SGB Executive

Hydro Flask’s Growth Momentum Continues In Q1

Julien Mininberg, CEO of Helen of Troy, on a conference call with analysts said Hydro Flask’s growth is being fueled by strong demand for the overall water bottle category, new products, more balanced distribution and strong online sales.

West Marine Optimistic For Rest Of 2017, Despite Q1 Loss

Matt Hyde, president and CEO of West Marine said during a conference call that the company was satisfied with sales through the first part of March, but then the northeast experienced a series of snowstorms that negatively impacted the results of their Spring Super Sale. The company was forced to close 42 locations due to the inclement weather.

Under Armour’s Shares Jump As Q1 Loss Less Than Feared

Shares of Under Armour rose $1.68, or 9.3 percent to $19.82 on Wednesday after the company posted a loss that was lower than Wall Street expected. Officials kept its guidance for the year but indicated that its category management initiatives are making progress.

Deckers Shares Pop On Acquisition Talk

Shares of Deckers Outdoor Corp. rose $1.81, or 3.1 percent, on Wednesday to $60.55 after it reported it was exploring a sale. The move comes as activist investors had pushed for a sale.

How Bad Were The Tax Refund Delays?

Hibbett Sports Inc., in slashing its guidance for the year, joined a number of retailers finding the delay in tax refunds created a worse-than-expected drag on first-quarter sales.

Run Specialty’s Digital Disconnection

According to interviews with executives attending the industry’s premier race, the Boston Marathon, many local running shops are struggling to adapt to the shift toward digital retailing.

Academy Can’t Sidestep Industry Pressures

Unable to shrug off the many challenges facing the sporting goods channel, Academy Sports + Outdoors’ same-store sales slid in the low-single-digit range and management-adjusted EBITDA dropped 23 percent in 2016.

Americas Drives Puma’s Q1 Growth

“Retailers ordered more because they needed more which has not been the case for a long time at Puma,” Bjørn Gulden, CEO of Puma SE, said on a conference call with journalists.

Sports Direct Breaks Into U.S. Retailing

Sports Direct said the Eastern Outfitters acquisition will provide Sports Direct “with a footprint in U.S. bricks-and-mortar retail and a platform from which to grow U.S. on-line sales.”

International Momentum Helps Skechers Beat Plan

Said David Weinberg, EVP, COO and CFO, on the domestic wholesale channel, “While we are cautious due to the closing of numerous stores in 2016 and again, in the first quarter of 2017, we remain optimistic and poised to move quickly to fulfill consumer demands in our dedicated wholesale accounts.”

Rocky Brands Sees Profits Rebound

Said Mike Brooks, chairman and CEO, on a conference call with analysts, “While the retail environment remains challenging, many of our accounts started the year with improved inventory positions, which have created better at-once opportunities for certain of our product lines.”