EXEC: UBS Sees Weaker Softgoods Spending Ahead Tied to Student Loan Repayments
UBS, the global financial services firm, reported it expects the consumer spending environment for softgoods in the U.S. to partly deteriorate over the coming months due to the resumption of student loan repayments in October. Inflation concerns and higher interest rates are among other factors expected to impact consumer spending.
Dick’s to Close Nearly All Moosejaw Stores
Moosejaw, the outdoor specialty retailer acquired by Dick’s Sporting Goods in March, is closing 11 of 14 stores in a realignment of Dick’s outdoor specialty business, including the company’s Public Lands’ store concept. Moosejaw’s headquartered in Madison Heights, MI, is also closing.
EXEC: Academy Sports CEO Talks Expansion Strategy Focused on Profitability
Speaking at Wells Fargo’s Sixth Annual Consumer Conference, Academy Sports and Outdoors officials discussed the retail chain’s competitive advantages and how it reworked its expansion strategy while rolling out an aggressive strategy.
EXEC: Nike Retains Top Spot as Most Valuable Global Apparel Brand
Nike ranked as the world’s most valuable apparel brand for the ninth consecutive year, according to Brand Finance’s 2023 Annual Apparel 50 Report. Other brands in the active lifestyle space that made the Top 50 included Adidas, at #5; Lululemon, #16; Puma, #19; Anta, #26; Under Armour, #27; The North Face, #28; Moncler, #29; Skechers, #32; Fila, #34; Li Ning, #42; and New Balance, #50.
EXEC: KMD Sees Rip Curl Post Solid FY Growth while Oboz Sales Jump 62 Percent
The parent company to the Rip Curl, Oboz and Kathmandu brands reported it had achieved record sales of over NZ$1.1 billion dollars in the fiscal year ended July 31, its first year of uninterrupted trade post-pandemic.
EXEC: HSBC is Bullish on Adidas, Lululemon and Puma; Still Holds on Nike
In a bullish report, HSBC said that despite tough conditions expected to continue in the U.S., sales growth and margins should improve for the global sporting goods sector following its “post-pandemic hangover.” Beneficiaries include Adidas, Lululemon and Puma, all rated “Buys” by HSBC while Nike remains at “Hold” due to its U.S. exposure.
HanesBrands Looking at Strategic Alternatives for Global Champion Business
The Board said it would consider a broad range of alternatives to maximize shareholder value, including, among others, a potential sale or other strategic transaction, including continuing to operate the business as part of HanesBrands.
EXEC: Planet Fitness Shares Plummet After CEO Exit, Multiple Downgrades
Shares of Planet Fitness were down again on Monday after crashing on Friday following the exit of its long-time CEO, Chris Rondeau. The surprise departure led to a number of analyst downgrades and downward price adjustments.
EXEC: Chairman of BDE’s Parent Makes Bid To Acquire Its Ammo Business
Clarus Corp.’s executive chairman, the largest shareholder, Warren Kanders, submitted a non-binding bid to acquire the company’s Precision Sports segment, which includes Sierra Bullets and Barnes Bullets brands, for $160 million.
EXEC: Nike Confident In Profit Recovery in FY24
At its annual meeting, Nike officials expressed confidence that profitability would bounce back in the coming fiscal year ended May 2024 after markdowns to clear excessive inventories led to a profit shortfall in the prior fiscal year. Execs were also bullish on the brand’s innovation pipeline, structural tailwinds behind the athletics space and its evolving marketplace strategy.
EXEC: Inside Birkenstock’s Growth Plans
In its IPO prospectus, Birkenstock said it sees “ample whitespace to continue growing the Birkenstock brand” by raising brand awareness, production capacity expansion, core and new product portfolio innovation, and a continued DTC shift.
EXEC: Birkenstock Files for IPO
Birkenstock Holding filed for an initial public offering with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The filing shows revenues increasing to €1.24 billion ($1.33 bn) in FY22 from €727.9 million in fiscal 2020, a 31 percent two-year CAGR (compound annual growth rate).
EXEC: Skechers Notes Continued Pressure in U.S. Wholesale Business
Speaking at the Piper Sandler Growth Frontiers Conference, John Vandemore, the CFO at Skechers USA, said the company continues to see strong demand for the brand across its DTC channels but is not seeing any indication that the elevated inventories affecting U.S. wholesale business to alleviate anytime soon.
EXEC: Academy Sees Upside as Brands Shift Back to Wholesale Focus
ASO executives covered a wide range of topics in the Fireside Chat at the Goldman Sachs conference, including the promotional climate, the chain’s expanding “good, better, best” pricing strategy and major vendors’ newfound appreciation of wholesale sales.
EXEC: Active Lifestyle Retail Weathers Rough Second Quarter Waters
Although a few retailers outperformed in the second quarter, big names in the active lifestyle space fought through a challenging quarter amid promotional pressures, retail theft and the consumer’s continued shift away from discretionary purchases.
