Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. (PSUN)
For informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Analysis by Sedat ANAK, Founder & Editor-in-Chief | AI-powered analysis. Data sourced from SEC filings and institutional-grade financial providers. Editorially reviewed. Not financial advice.
Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. (PSUN) trades at $0.04 with AI Score 41/100 (Grade C). Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. (PacSun) is a specialty retailer targeting teens and young adults. Sector: Consumer discretionary.
Price live · AI analysis from Mar 16, 2026Analyst Coverage for PSUN: PSUN does not currently have published analyst price targets in our coverage universe. This is common for smaller-cap names with limited Wall Street coverage. In the absence of analyst consensus, our AI model evaluates PSUN against Consumer Discretionary peers across nine fundamental dimensions and assigns an underweight signal based on the underlying data.
PSUN: the 1 perspectives are evenly split.
How is this calculated? →Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. (PSUN) Consumer Business Overview
Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. (PacSun) caters to the teen and young adult market, providing a curated selection of branded and proprietary apparel, accessories, and footwear. The company operates through mall-based retail stores and a growing e-commerce presence, navigating the competitive landscape of the specialty retail sector.
What Is the Investment Thesis for PSUN?
An investment in Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. (PacSun) presents a high-risk, high-reward opportunity within the competitive apparel retail sector. The company's negative P/E ratio of -0.06 and a profit margin of -5.9% highlight current profitability challenges. However, a beta of 1.99 suggests high volatility and potential for significant price swings. Key value drivers include successful execution of its e-commerce strategy and effective management of inventory and operating expenses. Growth catalysts involve capitalizing on emerging fashion trends and expanding its brand partnerships. Investors should closely monitor the company's ability to improve its financial performance and adapt to changing consumer preferences. The absence of a dividend yield means investors are relying solely on capital appreciation.
Based on FMP financials and quantitative analysis
PSUN Key Highlights
- PacSun operates as a specialty retailer, focusing on branded and proprietary apparel, accessories, and footwear for teens and young adults.
- The company's retail presence is primarily mall-based, complemented by a growing e-commerce platform.
- PacSun's gross margin stands at 25.0%, indicating the profitability of its product sales after accounting for the cost of goods sold.
- The company's negative profit margin of -5.9% reflects challenges in achieving overall profitability.
- A beta of 1.99 suggests that PacSun's stock price is more volatile than the overall market.
Who Are PSUN's Competitors?
PSUN is benchmarked below against 8 industry peers on price, market cap, and our AI MoonshotScore.
| Company | Price | Change | Market Cap | AI Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| URBN Urban Outfitters, Inc. | $69.38 | -1.90% | $5.94B | 79 |
| AEO American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. | $16.55 | +0.55% | $2.77B | 52 |
| ANF Abercrombie & Fitch Co. | $91.03 | -1.50% | $4.04B | 94 |
| ONON On Holding AG | $36.86 | +0.08% | $12.29B | 62 |
| IVDN Innovative Designs, Inc. | $0.25 | +19.05% | $9.63M | 61 |
| FRCOY Fast Retailing Co., Ltd. | $54.00 | +5.19% | $165.69B | 56 |
| ITX.MC INDUSTRIA DE DISE...O TEXTIL S. | $55.98 | -2.13% | $174.29B | 56 |
| DXLG Destination XL Group, Inc. | $0.63 | -4.33% | $34.71M | 44 |
AI Score by Stock Expert AI · Price data: FMP / Yahoo Finance
What Are PSUN's Key Strengths?
- Strong brand recognition among teens and young adults
- Established network of mall-based retail stores
- Proprietary apparel lines
- E-commerce platform
What Are PSUN's Weaknesses?
- Negative profit margin
- High beta (volatility)
- Dependence on mall traffic
- Susceptibility to changing fashion trends
What Could Drive PSUN Stock Higher?
- Launch of new proprietary apparel lines designed to capture emerging fashion trends.
- Expansion of the e-commerce platform to enhance online sales and customer engagement.
- Strategic brand partnerships to offer exclusive products and attract new customers.
What Are the Key Risks for PSUN?
- Economic downturns could reduce consumer spending on discretionary items like apparel.
- Shifts in fashion trends could lead to inventory obsolescence and markdowns.
- Intense competition from other retailers and online platforms could erode market share.
- Dependence on mall traffic makes the company vulnerable to declines in mall foot traffic.
What Are the Growth Opportunities for PSUN?
