Adidas Group’s strong second-quarter results were led by a 25 percent gain on a currency-neutral basis by the Adidas brand. Top-line growth accelerated in Western Europe, up 29 percent, and in North America, up 26 percent.

The company is on its way to delivering higher-than-expected annual earnings after raising its full-year guidance more than three times within the first half of the year.

Second Quarter 2016 Results: Major Developments In Q2 2016

  • Group sales increased 21 percent on a currency-neutral basis, driven by ongoing strong momentum at Adidas (+25 percent) and Reebok (+7 percent)
  • Top-line growth accelerated in Western Europe (+29 percent) and North America (+26 percent). Greater China (+30 percent) was fastest-growing region
  • Gross margin grew 0.5pp to 48.8 percent
  • Operating margin climbed 3.4pp to 9.4 percent
  • Net income from continuing operations almost doubled to €291 million

Improved Outlook For Full-Year 2016

  • Currency-neutral group sales to increase at a high-teens rate
  • Gross margin to be at a level between 48.0 percent and 48.3 percent
  • Operating margin to increase to a level of up to 7.5 percent
  • Net income to improve to a level between €975 million and €1.0 billion

Adidas Group Currency-Neutral Sales Increased 21 Percent In The Second Quarter Of 2016

During the second quarter, the Adidas Group continued to deliver an outstanding financial performance. Group revenues increased 21 percent on a currency-neutral basis, driven by strong momentum at both Adidas and Reebok. In euro terms, group revenues grew 13 percent to €4.422 billion (2015: €3.907 billion).

From a brand perspective, Adidas grew 25 percent on a currency-neutral basis, driven by double-digit sales increases in the key performance categories of running, football and training, as well as at Adidas Originals and Adidas Neo. With the exception of Russia/CIS, where revenues grew at a mid-single-digit rate, Adidas recorded double-digit growth in every geography. Revenues developed strongly in the key regions of North America, Greater China and Western Europe, where sales increased by 32 percent, 30 percent and 30 percent, respectively. Reebok revenues increased 7 percent during the quarter, with double-digit growth in Western Europe, Greater China, Russia/CIS and Japan. The development was supported by double-digit sales increases in classics as well as mid-single-digit improvements in the training and running categories. Revenues at TaylorMade-Adidas Golf grew 7 percent, driven by double-digit growth at TaylorMade.

“The stellar financial performance in the second quarter is proof positive that our strategy is paying off,” commented Herbert Hainer, Adidas Group CEO. “We are putting the consumer at the heart of everything we do. We inspire them with unique experiences. We engage with them through marketing initiatives unheard of before. And we excite them with the most innovative and stylish products. As a result, the desirability of our brands and products is greater than ever before. This is fueling the outstanding momentum we are enjoying across all regions and categories. And this will continue! It is the perfect platform to drive sustainable top- and bottom-line improvements for the years to come.”

Revenue Growth In All Market Segments

From a market segment perspective, combined currency-neutral sales of the Adidas and Reebok brands grew in all segments in the second quarter of 2016, with double-digit growth rates in Western Europe, North America, Greater China, Japan and MEAA.

Revenues in Western Europe increased 29 percent on a currency-neutral basis, driven by the U.K., Germany, Italy, Poland, France and Spain, where revenues grew at double-digit rates each. Growth trends in North America and Greater China were equally strong, as reflected in currency-neutral sales increases of 26 percent and 30 percent, respectively.

Revenues in Russia/CIS accelerated, up 7 percent on a currency-neutral basis. In Latin America, revenues grew 8 percent on a currency-neutral basis, reflecting double-digit sales increases in markets such as Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Uruguay. In Japan, sales were up 21 percent on a currency-neutral basis. Currency-neutral sales in MEAA grew 14 percent, driven by double-digit growth in South Korea, Turkey, Australia, South Africa and Thailand.

Revenues for other businesses grew 6 percent in the second quarter. Double-digit sales increases in other centrally managed businesses, as well as high-single-digit growth at TaylorMade-Adidas Golf, were only partly offset by sales declines at CCM Hockey.

Further Gross Margin Improvement Despite Significant Currency Pressure

In the second quarter of 2016, the Group’s gross margin increased 0.5  percentage points to 48.8 percent (2015: 48.3 percent). The severe headwinds from negative currency effects were more than offset by a more favorable pricing, product and channel mix as well as higher product margins at TaylorMade-Adidas Golf.

Profitability Climbs Significantly 

During the second quarter, the Group’s other operating expenses increased 12 percent to €1.935 billion (2015: €1.720 billion). The increase reflects higher expenditure for point-of-sale and marketing investments, as well as an increase in operating overhead costs as a result of higher sales expenditure. As a  percentage of sales, however, other operating expenses decreased 0.3  percentage points to 43.8 percent (2015: 44.0 percent), reflecting the Group’s strong top-line improvement. Other operating income grew significantly to €159 million from €33 million in the second quarter of 2015. This development mainly reflects two extraordinary gains in the second quarter related to the early termination of the Chelsea F.C. contract, as well as the divestiture of the Mitchell & Ness business.

