SGB Executive Footwear

Adidas Finds Yeezy Boost Can’t Offset Europe Slowdown
Adidas lifted its profitability guidance for the year after reporting robust third-quarter earnings due to better-than-expected margins and strong double-digit growth in North America, China and across e-commerce channels. Yeezy delivered Adidas’ largest digital-release. But the year’s sales outlook was lowered as softness arriving in Europe earlier in the year worsened in the third quarter.

Wolverine World Wide Shares Slide On ‘Choppy’ Revenue Growth
Shares of Wolverine World Wide Inc. fell $3.28, or 9.1 percent, on Wednesday after the company reported another quarter of what CEO Blake Krueger called “choppy” revenue growth for 2018. Reported revenue of $558.6 million decreased 3.9 percent during the third quarter and missed Wall Street targets by $23.5 million.

Black Diamond’s Strong Q3 Helps Clarus Reach New Heights
A stellar third quarter from Black Diamond propelled the brand’s parent Clarus Corp. to post record sales in the period and also prompted the company to lift revenue and EBITDA guidance for 2018. Black Diamond notched 12 percent growth, including 14 percent growth in climb and 40 percent growth in apparel.

SGB Executive Q&A: Topo Athletic CEO Tony Post
Topo Athletic, the footwear company that longtime Vibram USA executive Tony Post launched five years ago, has much more to celebrate than a milestone anniversary. Post spoke with SGB about other recent achievements at the brand, including a new partnership with his old company and what drove the company’s decision to enter a new category.

Retail Reports Roundup
Retail studies arrived on increasing rates of discretionary spending online, online personalization disappointing consumers, disconnects around consumers pricing perceptions, unplanned absence creating selling floor shortages, and rewards members desire for cash.

Asics Sees 8 Percent Q3 Sales Drop In The Americas
Asics Corp. reported an operating loss in its American region of ¥398 million ($3.5 mm) in the third quarter as sales declined 8.1 percent. Companywide, Asics slashed its earnings guidance for the year as it also saw a steep decline in profits in the Europe and a modest decline in Japan.

Acushnet Lifts Outlook On Promising Q3
Acushnet Holdings Corp. slightly lifted its full-year guidance for earnings and sales after reporting robust growth in Titleist golf clubs and solid growth in Titleist balls that led to better-than-expected third-quarter results.

Aisle Talk Week of October 29
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week, including the outlook for U.S. apparel and footwear manufacturers being changed to positive from stable, according to Moody’s Investors. The agency cited the progress of companies like VF Corp. (pictured) in the report.

Big 5 Outlines Strategy For Adapting To Market Pressures
Though Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp.’s third quarter earnings fell within guidance, the company was shy of expectations as August and September sales were “disappointing,” company President and CEO Steven Miller said on Tuesday afternoon’s earnings conference call with analysts.

Behind The Deal: Hibbett Makes Strong Retail Play With City Gear Acquisition
Hibbett Sports Inc. CEO Jeff Rosenthal spoke with SGB about the company’s $88 million (plus undisclosed incentives) acquisition of Memphis, TN-based “city specialty” retailer City Gear, which the Birmingham, AL-based retailer believes will be transformational for both companies as they leverage each other’s strengths.

Under Armour’s Shares Pop As Transformation Gains Traction
Shares of Under Armour shot up $5.04, or 27.7 percent, to $23.23 Tuesday, the stock’s highest one-day gain since 2008, as the company reported third-quarter earnings that more than doubled Wall Street’s consensus expectations. On a conference call with analysts, Kevin Plank, CEO, described the performance as “another solid proof point that our multiyear journey toward becoming a more operationally excellent company is on track.”

VF Corp. Execs Talk Denver Relocation, Vans Growth & Other Timely Topics
VF Corp. CEO Steve Rendle and CFO Scott Roe spoke with SGB last week about five hot topics—the forthcoming move to Denver, VF’s commitment to becoming a purpose-led company, Vans’ five-year journey to $5 billion, growth drivers at The North Face and upside at two smaller brands—Icebreaker and Smartwool. Here’s what they shared.

Retail Reports Roundup
Retail studies arrived on the online benefit to having physical stores, holiday spending forecasts on tech gadgets and seasonal celebrations, the challenges facing online holiday delivery, the positive payback from creating emotional connections and responding to online reviews.

Columbia Sportswear Notches Strongest Earnings In Company History
Citing the benefits of the company’s “brand-led, consumer-focused” Project CONNECT initiative, Columbia Sportswear reported earnings topped Wall Street targets for the seventh straight quarter, lifted its guidance for the year and provided an upbeat outlook for 2019.

Deckers Crushes Quarterly EPS Targets On Meatier Margins
Deckers Brands reported earnings in the company’s second quarter ended September 30 that arrived far ahead of company guidance due to improving gross margins and lower than planned SG&A expenses. Among brands, Hoka One One delivered another quarter of robust sell-throughs while Ugg’s primed for strong holiday selling.