SGB Executive Footwear

Wall Street Reacts: Under Armour’s Investor Day

Most analysts applauded the progress Under Armour is making instilling greater operational and financial disciplines under its transformation efforts. Some were also encouraged by the innovation on display Wednesday at the company’s Investor Day in Baltimore. But growth concerns, particularly in North America, and overall execution issues in the competitive landscape continued to worry many on Wall Street.

Under Armour Predicts Slow Recovery On Investor Day

At its Investor Day Wednesday in Baltimore, Under Armour officials touted early paybacks in its Transformation efforts and the brand’s ability tap into a Focused Performer consumer that globally represents $92 billion in revenue potential. But shares of Under Armour fell sharply on the day as Under Armour forecast only modest growth in the years ahead, including little pickup in North America.

DSW Eyes Highest Annual EPS Since 2013

Shares of DSW Inc. rose $1,88, or 8.1 percent, to $25.01 Tuesday after the off-price footwear chain posted its second consecutive quarter of strong comp and EPS growth. Earnings easily topped Wall Street’s targets and DSW lifted its annual guidance for second consecutive quarter and predicted it would rack up its highest annual EPS since 2013.

SGB Executive Q&A: Wendy Yang Of Deckers’ Performance Lifestyle Brands

Wendy Yang, president of Deckers Brands’ performance lifestyle brands (Hoka One One, Sanuk and Teva), spoke with SGB recently about what’s driving success at Hoka One One, that brand’s channel strategy and the importance of all three brands’ recent partnership with Camber Outdoors.

Aisle Talk Week Of December 3

Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week, including big news from trade show owner Emerald Expositions, which canceled Interbike (pictured) for 2019 and also shortened Outdoor Retailer Summer Market and Winter Market from four days to three days.

Zumiez Boosted By Healthy Streetwear Trends

With a number of its streetwear labels riding strong popularity with teens, Zumiez Inc. reported earnings rose 16.0 percent in the third quarter ended November 3 to $13.8 million, or 55 cents per share, exceeding guidance calling for earnings in the range of 45 to 51 cents.

Genesco Sees U.S. Footwear Business Offset Lids’ Struggles

Boosted by a 9 percent comp gain at Journeys, Genesco Inc. reported its highest quarterly comparable sales increase in more than 2.5 years. Adjusted earnings easily topped Wall Street’s targets. Lids continues to face weak headwear trends and the sales exploration of the business is taking longer than anticipated.

Run Specialty Re-Finds Its Stride

With a spurt of innovation, a healthy shake-out of stores, and a number of nimble adjustments to the changing retail landscape, run specialty is back in growth mode, according to participants at last week’s The Running Event in Austin.

G-III Shares Plummet As Apparel Manufacturers Suffer

Shares of G-III Apparel Group Ltd. were down $5.84, or 14.3 percent, at market close Thursday amid a handful of other apparel manufacturers losing value after a mixed third quarter. But G-III was, in fact, one of the better performing apparel companies in the period. The company reported earnings for the third quarter ended October 31—its largest quarter of the year—rose 15.6 percent on a 4.7 percent revenue gain.

J.P. Morgan Turns Bullish On Nike’s North American Momentum

J.P. Morgan raised its price target on Nike Inc. to $85 from $81 as the investment firm has grown more convinced that Nike’s momentum in North America is accelerating. Based on its own recent fieldwork, J.P. Morgan raised its North America revenue estimate to 9 percent growth for Nike’s second quarter ended November 30.

Tariff War Far From Over

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed Saturday to a temporary trade cease-fire to allow time for more negotiations but trade experts are doubtful that 90 days will be enough time to resolve the thorny and complicated issues that divide the two countries.

November M&A Roundup: Big Outdoor Deals Bookend Busy Month

Two large acquisitions in the outdoor space bookended November—Canada Goose bought Baffin to kick off the month and Callaway bought Jack Wolfskin to close it—while a flurry of M&A activity occurred in the days between.

SFIA Seminar: Industry Playing It Safe

On a webinar last week providing an update on the state of the sporting goods industry, Tom Cove, SFIA’s president and CEO, said that many of the industry’s players appear to be fixated on protecting their market share somewhat at the expense of pursuing growth opportunities. While this reflects an industry recovering from a string of bankruptcies, he lamented that the cautious stance may be holding back the industry’s overall growth.

Aisle Talk Week of November 26

Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week, including analysis from The Running Event (TRE), which shows that the industry is flying high once again after a couple of years of declining sales in the run specialty channel.

5 Questions With New Vibram Corp. President Fabrizio Gamberini

At the recent Outdoor Retailer Winter Market in Denver, CO, Vibram Corp.’s newly appointed president, Fabrizio Gamberini, sat down with SGB to dish on a number of topics, starting with the smooth transition of him taking over the market-leading sole company.