The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday, May 3, edition that BMO Nesbitt Burns analyst Stephen MacLeod has elevated his recommendation for Aritzia to "outperform" from "market perform" in response to better-than-expected fourth quarter 2024 financial results. The Globe's David Leeder writes in the Eye On Equities column that Mr. MacLeod's share target soared $9 to $50. Analysts on average target the shares at $43.50. Mr. MacLeod says in a note: "We downgraded Aritzia to 'market perform' one-year ago, as the company shifted to an unexpected period of infrastructure investment to support its growing sales base and position the business to scale. This led to F2024E EBITDA margins declining 670 basis points to 9.3 per cent. Margins have reached an inflection point, and will rebuild through F2025E (guidance 400-500 bps to 13.9 per cent) and beyond (long-term guidance for high-teens). Combined with an expected acceleration in revenue growth (driven by plus-20- to 25-per-cent square footage growth, ecomm and omnichannel momentum, more balanced newness in styles, successful ramp-up of GTA DC), this is expected to drive peer-leading F2025E earnings growth (adjusted EBITDA up 66 per cent, adjusted EPS up 91 per cent)."