Latest news with #EYE
Scottish Sun
10-07-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
‘Miracle' high street eye cream finally banished my dark circles – but shock effect means I'll never use it again
With no time or cash to get expensive eye bag surgery, busy writer and mum-of-two Emma Ponsford, 48, from Reigate, Surrey, tried a budget cream that's got the beauty world buzzing. But can it really deflate bags she's been carrying since the Nineties? EYE SAY 'Miracle' high street eye cream finally banished my dark circles – but shock effect means I'll never use it again THEY say the eyes are the window to our soul, but it has always been my belief that what lurks beneath them has a far more interesting story to tell. Despite being a good sleeper, my 48-year-old eyes have been propped up by huge, dark bags that look like they were stolen from Gollum – the bleary-eyed character from Lord of the Rings movies – since I was a child. 4 Emma Ponsford tried the new 'Oreal Paris Revitalift Laser Eye Bag Instant Eraser Eye Cream which promises to banish eye bags Credit: James Rudland 4 Emma after using the cream which promises to banish eye bags, puffiness and wrinkles Credit: James Rudland Rachel Reeves' puffy peepers, which drew cruel comments online after the Chancellor was pictured crying in the Commons, have nothing on mine. So when I heard about L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Laser Eye Bag Instant Eraser Eye Cream, which promises to be the beauty fix I have spent a lifetime looking for – I was almost clammy with anticipation. Or was that just the perimenopause? I am ashamed to admit that my search for the best eye bag fixes has cost me an amount I am not brave enough to tot up. But according to beauty brand Olay, nearly 80 per cent of women suffer from eye bags and puffiness at some point in their lives, so I know I'm not alone. Under-eye creams, concealers and brighteners do not come cheap, so at under £30 L'Oréal's new wonder product sounded too good to be true. Despite never suffering from acne or an uneven skin tone as a teenager, my dark eyes meant that even at secondary school I was never able to leave the house fresh-faced and makeup-free. My toxic twenties did nothing to help – burning the candle at both ends with long working days and big nights out made the problem worse. I didn't know it at the time, and sadly I do not have a clock I can turn back, but alcohol consumption on those boozy evenings out will only have worsened the appearance of my under-eye luggage. Booze, including my tipple of choice, red wine, dehydrates the body, causing the delicate skin around the eyes to become prone to sagging and making under-eye bags appear more prominent and darker. A heavy drinking session can also lead to fluid retention, contributing to yet more puffiness around the eyes. By the time I got married, aged 30, I was ready to settle down – unlike my eye bags, which refused to flatten. I'm 52 but look 25 - don't waste £100s on anti-ageing buys, Superdrug's 'magic' eye cream plumps skin & smooths wrinkles In preparation for my wedding day, I handed the problem over to a professional, but the first make-up artist I trialled opted for a traditional peachy palette that included smothering my eyelids in beige eyeshadow. The ghoulish colour perfectly matched the dark circles under my eyes and when I left the salon and bumped into an old friend, she approached me with concern and asked if I was ill. Add a few years of juggling two very energetic boys, now aged 15 and 13, and cramming school runs in between running my own press agency, and by the time I was blowing out 40th birthday candles I was facing a new problem: wrinkles. The thick concealers from MAC and NARS that had previously offered enough coverage to hide the darkness now clung to my under eyes like it had been trowelled on by a builder's apprentice and resembled pockets of plaster. 4 The cream says it tightens and smooths under-eye skin for up to eight hours Credit: L'Oreal I'm ashamed to admit I even once got sucked into such impressive before and after eye bag photos on a box of eye cream I splurged £200 on a single pot no larger than a thimble. It made absolutely no difference to my panda pallor, but was way over the £25 I would normally fork out on beauty products. In 2018 I even came close to investing in tear trough dermal fillers, a reportedly painful surgical procedure which involves having hyaluronic acid injected into the area beneath your lower eyelid and upper cheek. The gel-like substance reduces the depth of the tear trough making the skin fuller and tighter, reducing the shadows for up to a year and draining the family budget by up to a whacking £800. But with hypochondria to rival Madagascar's Melman the giraffe, I realised I would never be brave enough to let someone that close to my eyeballs with a needle. So when I was asked to try L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Laser Eye Bag Instant Eraser Eye Cream, I dared to hope this was the answer I had been looking for. The promise that a single cream could lift me from a lifetime of darkness was so exciting, not least because, at under £30, it was one of the most cost-effective options I had heard of. L'Oréal claim the results would be dramatic, tackling eye bags, puffiness and wrinkles by tightening and smoothing for up to eight hours. 