AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS INC

Macroeconomic Conditions, Inflation and Tariffs

During Fiscal 2024 and Fiscal 2025, our results were negatively impacted by macro-economic challenges and global inflationary pressures impacting consumer spending behavior, which constrained revenue and increased margin pressure to clear through excess inventory.

In addition, recent trade policies and uncertainty related thereto, including with respect to tariffs and other restrictions, with respect to countries from which we source our merchandise and raw materials, have created a dynamic and unpredictable trade landscape. This has and may continue to adversely impact our business and operations. On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the U.S. administration’s imposition of tariffs unlawful pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) was unlawful, striking down the 10% global baseline tariff, as well as the higher tariffs imposed on certain U.S. trading partners. The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling did not affect all of the recently imposed tariffs, including those imposed following trade remedy investigations by the Department of Commerce or the U.S. Trade Representative. Nor does it prohibit the imposition of future tariffs through alternative trade authorities available to the U.S. administration. On February 20, 2026, shortly after the announced U.S. Supreme Court decision, the U.S. administration announced that it would be imposing a new 10% global tariff for a period of 150 days pursuant to a balance-of-payments provision in Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, effective February 24, 2026, which is being challenged in court by several US states. The U.S. administration further announced that it would begin additional trade remedy investigations into unidentified trading partners pursuant to Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and with respect to certain unidentified product sectors pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. The Court of International Trade subsequently issued an interim order requiring U.S. Customs and Border Protection ("CBP") to process unliquidated entries without the unlawful tariffs and to develop a plan that could result in refunds of duties previously collected. CBP has indicated it is developing a plan within 45 days to implement that order, however the scope, timing, and ultimate availability of any refunds remains uncertain. While the Company has taken steps to preserve its rights should a refund process be established, no assurance can be given that refunds will be realized.

Accordingly, uncertainty with respect to tariffs remains ongoing. The imposition of tariffs by the U.S. government, associated geopolitical tensions, including reciprocal tariffs by trading partners, and uncertainties regarding U.S. import tariffs have and may further affect our margins and operations or could lead to further weakened business conditions for our industry. We continue to evaluate the impact of tariffs and other trade policies on our business.

For further information about the risks associated with global economic conditions and the effect of economic pressures on our business, see "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of this Annual Report.