SGB Executive

Tilly’s Inc. reported earnings and same-store sales landed at the top end of guidance in the third quarter and provided an upbeat comp outlook for the fourth quarter.  Said Ed Thomas, CEO, “Despite a slow start to the fourth quarter as a result of a later Thanksgiving this year, Black Friday weekend met our expectations, leaving us optimistic about our opportunity to deliver positive comps in the fourth quarter.”

After undergoing a rough patch a few years ago, the specialty run channel has stabilized and is seeing some growth, proving that the package of strong customer service and community involvement still pays off, according to two panels held Tuesday at The Running Event (TRE) in Austin. That’s not to say some reinvention isn’t required.

Morris Goldfarb, the chairman and CEO of G-III Apparel Group Ltd., fully understands the impact that tariffs have had on the New York-based fashion and apparel company he oversees. He also knows that if the trade war persists, tariffs will continue to wreak havoc on the company’s financial outlook. But Goldfarb is also resolute that G-III has the ways and means to mitigate the pressure that tariffs are placing on its business.

More consumers surfed rather than drove for their purchases on Black Friday as online sales accounted for a record $7.4 billion spent during the holiday shopping extravaganza, according to Adobe Analytics. But while analysts reacted positively to the overall buoyancy of Black Friday and the unofficial kickoff to the holiday shopping season, those who focus on the active lifestyle marketplace were more tempered in their reports.

What the active lifestyle marketplace lacked in M&A volume last month, it made up for in impact thanks to three industry-shifting deals that are sure to resonate with businesses and consumers alike. In our November M&A Roundup, SGB recaps the moves made by Snowsports Industries America, Alterra Mountain Co. and Fitbit Inc.

Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. last week reported third-quarter earnings handily surpassed Wall Street targets and lifted its guidance for the third time this year. A few analysts saw the progress as another sign that the sporting goods chain is well-positioned to drive healthy comps in the years ahead, but a few were still worried about margins and the payoff from ongoing investments.

Raymond James on Wednesday upgraded Under Armour to “Strong Buy” from “Outperform,” describing the firm as “underrated” and an “underdog.” In the note, Matthew McClintock wrote that his team has “become more comfortable with the company’s risk/return profile, particularly regarding execution risk, headline risk, and valuation.”

Top headlines from across the active lifestyle industry featured in SGB during the week of November 25, 2019.

Shares of Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. skyrocketed on Tuesday after the retailer reported Q3 earnings significantly eclipsed Wall Street targets on its strongest quarterly same-store sales gain since 2013. Same-store sales and earnings guidance were raised for the third time this year.

A solid showing from Famous Footwear helped drive Caleres to record revenue in the third quarter, but the impact of tariffs took a toll during the period and should persist into Q4, the company said Monday. The increased tariffs, specifically those on List 4A, resulted in adjusted earnings per share of 78 cents, which missed Wall Street’s target by 5 cents.

Department stores head into Black Friday and the holiday season with a little bit of momentum, as most stores saw decent third quarters and all four in this roundup—Nordstrom, J.C. Penney, Dillard’s and Macy’s—beat Wall Street earnings per share estimates. Our Q3 roundup looks at how each performed and what’s next.

Shares of Hibbett Sports Inc. jumped $3.65, or 14.6 percent, to $28.67 at market close Friday (after soaring as high as 28 percent earlier on the day) following the company’s impressive third-quarter beat and raise.

Top headlines from across the active lifestyle industry featured in SGB during the week of November 18, 2019.

Foot Locker Inc. on Friday reported third-quarter earnings that topped analysts’ estimates on a 5.7 percent same-store gain and improving gross margin and SG&A rates. But shares of the sneaker juggernaut declined Friday as it gave a disappointing outlook for the holiday season due to the timing of launches and struggles in apparel.

Customer acquisition and retention are at the heart of any retailer’s success, and Shoe Carnival Inc.’s emphasis on each not only drove a strong third-quarter performance but also sparked the Evansville, IN-based company to lift its outlook for the rest of 2019.