SGB Executive

As Camping World Holdings Inc. pivots away from outdoor retail and as the recreational vehicle market continues to sputter, the Lincolnshire, IL-based company sees the sale of used RVs as a logical path forward for the business, according to Chairman and CEO Marcus Lemonis.

GoPro, as expected, reported dismal third-quarter results in part due to production delays but management forecast a robust fourth quarter due to strong early reads on the Hero8 Black and Max cameras. Said Nicholas Woodman, CEO, on a conference call with analysts, “Simply put all signs indicate Hero8 Black and Max are unquestionable hits”

Sturm, Ruger & Co., seeing little improvement in demand for firearms, reported net earnings declined 47.8 percent in the third quarter as sales slumped 17.3 percent.

SportChek’s comparable sales grew 4.6 percent in the third quarter, boosted by robust online growth, according to the quarterly report of its parent, Canadian Tire. Helly Hansen’s sales jumped 16 percent, boosted by expansion in Canada.

Dorel Industries Inc. reported third-quarter revenue at Dorel Sports increased 14.2 percent, to $250.3 million. The gains were driven by revenue growth across all three divisions, driven by strong performances at the Cycling Sports Group (CSG).

Sequential Brands Group Inc., the parent of Avia, And1 and Gaiam, said it is in the “final stages” of selecting a new CEO and has drawn interest in its exploration of the sale of some of its brands.

Nautilus Inc. posted a loss in the third quarter that was significantly below Wall Street’s expectations as shipment delays tied to the trade war dragged down sales in the Retail segment and the timing of launches held back the Direct segment.

Top headlines from across the active lifestyle industry featured in SGB during the week of October 28, 2019.

In an op-ed in the New York Times gaining wide attention, former prodigy runner Mary Cain, now 23, said she was “emotionally and physically abused” until she quit Nike’s Oregon Project, Nike’s elite track and field training program.

Vista Outdoor Inc. reported sales slid 7 percent on an organic basis in the second quarter ended September 29 with continuing weakening sales in its ammunition business. Encouragingly, however, earnings marked break-even results on an adjusted basis in, ahead of Wall Street’s targets, and adjusted earnings guidance was maintained for the year.

Led by combined growth of more than 11 percent on a currency-neutral basis at its biggest brands, Merrell, Sperry and Saucony, Wolverine World Wide Inc. reported adjusted earnings in the third quarter that topped Wall Street’s targets. Full-year guidance, however, was slightly lowered due to tariff headwinds.

On its third-quarter conference call, Emerald Expositions Events’ officials indicated that with the 2018 Outdoor Retailer Winter Market show delivered revenues over $5 million and was profitable, the decision to cancel the show was a “financial setback.”

Continuing to benefit from progress reducing its reliance on winter boots, Bogs’ sales were up 12 percent in North America on a wholesale basis in the third quarter, according to its parent, Weyco Group.

Adidas AG beat earnings estimates in the third quarter as sales picked up in the U.S. after months of trouble there from supply-chain snags and sales also recovered in Europe. Adidas reiterated its full-year guidance while predicting a “significant acceleration” in sales in the fourth quarter.

October was another busy month for M&A in the active lifestyle space, with footwear and apparel giant Nike Inc., outdoor retailer and gear brand Kathmandu Holdings Ltd., and sporting goods chain JackRabbit all pulling the trigger on market-shifting deals.