4 Rachel Reeves' puffy peepers, which drew cruel comments online after the Chancellor was pictured crying in the Commons, have nothing on mine Credit: PA According to their trials, 94 per cent of testers said their under eyes were smoother after using it. 95 per cent said their eye bags were visibly reduced. Applying the cream was easy, as all that had to be done was gently dab a pea-sized amount under my eyes with a finger and wait for it to set. I did this makeup-free, but the instructions say it can also be applied over makeup. A cross between a cream and gel, it was easy to dab in place. The hardest part was remaining expressionless for 15 minutes, as per the instructions, until it was time to look in the mirror. At this point, I was immediately pleased to see that my under eye area looked slightly fuller and, as a result, it did visibly improve the appearance of shadows. However, despite claiming to be 'ultra comfortable', when the product had fully dried I was left with the feeling I had put on an eye mask and forgotten to peel it off. This tight, unrelaxing sensation remained for the eight hours the product promises to work for. I can certainly say there was an improvement to the dark shadows. But the minute I cracked a smile, the lines were back – appearing even deeper, meaning this product aged my under eyes by at least five years. There was radio silence from my husband and kids on my 'transformation', but my mum did say I 'looked well' when she saw me a couple of hours after on younger skin it would achieve better results. But staring down the barrel of 50, the gel-to-tape technology laser 'eraser' sadly did not quite manage to transform me from Gollum to gorgeous.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
2 Surging Stocks with Solid Fundamentals and 1 to Avoid
Each stock in this article is trading near its 52-week high. These elevated prices usually indicate some degree of investor confidence, business improvements, or favorable market conditions. But not every company with momentum is a long-term winner, and plenty of investors have lost money betting on short-term fads. Keeping that in mind, here are two stocks with lasting competitive advantages and one that may correct. One-Month Return: +21.3% Operating under multiple brands, National Vision (NYSE:EYE) sells optical products such as eyeglasses and provides optical services such as eye exams. Why Do We Steer Clear of EYE? Recent store closures reflect a shift toward streamlining existing locations to maximize efficiency Subpar operating margin of 0.3% constrains its ability to invest in process improvements or effectively respond to new competitive threats Low returns on capital reflect management's struggle to allocate funds effectively, and its shrinking returns suggest its past profit sources are losing steam National Vision is trading at $23.06 per share, or 38.2x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with EYE, check out our full research report (it's free). One-Month Return: +17.1% Founded by Stanford students with the intent to build 'the local, on-demand FedEx", DoorDash (NYSE:DASH) operates an on-demand food delivery platform. Why Do We Love DASH? Orders have grown by 21% annually, allowing for more profitable cross-selling opportunities if it can build complementary products and features Performance over the past three years shows its incremental sales were extremely profitable, as its annual earnings per share growth of 105% outpaced its revenue gains Free cash flow margin jumped by 11.3 percentage points over the last few years, giving the company more resources to pursue growth initiatives, repurchase shares, or pay dividends At $239.97 per share, DoorDash trades at 35.9x forward EV/EBITDA. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it's free. One-Month Return: +3.6% Founded in 2013 and operating through three distinct underwriting platforms across four countries, Hamilton Insurance Group (NYSE:HG) operates global specialty insurance and reinsurance platforms across Lloyd's, Ireland, Bermuda, and the United States. Why Are We Positive On HG? Impressive 36.7% annual revenue growth over the last two years indicates it's winning market share this cycle Market share has increased this cycle as its 26.1% annual net premiums earned growth over the last two years was exceptional Combined ratio improvement of 13.8 percentage points over the last two years demonstrates its ability to scale efficiently Hamilton Insurance Group's stock price of $21.65 implies a valuation ratio of 0.8x forward P/B. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it's free. The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Find your next big winner with StockStory today
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EYE Q1 Earnings Call: National Vision Discusses Transformation Strategy, Leadership Transition, and Tariff Impact
