ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO /DE/ Fair Value Disclosure
| Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value as of February 1, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
| Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash equivalents (1) | $ | 304,072 | $ | 1,013 | $ | — | $ | 305,085 | |||||||||||||||
Derivative instruments (2) | — | 4,315 | — | 4,315 | |||||||||||||||||||
Rabbi Trust assets (3) | 1,164 | 53,921 | — | 55,085 | |||||||||||||||||||
Restricted cash equivalents (1) | 3,070 | 1,496 | — | 4,566 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 308,306 | $ | 60,745 | $ | — | $ | 369,051 | |||||||||||||||
| Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value as of February 3, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (in thousands) | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||||||||
| Assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash equivalents (1) | $ | 349,174 | $ | 26,975 | $ | — | $ | 376,149 | |||||||||||||||
Derivative instruments (2) | — | 1,092 | — | 1,092 | |||||||||||||||||||
Rabbi Trust assets (3) | 1,164 | 52,521 | — | 53,685 | |||||||||||||||||||
Restricted cash equivalents (1) | 4,282 | 1,420 | — | 5,702 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 354,620 | $ | 82,008 | $ | — | $ | 436,628 | |||||||||||||||
| Liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Derivative instruments (2) | $ | — | $ | 539 | $ | — | $ | 539 | |||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | $ | — | $ | 539 | $ | — | $ | 539 | |||||||||||||||
About Fair Value Disclosures
Fair value disclosures classify all assets and liabilities measured at fair value into a three-level hierarchy: Level 1 (quoted market prices), Level 2 (observable inputs like yield curves), and Level 3 (unobservable inputs requiring management estimates). The proportion of Level 3 assets directly reflects how much of the balance sheet depends on internal models rather than market evidence.
Key signals: a growing Level 3 balance relative to total fair-value assets increases valuation uncertainty and earnings volatility risk. Watch for transfers between levels — assets moving from Level 2 to Level 3 often signal deteriorating market liquidity. Unrealized gains and losses on Level 3 positions flow through earnings or other comprehensive income, so large swings deserve scrutiny. For financial institutions, examine the sensitivity disclosures that show how Level 3 valuations change under alternative assumptions. Compare the fair value of debt against its carrying amount to gauge hidden leverage.