Should I buy Levi Strauss stock in 2025? (NZ Edition)

What is Levi Strauss?

How much is the Levi Strauss stock?

The price of Levi Strauss stock is falling this week. As of now, LEVI is trading at USD $17.74, with a 24-hour drop of $0.30 (-1.66%) and a weekly decrease of 1.06%. The company's market capitalisation stands at $7.13 billion, and its average trading volume over the past three months is 2.54 million shares.

A beta of 1.21 indicates moderately higher volatility than the market average. Investors in New Zealand should note recent price swings as potential opportunities, while also considering the stock’s active movement and sector dynamics.

Our full analysis on the Levi Strauss stock

Having undertaken a comprehensive review of Levi Strauss & Co.'s latest financial results and its share price evolution over the last three years, our analysis incorporates a diverse set of financial indicators, technical signals, and peer benchmarking, enhanced by proprietary algorithms. Levi Strauss, an iconic player in global apparel, now finds itself at an intriguing inflection point, distinguished by robust recent performance and forward-looking strategic choices. So, why might Levi Strauss stock once again become a strategic entry point into the consumer apparel sector heading into 2025?

Recent Performance and Market Context

Levi Strauss (NYSE: LEVI) closed at $17.74 on 29 May 2025, a level that firmly positions it towards the mid-range of its 52-week corridor ($12.17 – $24.34). Notably, the stock has rebounded sharply by 12.21% over the past month, outpacing the S&P 500 Consumer Discretionary index and signaling momentum restoration following a period of volatility. The last six months show modest positive returns (+1.43%), suggesting resilience in the face of sectoral headwinds, while the one-year decline of -24.48% is largely a normalization post-pandemic retail boom and sector-wide rebalancing.

Favourable recent events have underpinned this upswing. Levi Strauss delivered Q1 2025 results that beat market expectations, with earnings per share at $0.38—an impressive $0.10 above consensus—driven by an 8% surge in Levi's branded sales and a dramatic 12% expansion in the direct-to-consumer (DTC) channel. The company recently agreed to sell its Dockers brand for $311 million—a move sharpening its portfolio focus and unlocking capital for shareholders and future initiatives.

From a macro perspective, the global consumer discretionary sector is experiencing renewed buoyancy. Moderate inflation in North America, steady US job growth, and a rebound in discretionary consumer spend have created tailwinds for branded apparel. For New Zealand investors, LEVI provides a compelling avenue for global diversification within a renowned brand that thrives amid evolving fashion trends.

Technical Analysis

Recent technical signals reinforce the argument for renewed interest in Levi Strauss shares. As of 29 May 2025:

• Relative Strength Index (RSI, 14 days): 61.68 (neutral, but nearing bullish overbought territory—indicative of accumulating positive sentiment).
• Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD): 0.60 (slightly negative, but largely offset by other bullish momentum signals).
• Williams %R (14): -30.41 (strong buy zone).

Price action has been underpinned by several supportive indicators:

• Short-/Medium-Term Moving Averages: The 5-, 20-, and 50-day moving averages ($17.88, $17.22, $16.00) all indicate short-term buying potential, with the current price sitting comfortably above these levels.
• 200-day MA: At $17.35, the 200-day average acts as a robust technical support, with the current price indicating a break above long-term resistance—a frequent precursor to extended rallies.
• Key Support and Resistance: Strong support appears at $17.56, offering a technical floor for new entrants; key resistance is observed at $18.74, creating a concise risk-reward window for tactical positioning.

Market sentiment, per consolidated technical consensus (15 bullish, 6 neutral, 1 bearish), leans strongly to the buy side, suggesting that Levi Strauss may be entering a renewed bullish phase.

Fundamental Analysis

Levi Strauss’s underlying fundamentals arguably justify its recent momentum and suggest a sound case for future upside.

Revenue Growth and Profitability

• Q1 2025 revenue: $1.527 billion (+3% reported, +9% organic YOY), demonstrating both scale and adaptability.
• EPS: $0.38, materially outperforming consensus and underscoring operational efficiency.
• Guidance for FY 2025: Organic revenue growth expectation remains at 3.5%–4.5%, reflecting management confidence.

Valuation

• P/E (TTM): 19.96—attractive compared to global apparel peers such as PVH and VF Corp, and suggesting scope for price appreciation relative to sector averages.
• Dividend Yield: 2.93%, supporting disciplined capital return and offering a solid yield for NZ investors seeking income alongside growth.
• Consensus Target: $19.76 (+14.18% upside), with analyst price objectives ranging up to $24.82, lending credence to a constructive outlook.