Optical retailer National Vision (NYSE:EYE) reported revenue ahead of Wall Street's expectations in Q1 CY2025, with sales up 5.7% year on year to $510.3 million. The company's full-year revenue guidance of $1.94 billion at the midpoint came in 0.7% above analysts' estimates. Its non-GAAP profit of $0.34 per share was 10.5% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy EYE? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $510.3 million vs analyst estimates of $502.6 million (5.7% year-on-year growth, 1.5% beat) Adjusted EPS: $0.34 vs analyst estimates of $0.31 (10.5% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $64.07 million vs analyst estimates of $60.83 million (12.6% margin, 5.3% beat) The company slightly lifted its revenue guidance for the full year to $1.94 billion at the midpoint from $1.93 billion Management raised its full-year Adjusted EPS guidance to $0.63 at the midpoint, an 8.6% increase Operating Margin: 5.1%, in line with the same quarter last year Locations: 1,237 at quarter end, up from 1,201 in the same quarter last year Same-Store Sales rose 5.5% year on year (0.4% in the same quarter last year) Market Capitalization: $1.66 billion National Vision's first quarter performance was driven by the company's ongoing transformation initiatives, including new approaches to pricing, product assortment, and targeted customer segmentation. CEO Reade Fahs credited these strategies with improving results across managed care, progressive, and outside prescription customer segments, which together saw double-digit comparable sales growth. The rollout of remote eye exam technology helped address prior challenges with optometrist shortages, stabilizing exam capacity and keeping store coverage healthy. Fahs highlighted that the company's pricing actions raised average ticket values without reducing conversion rates or customer satisfaction, indicating customer acceptance of these changes. Product mix shifts toward higher-value frames and investments in store associate training also contributed to the positive momentum, while ongoing operational discipline supported bottom line growth. The first quarter's results reinforced management's belief that National Vision's transformation is gaining traction. Looking forward, National Vision's raised full-year guidance is underpinned by continued investment in digital tools, personalized marketing, and new product offerings aimed at expanding its reach among higher-value customer segments. Incoming CEO Alex Wilkes outlined priorities to further segment and personalize the customer experience, while enhancing store capabilities and modernizing the product mix. Management emphasized the importance of cost efficiency, particularly as the company prepares for potential increases in tariffs on imported eyewear. CFO Chris Laden stated, 'We believe that we can mitigate potential higher tariff costs with pricing actions and cost reduction efforts to neutralize the tariff impact.' The leadership team acknowledged macroeconomic uncertainty and intends to balance growth investments with disciplined expense management as transformation initiatives continue to roll out during the year. Management attributed the quarter's performance to pricing actions, higher-value product launches, targeted customer segmentation, and the successful adoption of digital and remote exam capabilities. Targeted segmentation strategy: Focused efforts on managed care, progressive, and outside prescription customers led to double-digit comparable sales growth within these segments. These customers, who represent about half of National Vision's base, were identified as underdeveloped but high-value groups, helping to expand the company's addressable market. Pricing actions well-received: New pricing structures were implemented, particularly in the fourth and first quarters, resulting in higher average ticket values. Management reported no negative impact on exam-to-purchase conversion rates or Net Promoter Scores, suggesting customer acceptance of higher price points and an ability to offset inflationary pressures such as tariffs. Product mix modernization: The company began introducing more branded and higher-priced frames, including launches of L.A.M.B. and Ted Baker eyewear. Management noted that after the second quarter, the proportion of frames priced above $99 will double compared to the end of last year, aiming to attract a broader customer base and enhance the in-store experience. Digital and remote exam adoption: Approximately two-thirds of stores now offer remote eye exams, allowing more efficient use of optometrist resources and helping ensure broad store coverage. This technology is now embedded in operations, and management expects further efficiency gains over time. Leadership transition and new hires: The company announced a planned CEO succession, with Alex Wilkes set to take over from Reade Fahs. Other recent leadership additions include CFO Chris Laden and new executives with backgrounds in retail and healthcare, supporting the transformation agenda and operational execution. National Vision's outlook is shaped by continued transformation initiatives, evolving customer preferences, and the need to manage external cost pressures such as tariffs. Enhancing customer experience: Management is rolling out new digital selling tools, improving CRM systems, and personalizing marketing to better engage higher-value customer segments. These investments are intended to drive sales growth and foster customer loyalty as the market becomes more competitive. Tariff mitigation and cost control: The company is preparing for potential increases in tariffs on imported frames, with less than 10% of its cost of goods exposed to China. Management believes that pricing actions and ongoing cost reduction efforts can offset these headwinds, but notes the situation is fluid and not yet fully reflected in guidance. Store optimization and product innovation: Efforts to optimize store formats, test smaller locations, and introduce new branded products are expected to broaden the customer base and improve store economics. National Vision is also investing in associate training and evolving its assortment to support higher average ticket values and margin resilience. In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will be watching (1) the impact of ongoing product launches and pricing actions on average ticket values and customer mix, (2) execution of digital marketing and CRM enhancements to drive personalized engagement, and (3) the company's ability to manage cost pressures, particularly if tariffs on imported frames increase. Progress on store optimization and expansion will also be important signposts. National Vision currently trades at a forward P/E ratio of 34.8×. Is the company at an inflection point that warrants a buy or sell? The answer lies in our full research report (it's free). Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs. While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why National Vision (EYE) is a Top Momentum Stock for the Long-Term
