Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI)

When a company's mission is to "Deliver profits through principles," you defintely need to see the numbers back it up, and Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI) is showing that alignment.

The strategic focus, guided by core values like originality and courage, drove a 7% increase in Q3 2025 net revenues to $1.5 billion, with Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) sales jumping 11% and full-year organic net revenue growth now projected at approximately 6%.

With an adjusted diluted EPS outlook of $1.27 to $1.32 for 2025, plus a goal of a 90% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by the end of this year, are you factoring in how this blend of profit and principles is reshaping their long-term valuation?

Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI) Overview

You need to know the true financial foundation of an icon like Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI), especially as they navigate a complex retail environment. The core takeaway is that their strategic shift to a direct-to-consumer (DTC) model is working, driving a significant surge in profitability and allowing them to raise their full-year 2025 outlook despite global headwinds.

Levi Strauss & Co. started in 1853 when Levi Strauss, a Bavarian immigrant, opened a dry goods business in San Francisco during the Gold Rush. The company's defining moment came in 1873 when Strauss and tailor Jacob Davis received a patent for adding copper rivets to work pants, an invention that literally gave birth to the blue jean. That simple, durable design-the original waist overall-is the bedrock of a global apparel giant.

Today, the company's portfolio is anchored by the iconic Levi's brand, plus Beyond Yoga, Denizen, and Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. The company is aggressively focusing on its core brand and its DTC channel, which includes its own stores and e-commerce. Here's the quick math: the company now projects its full-year fiscal 2025 organic net revenue growth to be approximately 6%, a clear sign their strategy is gaining traction. That's a defintely strong signal in the current market.

• Founded 1853 in San Francisco, California.
• Invented the blue jean (waist overalls) in 1873.
• Key brands include Levi's, Beyond Yoga, and Denizen.

Record-Breaking Q3 2025 Performance

The latest financial reports, specifically the third quarter of fiscal 2025 (Q3 2025) ending August 31, show the momentum is real. The company reported net revenues of $1.5 billion, marking a 7% increase year-over-year. But the real story is the bottom line: net income from continuing operations surged to $122 million, a massive 430% jump from the same quarter last year.

This record-breaking profitability is largely due to the shift toward selling directly to you, the customer, rather than relying solely on wholesale partners. DTC net revenues increased by 11% on a reported basis in Q3 2025, and e-commerce specifically grew by a robust 18%. This channel mix gives the company better control over pricing and inventory, which is why the gross margin expanded by 110 basis points to a record 61.7% for the quarter.

Also, the growth isn't just a U.S. phenomenon. International markets are driving a lot of the strength. In Q3 2025, Asia was a standout, with net revenues up 12%, while the Americas region saw a 6% increase. This global strength, combined with resilient demand for core products like wide-leg denim, is why the full-year adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) forecast was raised to a range of $1.27 to $1.32.

A Global Leader in Denim Lifestyle

Levi Strauss & Co. is not just an apparel company; it is the global leader in jeanswear, a position it has held for over 150 years. This isn't about nostalgia; it's about consistent innovation and a brand that transcends generations. They are transforming from a jeans company into a full denim lifestyle brand, which is a much bigger market opportunity.

This strategic evolution-focusing on the core Levi's brand, accelerating the high-margin DTC channel, and expanding product offerings like their women's business which is maintaining strong growth-is why they are outperforming many competitors. They are actively building a higher-growth, higher-margin organization. If you want to dig deeper into the investor profile and the institutional money that is betting on this transformation, you can find more information here: Exploring Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI) Investor Profile: Who's Buying and Why?

Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI) Mission Statement

You're looking for the bedrock of a company like Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI), the principle that guides their decisions, and it boils down to a simple, powerful idea: Profits Through Principles.

The company's mission statement is to deliver profits through principles to make an outsized impact on the world, which is a clear mandate to marry financial success with social and environmental responsibility. This isn't just a feel-good slogan; it's the operating philosophy that underpins their full-year 2025 guidance, which, as of the Q2 2025 update, anticipates reported net revenue growth of 1% to 2% and adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.25 to $1.30. That's a realist's approach: profit is the goal, but principles are the roadmap.

Component 1: Profits-The Financial Imperative

The first core component is the commitment to profitable growth, which funds the rest of the mission. They are not a non-profit, so consistent financial performance is defintely critical. The strong performance in the first half of 2025 shows this focus is working, with Q2 2025 net revenues hitting $1.4 billion, a 6% increase on a reported basis. This financial strength is built on a direct-to-consumer (DTC) strategy, which reported its 13th consecutive quarter of global comparable sales growth in Q2 2025.