- Expansion of E-commerce Platform: PacSun has the opportunity to further expand its e-commerce platform to reach a wider customer base and drive online sales growth. By investing in website enhancements, mobile optimization, and digital marketing initiatives, the company can capitalize on the increasing trend of online shopping. The global e-commerce market is projected to reach trillions of dollars in the coming years, presenting a significant growth opportunity for PacSun. Timeline: Ongoing.
- Strategic Brand Partnerships: PacSun can pursue strategic brand partnerships to enhance its product assortment and attract new customers. By collaborating with popular brands and influencers, the company can offer exclusive products and create buzz around its brand. The market for brand collaborations is growing, as consumers seek unique and authentic products. Timeline: Ongoing.
- Enhancement of Proprietary Brands: PacSun has the opportunity to further develop and promote its proprietary brands to differentiate itself from competitors and improve its profit margins. By investing in product design, quality, and marketing, the company can build brand loyalty and increase sales of its own branded merchandise. The market for private label brands is growing, as consumers seek value and exclusivity. Timeline: Ongoing.
- Expansion into New Product Categories: PacSun can explore opportunities to expand into new product categories that are relevant to its target demographic. By offering a wider range of products, such as beauty products, accessories, or home goods, the company can increase its sales and attract new customers. The market for these product categories is growing, as consumers seek to express their individuality through a variety of products. Timeline: Ongoing.
- Optimization of Retail Store Network: PacSun can optimize its retail store network by closing underperforming stores and opening new stores in strategic locations. By carefully evaluating the performance of its existing stores and identifying areas with high growth potential, the company can improve its overall profitability and efficiency. The retail landscape is constantly evolving, and PacSun must adapt to changing consumer preferences. Timeline: Ongoing.
What Opportunities Does PSUN Have?
- Expansion of e-commerce platform
- Strategic brand partnerships
- Enhancement of proprietary brands
- Expansion into new product categories
What Threats Does PSUN Face?
- Intense competition
- Changing consumer preferences
- Economic downturns
- Decline in mall traffic
What Are PSUN's Competitive Advantages?
- Brand recognition among teens and young adults.
- Established network of mall-based retail stores.
- Proprietary apparel lines that differentiate it from competitors.
- Partnerships with popular brands.
What Does PSUN Do?
Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc., known as PacSun, was founded in 1980 with a focus on providing fashion and lifestyle products for teens and young adults. The company began as a surf shop in California and evolved into a mall-based retailer offering a wide range of apparel, accessories, and footwear. PacSun's product assortment includes both branded merchandise from popular labels and its own proprietary brands, catering to the ever-changing tastes of its target demographic. The company operates primarily through its network of retail stores located in malls across the United States, as well as its e-commerce website, which serves as an extension of its brick-and-mortar presence. PacSun aims to create a differentiated shopping experience by offering a curated selection of on-trend products and fostering a connection with its target audience through marketing and social media initiatives. The company faces competition from other specialty retailers, department stores, and online retailers that target the same demographic.
What Products and Services Does PSUN Offer?
- Offers a curated selection of branded apparel for teens and young adults.
- Provides proprietary apparel lines designed in-house.
- Sells accessories such as hats, bags, and jewelry.
- Offers a variety of footwear, including sneakers, sandals, and boots.
- Operates mall-based retail stores under the PacSun brand.
- Maintains an e-commerce website for online sales.
- Markets its products through social media and influencer collaborations.
How Does PSUN Make Money?
- Sells apparel, accessories, and footwear through retail stores and online.
- Generates revenue from the sale of branded and proprietary merchandise.
- Focuses on the teen and young adult demographic.
- Partners with other brands to offer exclusive products.
What Industry Does PSUN Operate In?
Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. (PacSun) operates in the highly competitive apparel retail industry, which is characterized by rapidly changing fashion trends, intense competition, and evolving consumer preferences. The industry is influenced by factors such as macroeconomic conditions, consumer spending patterns, and the rise of e-commerce. PacSun competes with other specialty retailers, department stores, and online retailers that target the teen and young adult demographic. The company's success depends on its ability to differentiate itself through its product assortment, marketing strategies, and customer experience.
Who Are PSUN's Key Customers?
- Teens (ages 13-19)
- Young adults (ages 20-25)
- Fashion-conscious consumers
- Mall shoppers
- Online shoppers
Company Profile
Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. operates in the Apparel - Retail industry within the Consumer Cyclical sector. PSUN has traded publicly since 1993.