For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Achieving those goals is made easier with the Zacks Style Scores, a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on popular investing methodologies, namely value, growth, and momentum. The Style Scores can help you narrow down which stocks are better for your portfolio and which ones can beat the market over the long-term. Momentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks. National Vision Holdings, Inc. is one of the leading and rapidly growing optical retailers in the United States. The company holds a solid position in the attractive value segment of the U.S. optical retail industry. National Vision completed the initial public offering of its common stock in October 2017. EYE is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock, with a Momentum Style Score of A and VGM Score of B. Shares are up 19.4% over the past one week and up 63% over the past four weeks. EYE has gained 16.4% in the last one-year period as well. Looking at trading volume, an average of 3,132,674.50 shares exchanged hands over the last 20 trading days. A company's earnings performance is important for momentum investors as well. For fiscal 2025, three analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for EYE, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.06 to $0.62 per share. EYE also boasts an average earnings surprise of 81.8%. EYE should be on investors' short list because of its impressive earnings fundamentals, a good Zacks Rank, and strong Momentum and VGM Style Scores. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report National Vision Holdings, Inc. (EYE) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
1 Small-Cap Stock for Long-Term Investors and 2 to Be Wary Of
Investors looking for hidden gems should keep an eye on small-cap stocks because they're frequently overlooked by Wall Street. Many opportunities exist in this part of the market, but it is also a high-risk, high-reward environment due to the lack of reliable analyst price targets. These trade-offs can cause headaches for even the most seasoned professionals, which is why we started StockStory - to help you separate the good companies from the bad. That said, here is one small-cap stock that could be the next 100 bagger and two best left ignored. Market Cap: $1.49 billion Operating under multiple brands, National Vision (NYSE:EYE) sells optical products such as eyeglasses and provides optical services such as eye exams. Why Do We Avoid EYE? Store closures are a headwind for growth and suggest it's rightsizing operations to optimize sales at existing locations Operating margin of 0.3% falls short of the industry average, and the smaller profit dollars make it harder to react to unexpected market developments Underwhelming 3% return on capital reflects management's difficulties in finding profitable growth opportunities, and its decreasing returns suggest its historical profit centers are aging National Vision's stock price of $18.86 implies a valuation ratio of 31.2x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including EYE in your portfolio, it's free. Market Cap: $2.77 billion With roots dating back to 1877 and serving over 150,000 customers across North America and the UK, Patterson Companies (NASDAQ:PDCO) is a specialty distributor that supplies dental practices and animal health professionals with equipment, consumables, pharmaceuticals, and practice management software. Why Does PDCO Worry Us? Core business is underperforming as its organic revenue has disappointed over the past two years, suggesting it might need acquisitions to stimulate growth Performance over the past five years shows its incremental sales were less profitable as its earnings per share were flat Negative free cash flow raises questions about the return timeline for its investments Patterson Companies is trading at $31.34 per share, or 13.6x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than PDCO. Market Cap: $1.05 billion Integrating power outlets into many Boeing aircraft, Astronics (NASDAQ:ATRO) is a provider of technologies and services to the global aerospace, defense, and electronics industries. Why Does ATRO Stand Out? Market share has increased this cycle as its 19.1% annual revenue growth over the last two years was exceptional Incremental sales over the last two years have been highly profitable as its earnings per share increased by 81.3% annually, topping its revenue gains Historical investments are beginning to pay off as its returns on capital are growing At $29.90 per share, Astronics trades at 19.4x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it's free. The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 176% over the last five years. Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
