EXEC: Acushnet’s Q1 Boosted By Titleist Momentum
Acushnet Holdings Corp. reported first-quarter earnings that handily topped Wall Street’s guidance, led by robust double-digit gains for Titleist golf balls and clubs tied to successful launches. David Maher, Acushnet’s president and CEO, told analysts, “The Acushnet team is excelling on the product development, manufacturing and supply chain management fronts.”
EXEC: Sturm, Ruger Sees Q1 Profits Halved As Consumer Firearms Demand Weakens
Sturm, Ruger & Company posted net sales of $149.5 million for the first quarter of 2023, a 10.3 percent decline the year-ago quarter. Diluted EPS was 81 cents per share in Q1, down 52.3 percent from the $1.70 per diluted share posted in the year-ago quarter.
CODI: Retail Inventory Woes Drive Q1 Declines At BOA And Primaloft; Marucci And 5.11 Post Gains
Compass Diversified (CODI) saw sales decline 33 percent at BOA, 34 percent at Velocity Outdoor and 5 percent at Primaloft with all impacted to varying degrees by elevated inventories in the marketplace. Marucci Sports and 5.11 both delivered healthy double-digit sales growth.
EXEC: Champion’s Steep Q1 Revenue Drop Blamed On Promotional Environment
On its first-quarter analyst call, Steve Bratspies, CEO of Hanesbrands Inc., attributed the Champion’s 22 percent tumble in the U.S. in the period on promotional pressures in an over-inventoried marketplace. He said, “When you get an inventory backup of the scale that we have, people try to move it and try to move it aggressively.”
KOA: Camping Participation Declines Off Record Highs
Kampgrounds of America, Inc’s (KOA) 2023 North American Camping and Outdoor Hospitality Report found camping, and glamping to a lesser degree, accounted for 32 percent of all leisure trips in 2022, down from a record high of 40 percent in 2021. However, participation among active campers held steady.
EXEC: Big 5 Hit By Weather And Macro Headwinds
Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp. reported same-store sales declined 7.1 percent in the first quarter ended April 1 with cold and rainy weather stalling the start of baseball, softball and other spring sports seasons. On an analyst call, Steve Miller, president and CEO, said comps are down 11 percent for the second quarter to date and expected to decline in the high single-digit range due to macro pressures.
EXEC: Black Diamond’s Growth Slowed By NA Wholesale Inventory Overhang
Clarus Corp. reported modest growth in its Black Diamond segment as gains in its direct-to-consumer and international channels helped offset fewer shipments to its North American wholesale channel due to elevated inventory levels and reduced open-to-buy dollars. Clarus also indicated BD’s inventories would not be rebalanced until the fall.
EXEC: Inside The Marathon Sports Deal And The 400-Door Plan With Fleet Feet’s CEO
Fleet Feet has been busy, acquiring Boston’s Marathon Sports last year on top of its 2021 acquisition of the JackRabbit chain. Here, Joey Pointer, CEO, discusses the reasons behind the Marathon Sports’ acquisition and its ongoing expansion appetite, its recent performance, key initiatives and more.
EXEC: Newell Blames Outdoor & Rec’s Q1 Shortfall On The Weather
On Newell’s first-quarter analyst call, Ravi Saligram, Newell’s CEO, attributed the steep quarterly sales decline seen at the Outdoor & Recreation segment to “a slower-than-expected start to the season, primarily due to wet and cold weather in the western part of the country.”
Yue Yuen Warns On Q1 Profit Decrease As Footwear Manufacturing Contracts
Footwear manufacturing powerhouse Yue Yuen Industrial (Holdings) Limited is expected to record a decrease of 40 percent to 45 percent in profit attributable to owners of the company as compared to profit of $88.6 million for the corresponding three-month period in 2022.
EXEC: Hydro Flask Hurt By Demand Shift Toward Tumblers, Osprey Outperforms
On an analyst call, Julien Mininberg, CEO, said Hydro Flask’s sales declined in the fiscal fourth quarter ended February 28 in large part due to a shift in consumer preference from insulated bottles to tumblers. Osprey, acquired December 30, 2021, outperformed expectations.
Columbia Sees Solid Q1 Growth But Earnings And Outlook Suffer On Inventory Woes
Columbia Sportswear said consumer demand in many areas of their business remained strong in the first quarter, with international markets showing resilience and the outlet store business in the U.S. generating healthy growth as consumers seek out value and promotions in the marketplace. Columbia lowered the high end of its EPS outlook to account for higher SG&A expenses.
EXEC: Skechers Sees DTC And International Offset U.S. Q1 Wholesale Weakness
Skechers USA reported domestic wholesale sales tumbled 18 percent in the first quarter due to elevated inventories across the U.S. marketplace and difficult year-ago comparisons. However, strong growth in U.S. DTC (direct-to-consumer) and across international regions helped overall results handily top guidance.
EXEC: Crocs’ Shares Hit By Projected Top-Line Slowdown, HeyDude Shortfall
Crocs, Inc. lifted its sales and earnings guidance for the year after witnessing a better-than-expected performance by the Crocs brand in the first quarter. However, the company’s shares are trading down about 16 percent in afternoon trading Thursday as investors appear still spooked by the sales slowdown expected for the rest of the year as well as lower-than-expected sales in the first quarter at HeyDude.
Columbia Sportswear Sues Two Former Execs For Trade Secrets Theft
Columbia Sportswear Company (CSC) has filed suit against two former executives in Oregon District Court for alleged theft of trade secrets. The two former employees resigned on the same day and joined Huk Gear, the fishing apparel brand owned by Marolina Outdoor, Inc.