Structural Strengths

Levi Strauss’s core brand remains unmatched for global recognition in the jeanswear market—critical for pricing power and margin preservation regardless of consumer cycles. Strategic innovation, including DTC-first advances and digital expansion (e-commerce’s impressive YOY growth), provides additional levers for sustainable expansion.

The recent sale of Dockers allows a sharp focus on the highest-performing core, while the company's international footprint and agility in addressing new trends (e.g., baggy denim comeback) support further market share gains.

Levi Strauss’s balance sheet is robust: $574.4 million in cash and a prudent approach to debt management facilitate both shareholder returns ($100 million buyback from Dockers proceeds) and reinvestment for future growth.

Volume and Liquidity

Average daily trading volume over the past three months stands at 2.54 million shares, a level consistent with sustained institutional and retail interest. The public float of 94.47 million shares contributes to a dynamic yet stable valuation environment, supporting both liquidity for larger trades and price responsiveness to new information.

Such liquidity is an important signal of market confidence—particularly for New Zealand investors who require assured entry and exit in US-listed securities and want alignment with transparent price discovery.

Catalysts and Positive Outlook

Several imminent and structural catalysts fortify the investment case:

• Ongoing DTC Transformation: Transitioning towards a more profitable, recurring revenue model with enhanced brand control and customer data ownership.
• Strategic Divestiture: Sale of Dockers enables LEVI to redeploy capital into higher-growth, higher-margin activities—supporting both innovation and direct returns to shareholders.
• Digital Commerce Expansion: Strong growth in e-commerce channels complements LEVI’s premium outlets, catering to changing consumer behaviors in both established and emerging markets.
• Product Innovation: Continuous refresh of Levi’s product lineup—such as embracing fashion trends for baggier fits and sustainable production—attracts new, younger customer cohorts.
• ESG Leadership: Levi Strauss’s leadership in ethical sourcing and transparency appeals to values-driven consumers, strengthening long-term brand equity in markets like New Zealand, where socially responsible investing is ever more relevant.

Further upside may be unlocked by the integration of proceeds from the Dockers sale, continued share buybacks, and potential for further upward revisions to 2025 guidance as the DTC strategy matures.

Investment Strategies

Levi Strauss’s strong technical support at the $17.56 level, paired with proximity to upcoming catalysts (further details on DTC expansion, post-Dockers portfolio focus, and Q2 2025 results) creates a compelling window for various investor profiles:

• Short-Term Traders: May find the current setup attractive for trading the bullish range between support ($17.56) and resistance ($18.74), capitalizing on technical momentum and volume spikes ahead of key events.
• Medium-Term Investors: Could look to accumulate positions before the Q2 2025 earnings report (due late June), banking on further positive earnings momentum and dividend clarity.
• Long-Term Investors: May view recent structural changes and the clear commitment to core brands and direct channels as a foundation for multi-year growth potential, especially with a healthy dividend yield, well-defined capital allocation, and ongoing innovation.

The current valuation offers a rare blend of income and capital appreciation prospects—particularly potent for New Zealanders seeking global consumer exposure with a defensive growth tilt.

Is It the Right Time to Buy Levi Strauss?

In summary, Levi Strauss today combines technical resilience, improved operational focus, and a highly supportive fundamental backdrop. With a 14% consensus upside to the average analyst price target, confirmed bullish technical signals, and multiple catalysts on the near-term horizon, the stock seems to represent an excellent opportunity within the global apparel and lifestyle sector.

The latest results surpassing expectations, continued DTC growth, and renewed capital discipline underscore that the fundamentals justify renewed interest. The timing may be particularly favourable for positioning ahead of the next strategic milestones and the upcoming earnings season. LEVI’s long-term brand strength, increasing operational leverage, and growing presence in digital commerce indicate that the stock may be entering a new bullish phase.

For New Zealand investors seeking quality exposure in international consumer cyclical equities, Levi Strauss offers a blend of growth, income, and portfolio diversification—backed by a uniquely recognisable brand and forward-thinking strategy. The convergence of favourable technical, fundamental, and strategic factors suggests that Levi Strauss stock deserves serious consideration for those aiming to benefit from the next wave of value creation in the global apparel space.

How to buy Levi Strauss stock in New Zealand?

Buying Levi Strauss (LEVI) stock online is straightforward and secure when you use a regulated broker operating in New Zealand. As a retail investor, you can choose between two main methods: buying shares outright (“spot buying”) with cash, or trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs) for leveraged exposure. Both methods can be accessed via modern trading platforms, often with low minimum deposits and simple Kiwi-dollar funding options. Below, we detail each method to help you decide—and further down the page, you’ll find a broker comparison to assist your choice.

