Driven mostly by soaring sales of products other than men's bottoms, Levi Strauss registered double-digit revenue and operating income growth in 2018. This momentum carried over into the first quarter of 2019. The company’s revenue increased in double-digit percentage on a constant-currency basis, and its adjusted operating income grew at an even quicker pace. The company's guidance for the full year was a little less impressive, but Levi still sees revenue and earnings marching higher in 2019.

Levi's revenue growth was driven by both the wholesale business and the direct-to-consumer business. Its wholesale revenue totaled $869.3 million, increasing by 5 per cent year over year, while direct-to-consumer revenue jumped 9.6 per cent to $565.1 million. Its direct-to-consumer revenue included sales at its company-operated stores, company-operated shop-in-shops located in third-party retail stores, and company-operated e-commerce sites.

Levi's revenue also grew across its three geographic regions. America’s revenue increased by 9 per cent year over year; European revenue increased by 3 per cent year over  year; and Asian revenue was up by 8 per cent year over year. All three regions also saw increases in operating income.

Levi's adjusted operating income growth was driven by higher revenue and a reduction in operating expenses as a percentage of revenue. However, adjusted net income soared primarily due to a $37 million charge related to undistributed foreign earnings in the prior-year period.