Here's the quick math: a higher gross margin-which expanded to a record 62.6% in Q2 2025-gives them more capital to invest in their principles, like sustainable materials and ethical sourcing. The full-year adjusted EBIT margin is projected to be between 11.4% to 11.6%, showing a focus on operational efficiency alongside top-line growth. This is how you fund an outsized impact.

Component 2: Principles-Integrity and Empathy in Action

The principles component is where the company's core values of integrity and empathy translate into measurable actions, particularly in sustainability and labor practices. This commitment drives their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) targets, which are tied to the 2025 fiscal year. For instance, their goal is to achieve a 90% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across their owned and operated facilities by the end of 2025, compared to a 2016 baseline.

Their focus on water stewardship is another concrete example of this principle. They aim to reduce freshwater use in manufacturing in areas of high-water stress by 50% by 2025, compared to a 2018 base year. This isn't just about saving money; it's about responsible resource management in the communities where they operate. You can find more detail on their strategy by Exploring Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI) Investor Profile: Who's Buying and Why?

• Achieve 100% renewable electricity in all company-operated facilities by 2025.
• Reduce freshwater use in high-stress areas by 50% by 2025.
• Cut Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 90% by 2025.

Component 3: Outsized Impact-Originality and Courage

The final component, making an 'outsized impact,' is driven by the values of originality and courage, which manifest as product innovation and strategic market transformation. Originality is about creating authentic products that spark the imagination of people, which is the foundation of their brand strength.

Courage is the strategic action, like the decision to focus intensely on the core Levi's brand and the direct-to-consumer model, as evidenced by the organic net revenue growth of the Levi's brand globally, which was up 9% in Q2 2025. This strategic courage to shift focus, even in an uncertain environment, is what drives their long-term value creation. What this estimate hides, of course, is the risk of a global slowdown, but their strong gross margin provides a cushion.

The company is constantly innovating in materials and production techniques, like their Water

Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI) Vision Statement

You're looking at Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI) not just for a strong brand, but for a blueprint on how a 170-year-old company can blend financial performance with social conscience. The direct takeaway is this: LEVI's strategy is a disciplined pivot to Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) sales, which is fueling its profit growth, while its values-driven mission acts as a risk-mitigation tool against modern consumer demands for sustainability.

The company's forward-looking goal, or Aspiration, is to Be the world's best apparel company, famous for our brands and values. This isn't just a feel-good statement; it's a clear commercial directive. Being the 'best' means dominating the market with the Levi's® brand, but being 'famous for our values' is the moat, the competitive advantage that resonates with today's financially-literate, trend-aware consumer. You can see the history that underpins this drive here: Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money.

Mission: Deliver Profits Through Principles

The mission statement-Deliver profits through principles to make an outsized impact on the world-is a classic example of a 'profits with purpose' model. Honestly, the 'profits' part is what matters to us as analysts, but the 'principles' part is what makes the profits durable. The 2025 fiscal year guidance shows this balance in action. Management has raised the full-year outlook, now expecting organic net revenue growth of approximately 6%, up from an earlier range of 4.5% to 5.5%.

Here's the quick math: that revenue growth is driven by the strategic shift to control their own destiny. In the third quarter of 2025, Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) net revenues jumped 11% on a reported basis, making up a significant portion of their sales. This DTC strength improves their structural economics, which is why the full-year gross margin is anticipated to expand by 100 basis points. This expansion is a direct result of selling more product at full price through their own channels, which is defintely a principled way to build a sustainable business model.

• DTC growth fuels margin expansion.
• Principles build brand equity.
• Strong margins allow for reinvestment.

Values: Empathy, Originality, Integrity, and Courage

The four core values-empathy, originality, integrity, and courage-are the behavioral framework for the entire organization. They are the 'principles' that guide the profit-seeking. For example, 'Integrity' and 'Empathy' are directly mapped to their aggressive 2025 sustainability targets, which are now critical to long-term valuation (Environmental, Social, and Governance or ESG). One clean one-liner: ESG is no longer a cost center; it's a competitive edge.

What this estimate hides is the cost of achieving these goals, but the transparency builds consumer trust. The company is committed to reducing absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by a massive 90% by the end of 2025, using a 2016 baseline. Plus, they are targeting 100% renewable electricity in all company-operated facilities by the same deadline. This kind of commitment takes 'Courage' and capital, but it also future-proofs the supply chain against rising carbon costs and regulatory risk.

The Outsized Impact: Water and Worker Well-being

The 'outsized impact' component of the mission is most clearly demonstrated in water stewardship and labor practices. Water risk is a massive, underpriced factor in the apparel industry, so LEVI's goal to reduce freshwater use in manufacturing in areas of high-water stress by 50% by 2025 is a material financial de-risking move. It's a tangible action that shows 'Integrity' to the planet and 'Empathy' for the communities they operate in.

