Under Armour Earns Upgrade On Improved Profit Outlook

Citigroup on Wednesday upgraded Under Armour on signs that its focus on profits is taking root and will pay off. The upgrade came a day after B. Riley reiterated its “Sell” rating on the stock as that firm’s annual brand survey found Under Armour losing ground to competitors.

Report: Influencer Marketing In Sports Slowly Gaining Traction

Sports entertainment companies aren’t adopting influencer marketing programs as quickly as other industries, yet most believe an influencer program is “a necessity for brand success in today’s digital world,” according to The State of Influencer Marketing in Sports Entertainment, a white paper published by Cascade Influencers.

James Gatto Settles Damages Claims

James Gatto, the former Adidas executive, agreed to pay $342,438 in restitution to Kansas, Louisville and N.C. State after being convicted on felony charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud last October.

PXG Signs Gary Player

PXG signed three-time Masters champion (1961, 1974 and 1978) and 24-time PGA Tour winner Gary Player to an endorsement deal.

Retail Imports Rising Again As Summer Approaches

With tariff increases delayed for the foreseeable future and the busy summer season approaching, imports at the nation’s major retail container ports are beginning to climb again, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

Sanfo Outdoor Partners With X-Bionic

Sanfo Outdoor Products Co, based in Beijing, formed a partnership with Swiss apparel specialist X-Bionic. Sanfo Outdoor becomes the exclusive strategic partner to launch the new X- Bionic 4.0 collection on the Chinese market and also collaborate with X-Bionic in the areas of development, distribution and production.

New Initiative Underway To Grow Vermont’s Outdoor Business

A new initiative is underway to network, grow and raise awareness of Vermont’s diverse businesses, large and small, that help make the state a leader in outdoor recreation. Vermont is home to a number of outdoor brands, including Orvis, Burton, and Darn Tough.

Mountainsmith Makes Executive Appointments

Golden, CO-based backcountry gear brand Mountainsmith has made two appointments to the leadership team—Josh Kerns was named national sales manager and Jeff Popp was named product line manager.