Michael Binetti

Senior Managing Director & Analyst, Retail Softlines & Luxury, Evercore

Search every verified Michael Binetti interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Michael Binetti, Senior Managing Director and Analyst covering retail softlines and luxury at Evercore, appeared on episode 65 of The Real Eisman Playbook podcast on June 22, 2026, alongside fellow Evercore analysts David Palmer and Greg Melich. During the discussion, Binetti commented on the state of department stores and specialty retail, stating that success in the space is concentrated either among brands serving high-income consumers, such as Ralph Lauren and Coach, or among strong value players like TJ Maxx, while the middle segment, including department stores like Kohl's, is struggling. He also discussed inventory management improvements in the sector, noting that retailers have become more disciplined on supply chains and store bases since the COVID period, and expressed cautious warming to Macy's while acknowledging its share price challenges. Binetti also addressed the difficulties facing athletic apparel companies, attributing Lululemon's struggles to an unsustainable reliance on chasing hit products after COVID-driven demand spikes, such as yoga pants, with subsequent attempts to replicate that success through items like belt bags proving difficult to sustain in fashion. His remarks were part of a broader conversation covering consumer health, Nike's turnaround efforts, structural headwinds for traditional food companies from protein and GLP-1 trends, and a positive outlook for Walmart's delivery capabilities and membership growth.