Author: Thomas J. Ryan

Walmart comfortably topped holiday-quarter earnings and sales targets, but the retail giant delivered weak guidance for the current year due to high prices and the potential for further macro pressures, foreshadowing a tough year for the retail sector.

SportChek’s same-store sales declined slightly in the fourth quarter against challenging year-ago comparisons but were also impacted by a lack of snowy weather and a pickup in promotional activity in the marketplace. Helly Hansen delivered growth of over 20 percent for the second straight year.

Crocs, Inc’s results for the fourth quarter and year came in even better than a favorable pre-announcement issued in early January. On an analyst call, Andrew Rees, CEO, called out sandals and international as key growth drivers for the Crocs brand in the current year while also expecting Heydude to build on its ramped-up wholesale partner expansion in the U.S.

Founded in 1980, Sun & Ski Sports has become one the leading sports specialty chains in the U.S., with 33 stores across 13 states. Karl Salz, president, discusses with SGB what’s unique about the Sun & Ski Sports concept, the chain’s recent performance, expansion, and other key growth initiatives.

Ammo Inc. reported a loss in its fiscal third quarter ended December 31 on a 40 percent sales plunge while slashing its outlook for the second straight quarter.

Shimano reported that net income rose 10.6 percent on a 15.1 percent revenue gain in its year ended December 31. Both earnings and sales easily topped the company’s guidance. Sales are expected to decline 20 percent in the current year.

Adidas’ surprise profit warning for 2023 last week signaled to analysts that the fallout from the Yeezy break-up would be worse than expected and the sales recovery under new CEO Bjorn Gulden would take longer than forecast.

Asics Corp reported sales in its North American region grew 22 percent in 2022 with a big foreign-exchange boost. Currency-neutral sales rose 3.1 percent on top of a 27.2 percent jump in 2021. The region was profitable for the second straight year although profits were down due to e-commerce expenses.

Nautilus, Inc. reported a steep decline in sales in the fiscal third quarter ended December 31, slashed its full0-year outlook for the second straight quarter and said it would reduce its workforce by approximately 15 percent as part of further cost-reduction actions.

Mizuno Corp reported earnings slid 22 percent in the fiscal third quarter ended December 31, but sales grew 21 percent with double-digit gains in all regions.

Under Armour is making progress in its recent brand repositioning that includes better targeting teens and tapping lifestyle offerings. However, shares fell $1.01, or 8.2 percent, to $11.22 Wednesday as management warned on an analyst call that markdown pressures felt in its most recent quarter will continue in coming quarters.

At its Investor Day, Canada Goose Holdings revealed plans to nearly triple its growth in five years as it further double-downs on its direct-to-consumer push and ramps up expansion across geographies and enters categories, including eyewear, luggage, and home.

The big news coming out of Vista Outdoor’s earnings report last Thursday was the resignation of CEO Chris Metz, but analysts expressed more concerns about the eroding performance of the company’s organic businesses, particularly the Outdoor Products segment.

Hoka’s sales catapulted 90.8 percent in the fiscal third quarter ended December 31, helping Deckers Brands surpass Wall Street estimates and lift its guidance for the year. On an analysts’ call, Dave Powers, Deckers’ CEO, said Hoka “more than doubled its DTC business, while demonstrating momentum across the product line and significantly increased wholesale through both market share gains and select new strategic access points.”