Fitbit’s Shares Tumble On Dismal Outlook
Shares of Fitbit Inc. hit an all-time low after it failed to turn a profit in the fourth quarter, missing analyst earnings expectations. The wearable leader also gave a poor outlook for the current year, including first-quarter guidance well below Wall Street’s targets.
Hibbett’s Blows Past Guidance
Particularly benefitting from the quick ramp-up of e-commerce operations, Hibbett Sporting Goods reported preliminary fourth-quarter earnings that handily eclipsed Wall Street’s targets.
Sturm Ruger’s Sales And Job Count Drops In 2017
Sturm Ruger reported sales dropped 26.9 percent in the fourth quarter, worsening from the slide of 21.2 percent seen in the year. The company also indicated that it had eliminated about 700 jobs over the last 13 months due to a steep downturn in the firearms category since the last presidential election.
Gildan Q4 Saved By Printwear Strength, Looks To Merge Printwear/Branded Units
Gildan Activewear reported underlying earnings in the fourth quarter came in at the high end of guidance as robust Printwear sales helped offset rising input costs and weak socks sales in its Branded segment. The company also announced plans to consolidate the Printwear and Branded segments as part of a major realignment for 2018.
Billabong Sees Americas Flattening In Spring Half, Overall Struggles Rally Calls For Merger
Following robust improvement in the first half ended December 31, Billabong International expects the Americas region “to level out in the second half as it cycles tougher comparables and operational improvements.”
Aisle Talk, Week of February 19
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week.
The Fēnix Stars For Garmin
While the Fitness segment continued to struggle to overcome the maturity of the basic activity trackers space in Q4, Garmin’s Outdoor segment remainS on fire, led by the Fēnix line of adventure watches.
Finish Line Upgraded By Buckingham Research
Buckingham Research raised its rating on Finish Line to “Neutral” from “Underperform” in part because of its depressed stock price, healthy balance sheet and expectation that margins should start improving by its back-to-school quarter.
Wolverine Worldwide’s Q4 Boosted By Improved Margins
Boosted by fatter gross margins, Wolverine Worldwide reported adjusted earnings per share in the fourth quarter of 41 cents per share, a 20 percent increase over the last year. Underlying growth of 1.7 percent. Eighteen percent growth at Merrell and nearly 30 percent at Chaco helped offset declines in the low double digits at the flagship Wolverine brand, high single digits at Sperry and mid-single digits at Saucony.
Rocky Brands Sees Wholesale Brands Return To Growth In Q4
Work and western boots both grew double-digits in the fourth quarter. Hunting sales increased modestly year-over-year added in part by cold weather throughout much of the fourth quarter and a decision earlier last year to implement more aggressive pricing.
VF’s Q4 Powered By Vans, North Face Misses Plan
VF Corp. reported sales at Vans vaulted 35 percent in the fourth quarter, led by a 38 percent climb in the Americas. North Face missed plan in part due to aggressive efforts to clear Amazon of unauthorized dealers and reduced off-price sales overall but is still expected to see high-single digit growth for 2018.
Outdoor & Recreation Drives Newell Brands’ Play Segment Growth In Q4
Newell Brands reported sales in its Play segment climbed 6.6 percent in the fourth quarter. Core sales grew 5.4 percent, reflecting strong growth on Coleman, Contigo, Marmot and Team Sports partially offset by declines on Fishing.
Puma’s Women’s Focus Paying Off
Following the report of its third strong annual campaign in a row, Bjørn Gulden, CEO, Puma SE, detailed the many ways the brand’s focus on female training, its celebrity brand ambassadors, and its ability to amplify its voice through social media is helping drive the company’s turnaround.
Aisle Talk, Week of February 12
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week.
FGL Sports Q4 Boosted By Chilly Winter
FGL Sports marked a return to mid-single digit comp growth in the fourth quarter with the boost of chilly Winter. Canadian Tire Corp, its parent, also indicated it acquired Sher-Wood Athletics as part of an overall effort by the company to increase its number of owned brands and appointed TJ Flood as president, FGL Sports.