Buying Levi Strauss Shares: Cash Buying

A cash purchase means you buy Levi Strauss shares directly and become a shareholder. You own the underlying stock, can benefit from dividends, and can hold as long as you wish. The typical fee for New Zealand investors is a fixed commission per order—generally around NZD $5–$15, depending on the broker.

Example

If the Levi Strauss share price is USD $17.74 (approx. NZD $29.00 at current rates), you could buy about 34 shares with a NZD $1,000 investment, including an NZD $5 brokerage fee.

• Gain scenario: If the share price rises by 10%, your shares are now worth NZD $1,100.
• Result: That’s a gross gain of +NZD $100, or +10% on your investment (before currency and tax considerations).

Trading Levi Strauss with CFDs

CFD (Contract for Difference) trading lets you speculate on Levi Strauss’s share price without owning the underlying shares. With CFDs, you can use leverage to amplify your exposure, but you also amplify your risk. The main fees include the spread (the difference between buy and sell price) and overnight financing if you hold positions open for more than a day.

Example

With NZD $1,000 and 5x leverage, you can open a CFD position with market exposure of NZD $5,000 on Levi Strauss shares.

• Gain scenario: If the stock rises by 8%, your position gains 8% × 5 = 40%.
• Result: That’s a +NZD $400 gross gain on a NZD $1,000 margin (excluding fees/spread).

Final Advice

Before investing, it’s important to compare broker fees, minimums, and trading conditions—especially for U.S. shares from New Zealand. Your optimal choice depends on your investment objectives: direct ownership is best for long-term investment and dividends, while CFDs suit active traders seeking short-term opportunities. To help you choose, a detailed broker comparison is available just below. Happy investing!

Our 7 tips for buying Levi Strauss stock

The latest news about Levi Strauss

Levi Strauss reports robust quarterly results with double-digit growth in direct-to-consumer channels. In Q1 2025, Levi Strauss posted revenue of $1.527 billion—up 3% on a reported basis and 9% organically—while earnings per share significantly surpassed analyst expectations at $0.38 versus $0.28 consensus. Notably, its direct-to-consumer segment accelerated by 12%, underscoring a successful transformation strategy that is also highly relevant in NZ, where Levi's maintains a notable retail footprint, including flagship stores and partnerships with leading local retailers. Record gross margins and maintained full-year guidance for 2025 highlight continued confidence in sustainable, globally diversified growth. For NZ investors, this raises the prospects for stable international operations and opportunities for further local engagement.

The company’s strategic divestiture of the Dockers brand sharpens operational focus and enhances shareholder value. Levi Strauss recently finalized the sale of its Dockers brand to Authentic Brands Group for $311 million, with the transaction set to close in international markets in early 2026. A portion—circa $100 million—will be returned to shareholders through share repurchases, directly benefiting global investors, including those in New Zealand. The move enables Levi’s to concentrate resources on its eponymous, globally recognized brand and signals an intensified commitment to the “direct-to-consumer first” strategy, a model that has demonstrated resilience and adaptability in markets like NZ, especially amid evolving fashion trends and retail environments.

Technical indicators and analyst sentiment are strongly bullish, supporting the stock’s upward potential. As of 29 May 2025, technical analysis reveals a “strong buy” consensus, with twelve buy signals from moving averages and 15 overall bullish indicators. The 20-day, 50-day, and 200-day moving averages all reinforce the upward trend, while the mean analyst price target of $19.76 implies more than 14% upside from current levels. This technical and analyst support provides a constructive backdrop for NZ market participants, many of whom access US equities either directly or via managed funds, seeking exposure to durable consumer brands.

The digital and e-commerce channels are driving global and regional momentum—including in New Zealand. Levi Strauss continues to record robust growth in digital commerce, which the company lists as a key strategic lever, delivering margin expansion and resilient revenue streams. In New Zealand, the brand’s upgraded online platform, along with tailored local campaigns and collaborations, has maintained Levi’s prominence among younger demographics and fashion-forward consumers. This digital-led expansion aligns with wider consumer shifts in NZ toward omnichannel retail, reinforcing the brand’s ability to adapt to local preferences as part of its international strategy.

There is minimal short-term exposure to global tariff risks and the company maintains a healthy dividend yield attractive for NZ investors. Despite the sector’s sensitivity to shifting US trade policies, Levi Strauss management has projected minimal short-term impact from tariffs, supporting operational stability for its international portfolio. The current dividend yield stands at 2.93% and quarterly payments remain consistent, a feature commonly sought by NZ investors focused on total return and regular income streams from their US equity allocations. Combined with a solid cash position and prudent capital returns, these features reinforce the stock’s appeal in the New Zealand investment landscape.

FAQ

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.