While the early termination of the Chelsea F.C. contract lifted both other operating income and operating profit by a mid- to high-double-digit million euro amount, the divestiture of Mitchell & Ness did not have an impact on the Group’s profitability in the second quarter since the proceeds – as previously announced – were re-invested to accelerate initiatives that are part of the company’s “Creating the New” strategic business plan. The Group’s operating profit increased 77 percent to €414 million compared to €234 million in the second quarter of 2015. This translates into an operating margin of 9.4 percent, an increase of 3.4  percentage points compared to the prior year level of 6.0 percent. As a consequence, the Group’s net income from continuing operations increased 99 percent to €291 million (2015: €146 million). The Group’s net income attributable to shareholders, which in addition to net income from continuing operations includes the result from discontinued operations, also grew 99 percent to €291 million from €146 million in the second quarter of 2015. Basic EPS from continuing and discontinued operations doubled to €1.45 (2015: €0.73). Diluted EPS from continuing and discontinued operations grew 96 percent to €1.42 (2015: €0.73).

Adidas Group’s Stellar Financial Performance In First Half of 2016

In the first half of 2016, Group revenues increased 21 percent on a currency-neutral basis, due to strong double-digit growth at Adidas and mid-single-digit sales increases at Reebok. In euro terms, sales increased 15 percent to €9.191 billion (2015: €7.990 billion). All market segments posted currency-neutral sales increases, with double-digit growth across all regions except Russia/CIS, where revenues grew at a mid-single-digit rate. Despite significant pressure from negative currency effects, the Group’s gross margin improved 0.4  percentage points to 49.1 percent, driven by a more favorable pricing and product mix.

Capitalizing on the strong top-line development, the Group was able to generate significant operating leverage, with other operating expenses as a  percentage of sales down 0.8 percentage points to 42 percent. These operating improvements, in combination with the extraordinary gain related to the early termination of the Chelsea F.C. contract, resulted in a strong increase in the Group’s operating margin. At 9.8 percent, the operating margin was up 2.4  percentage points versus the prior-year level, excluding last year’s goodwill impairment losses. Consequently, net income from continuing operations, excluding goodwill impairment losses in the prior year, increased 60 percent to €641 million.

At €3.13, diluted EPS from continuing and discontinued operations grew 65 percent, excluding goodwill impairment losses in the prior year.

Average Operating Working Capital As A Percentage of Sales Decreases Significantly 

The Group’s inventories increased 20 percent to €3.514 billion (2015: €2.927 billion). On a currency-neutral basis, inventories grew 24 percent, reflecting higher stock levels to support the Group’s top-line momentum. Accounts receivable increased 4 percent to €2.356 billion.

On a currency-neutral basis, receivables were up 8 percent, reflecting the Group’s strong growth during the second quarter. Operating working capital was up 15 percent to €4.013 billion (2015: €3.485 billion). Average operating working capital as a percentage of sales decreased 1.2pp to 20.4 percent (2015: 21.6 percent), reflecting the strong top-line development during the last twelve months, as well as the company’s continued focus on tight working capital management.

Net Borrowings Increase To €1.028 Billion 

Net borrowings amounted to €1.028 billion (2015: €957 million), representing an increase of €71 million. This development was mainly a result of the utilization of cash for the purchase of fixed assets and the acquisition of Runtastic. The Group’s ratio of net borrowings over EBITDA amounted to 0.6 times, which is below the Group’s mid-term target corridor of below 2 times.

Adidas Group Guidance Increased for the Full Year 2016 

In light of the strong brand momentum and the outstanding financial performance in the first half of 2016, the Group has increased its 2016 financial outlook. Adidas Group sales are expected to increase at a rate in the high teens (previously: to increase at a rate of around 15 percent) on a currency-neutral basis in 2016. The top-line development will be supported by double-digit growth in all regions except Russia/CIS, where sale are now predicted to grow at a mid-single-digit rate.

In 2016, the projected increase in costs for the Group’s Asian-dominated sourcing as a result of less favorable US dollar hedging rates and rising labor expenditures is expected to weigh on the Adidas Group’s gross margin. However, these negative effects are now projected to be almost completely offset by the positive effects from a more favorable pricing, product and regional mix, as well as further enhancements in the channel mix, which is driven by the continued expansion of the company’s controlled space activities. Higher product margins at TaylorMade-Adidas Golf compared to the prior year are also expected to positively impact the Group’s gross margin development.

As a result, the Group’s gross margin is expected to be at a level between 48.0 percent and 48.3 percent compared to the prior-year level of 48.3 percent (previously: decline of up to 50 basis points).

The Group’s other operating expenses as a percentage of sales are expected to decrease compared to the prior-year level (2015: 43.1 percent). Due to the stronger-than-expected top-line growth, expenditure for point-of-sale and marketing investments as a percentage of sales is projected to be below the prior-year level of 13.9 percent. In addition, operating overhead expenditure as a percentage of sales is also predicted to be below the prior-year level (2015: 29.2 percent). The company now expects the operating margin for the Adidas Group to increase to a level of up to 7.5 percent (previously: to increase to a level of around 7.0 percent) compared to the prior-year level of 6.5 percent.

As a result of the increased top-line expectations and improved operating margin outlook, net income from continuing operations, excluding goodwill impairment, is now projected to increase at a rate between 35 percent and 39 percent (previously: to increase at a rate of around 25 percent) to a level between €975 million and €1.0 billion (2015: €720 million).

Herbert Hainer stated, “I am proud to confirm that we are in great shape. 2016 will be a year of records for the Adidas Group. But we will not stop there. In the years to come, we will continue to grow across all categories, channels and geographies and drive our profitability to new heights.”

Photo courtesy Adidas Running