Investors responded to the outlook with cautious optimism, pushing shares up 2.3% to $22.26 in Friday’s after-hours session. The stock had already climbed 3.6% during regular trading, contributing to an 8.4% gain since the start of the year. This upward pressure follows a quarter defined by rising sales and the authorization of a $2 billion stock buyback program.

Internal corporate strategy remains volatile under chief executive Ryan Cohen. While the company recently attempted a $56 billion takeover of eBay, the bid faced immediate rejection from the online marketplace. Simultaneously, Cohen withdrew a controversial performance award package earlier this week that would have granted him up to $35 billion in stock, provided the company hit aggressive growth benchmarks.