PSUN Valuation & Market Position
Relative to its peer group, PSUN's quantitative score of 41/100 is below the peer average of 70/100.
Key Financial Metrics
Return on assets is -18.6%, showing how much profit it generates from its asset base. A current ratio of 1.07 indicates the company holds enough short-term assets to cover its near-term obligations.
PSUN Financials
Fundamental Snapshot
Based on FMP financials and quantitative analysis
Bull Case vs Bear Case
Bull Case
- Strong brand recognition among teens and young adults
- Established network of mall-based retail stores
- Proprietary apparel lines
- E-commerce platform
Bear Case
- Negative profit margin
- High beta (volatility)
- Dependence on mall traffic
- Susceptibility to changing fashion trends
AI-generated arguments based on insider flow, news sentiment and technicals — not financial advice · July 2026
PSUN Latest News
No recent news available for PSUN.
PSUN Analyst Consensus
Consensus Rating
Aggregated Buy/Hold/Sell recommendations from Benzinga, Yahoo Finance, and Finnhub for PSUN.
Price Targets
Wall Street price target analysis for PSUN.
PSUN MoonshotScore
What does this score mean?
The MoonshotScore rates PSUN's growth potential on a scale of 0-100 across multiple factors including innovation, market disruption, financial health, and momentum.
PSUN Consumer Discretionary Stock FAQ
What does Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. do?
Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. (PacSun) is a specialty retailer that focuses on providing a curated selection of branded and proprietary apparel, accessories, and footwear for teens and young adults. The company operates through mall-based retail stores and its e-commerce website, offering a diverse range of products that cater to the ever-changing tastes of its target demographic. PacSun aims to create a differentiated shopping experience by offering on-trend products and fostering a connection with its audience through marketing and social media initiatives.
What do analysts say about PSUN stock?
As of 2026-03-16, formal analyst ratings for Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. (PSUN) are unavailable. Key financial metrics to consider include the company's negative P/E ratio of -0.06 and a profit margin of -5.9%, indicating current profitability challenges. Investors should monitor the company's ability to improve its financial performance, manage inventory effectively, and adapt to changing consumer preferences. The high beta of 1.99 suggests significant price volatility.
What are the main risks for PSUN?
Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. (PacSun) faces several key risks, including intense competition from other retailers and online platforms, changing consumer preferences and fashion trends, economic downturns that could reduce consumer spending, and dependence on mall traffic. The company's negative profit margin and high beta also highlight financial and market-related risks. Effective management of inventory, operating expenses, and marketing strategies is crucial for mitigating these risks.
How does Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. compare to competitors in its industry?
Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. (PacSun) operates in a highly competitive apparel retail landscape, facing competition from companies like Urban Outfitters, American Eagle Outfitters, and Abercrombie & Fitch. While all these retailers target the teen and young adult demographic, PacSun differentiates itself through its curated selection of branded and proprietary merchandise, as well as its focus on creating a differentiated shopping experience through marketing and social media initiatives. However, PacSun's negative profit margin highlights a key area where it lags behind some of its more profitable competitors.
What are the key financial metrics investors watch for PSUN?
Investors monitoring Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. (PSUN) closely examine several key financial metrics. Gross margin, currently at 25.0%, indicates the profitability of product sales. The negative profit margin of -5.9% is a concern, reflecting challenges in achieving overall profitability. The P/E ratio of -0.06 also signals current losses. Additionally, investors track revenue growth, same-store sales, inventory turnover, and operating expenses to assess the company's financial health and operational efficiency.
What are the key factors to evaluate for PSUN?
Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. (PSUN) holds an AI score of 41/100 (low). Not financial advice.
How frequently does PSUN data refresh on this page?
PSUN prices update in real time during U.S. market hours. Fundamentals refresh after quarterly filings; analyst ratings and AI insights update daily; news is aggregated continuously.
What has driven PSUN's recent stock price performance?
Pacific Sunwear of California, Inc. (PSUN) moves on earnings results, analyst revisions, sector rotation, and market sentiment. Notable catalyst: Strong brand recognition among teens and young adults. See the News tab for the latest drivers. Past performance does not predict future results.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always do your own research and consult a financial advisor.
Official Resources
Data provided for informational purposes only.
- AI analysis is pending, which could provide further insights. The apparel retail industry is subject to rapid changes in consumer preferences and fashion trends, which could impact the company's performance.