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HELE · Analysis updated Nov 10, 2026, 6:00 PM ET
Why is Helen Of Troy Ltd (HELE) stock moving?
HELE jumped from a 29.54 close on Nov 3 to 37.04 on Nov 4 (+25%) on about 2.93M shares, roughly eight times its prior typical volume of 0.3-0.4M, after Empower Brands (owned by Spectrum Brands and Oaktree) proposed a non-binding $37.00 per share all-cash buyout valuing the company at about $1.6B. The board unanimously rejected the offer, calling it opportunistic and substantially undervaluing the company, and pointed to its Q2 FY27 results: net sales of $440.9M (up 2.1%), gross margin of 52.2% (vs 44.2%), adjusted diluted EPS of $0.79 (vs $0.59), and raised FY27 guidance including adjusted EBITDA of $203-210M, free cash flow of $120-140M and adjusted diluted EPS of $3.60-4.15. Debt was reduced by about $244M over 18 months. The stock has held above the $37 proposal, closing at 38.20 on Nov 10 with a high of 39.03, which suggests the market is pricing some chance of a higher bid or a longer contest. Sales growth is still low single digits and the proposal is non-binding, so the outcome remains uncertain. The Nov 10 Honeywell product launch in Canada is minor by comparison.
News behind the analysis
- Helen of Troy Launches Honeywell HEPA 3-in-1 Air Comfort System in CanadaHelen of Troy introduced the Honeywell HEPA 3-in-1 Air Comfort System with Turbo360 to the Canadian market. This is a routine product launch with no direct valuation impact.
- Helen of Troy Board Unanimously Rejects Unsolicited Acquisition Proposal from Empower BrandsThe board formally rejected a non-binding $37.00 per share all-cash proposal from Empower Brands, which is owned by Spectrum Brands and Oaktree, and said the offer substantially undervalues the company.
- Helen Of Troy Unanimously Rejects $37/Share Takeover Bid, Citing Undervaluation And Strong Long-Term Growth ProspectsHelen of Troy's board rejected the $37 per share takeover bid, arguing the company is undervalued and has strong long-term growth prospects.
- Helen Of Troy Stock Hits 52-Week High on $1.6 Billion Buyout BidHELE shares rose to a 52-week high after Empower Brands proposed a $1.6 billion all-cash acquisition of the company.
- Empower Brands Proposes Acquisition of Helen of TroyEmpower Brands proposed an all-cash acquisition of Helen of Troy at $37 per share, valuing the company at about $1.6 billion.
- Spectrum Brands And Oaktree's Empower Brands Makes Non-Binding $37.00/Share All-Cash Proposal To Acquire Helen Of Troy; Says Helen Of Troy Called Offer InadequateEmpower Brands made a non-binding $37.00 per share all-cash proposal, and Helen of Troy has called the offer inadequate.
About Helen Of Troy Ltd
Helen of Troy is a consumer products company based in El Paso, Texas, and listed on Nasdaq. It owns a group of well-known brands, including OXO kitchen tools, Hydro Flask and Osprey bags and drinkware, Revlon and Hot Tools hair appliances, Braun and Vicks wellness devices, PUR water filters, and Drybar and Olaplex-adjacent beauty lines. The company is going through a turnaround under a new CEO after a fiscal 2026 net loss of about $900 million, caused mostly by roughly $886 million in non-cash write-downs of its assets.
How it makes money
It sells branded products through big retailers like Walmart, Amazon and Target, through other distributors and directly to consumers. Most of the work of making the products is outsourced, much of it to factories in Asia. Sales come from two segments of roughly similar size: Home & Outdoor (kitchen tools, drinkware, bags) and Beauty & Wellness (hair appliances, thermometers, humidifiers, water filtration). Net sales in fiscal 2026, which ended February 2026, were about $1.8 billion, down about 6% from the year before. About three-quarters of sales come from the US.
What usually moves HELE
- US tariffs and changes to tariff refunds
- Consumer spending on discretionary household goods
- Orders and inventory levels at major retailers
- Progress on debt reduction and the turnaround plan
- Demand for hair appliances and drinkware