For investors, the near-term opportunity is tracking the impact of these principles on the bottom line. The raised 2025 adjusted diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) guidance of $1.27 to $1.32 is the financial payoff of this values-led strategy. This performance, coupled with the clear ESG milestones, suggests that the market is rewarding the company for its long-term vision. Finance: continue to monitor the progress on the 50% water reduction goal by the end of the fiscal year, as it's a key operational efficiency metric.

Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI) Core Values

You're looking for the anchor points of a 170-year-old company, the principles that drive financial and operational decisions. For Levi Strauss & Co., it boils down to four core values: Empathy, Originality, Integrity, and Courage. These aren't just posters on a wall; they are the framework for their strategy, especially as they navigate the shift to a direct-to-consumer (DTC) focused model and aggressively pursue their 2025 sustainability goals.

The company's mission is clear: Deliver profits through principles to make an outsized impact on the world. This is how a heritage brand stays relevant, and you can see it in their Q1 FY25 results, where reported net revenues were up 3%, and the Levi's brand saw an organic growth of 8% globally. That growth is tied directly to their values in action, not just product design.

If you want a deeper look at the market perception of these actions, you should check out Exploring Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI) Investor Profile: Who's Buying and Why?

Empathy

Empathy, for Levi Strauss & Co., means understanding and responding to the needs of employees, customers, and the communities where they operate. This goes beyond standard corporate social responsibility (CSR) to an active investment in human well-being, recognizing that their success is tied to the health of their value chain.

In the 2025 fiscal year, this value was demonstrated through immediate community support, like mobilizing to help people affected by the Los Angeles fires. They distributed more than 20,000 Levi's, Dockers, and Beyond Yoga garments to those impacted. They also focus on the Worker Well-Being initiative, partnering with suppliers and local nonprofits in 12 countries to provide health education and financial empowerment programs, benefiting nearly 100,000 workers in the supply chain.

Here's the quick math: Investing in worker welfare reduces turnover and improves quality, which ultimately protects the premium brand value. They also recently expanded their bereavement policy to include support for pregnancy loss, a defintely empathetic move for employees.

Originality

Originality is the engine of innovation, pushing the company to reinvent its products and processes while staying true to its iconic heritage. It means being a pioneer in both style and sustainable manufacturing, which is a major focus for their 2025 targets.

In product, this value manifests in their circular economy efforts, such as the WellThread™ collection and the circular line of the signature 501 jeans, which use recycled and recyclable materials. But Originality is also in their operations. As of November 2025, Levi Strauss & Co. is partnering with Microsoft on an AI-powered digital transformation.

This initiative includes developing a new 'superagent' to streamline workflows and enhance employee decision-making, showing they apply innovation to internal efficiency just as much as to denim design. This strategic tech investment is a clear signal of their commitment to modernizing the business.

Integrity

Integrity is the bedrock of their long-standing philosophy of 'Profits Through Principles,' meaning they maintain high ethical standards and transparency in all global operations. For investors, this translates into a more resilient and less risky supply chain.

The company's commitment is codified in their Worldwide Code of Business Conduct, which is publicly available in 21 languages. They require annual Code of Conduct and anti-bribery/anti-corruption training for applicable employees, backed by internal audits that rotate countries and locations based on risk. Their focus on environmental integrity is also quantifiable, with a goal to reduce freshwater use in manufacturing in high-water stress areas by 50% by the end of 2025.

• Code of Business Conduct available in 21 languages.
• Targeting 50% reduction in high-stress water use by 2025.
• Annual compliance audits rotate based on risk.

Courage

Courage is the willingness to take bold steps, challenge the status quo, and speak up for what is right, even when it's financially or politically difficult. This value is what allows them to make difficult, but necessary, strategic business decisions.

A recent example is the strategic restructuring in the first half of the 2025 fiscal year. The company made the bold decision to discontinue the Denizen brand and explore the sale of the Dockers business. This was a courageous move to amplify focus and resources on the core, high-growth Levi's brand, aiming for a long-term goal of becoming a $10 billion company. Historically, this value manifested decades ago when the company desegregated its factories in the U.S. 10 years before it was legally required.

Their environmental targets for 2025 also require courage, committing to a 90% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions and achieving 100% renewable electricity in all company-operated facilities. That's a massive capital expenditure commitment, but it's a non-negotiable step for long-term brand health. You have to be willing to take a short-term hit for a long-term gain.