2026 so far,” and added that “a new CEO needs to change the direction of the design team.” His note pointed back to last year’s trinket craze. 3
Lululemon’s website offers a “Charm Heart Keyring” priced at $34, marketed as an accessory to personalize bags or pouches with “clippable charms.” 4
Lululemon recently hit a bump with its product quality. The company halted online sales in North America of its new “Get Low” workout line following customer complaints about the material being too sheer. It said the pause was to gather more “initial guest feedback.” The line has since returned to the website. 5
Boardroom tensions have surged amid the product buzz. In late December, founder Chip Wilson kicked off a proxy battle, putting forward three independent director nominees, Reuters reported. 6
Previously, Lululemon told investors to expect fourth-quarter results near the top of its earlier guidance, with the quarter wrapping up on Feb. 1, 2026. That timeline puts a spotlight on holiday demand as the company prepares for a leadership change. 7
The near-term outlook is complicated. CEO hunts often take time, and minor product moves can escalate quickly when customers are already vocal and competitors are squeezing the athleisure space tighter.
Traders have a couple of key dates lined up: McDonald’s departure on Jan. 31 and the fiscal quarter ending Feb. 1. Expect any board news on the CEO search or new details about holiday-quarter results to steer Lululemon stock as the new week kicks off.
