SGB Executive

McKinsey teamed up once again with the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) to update the sporting goods industry on new challenges facing the business from inflation and an emerging economic downturn, adding to existing pressures on input costs and supply chains.

The majority of active lifestyle stocks underperformed the broader stock market in the first six months of 2022 after outperforming many indexes over the last two years. Only three—Academy Sports & Outdoors, Caleres and Emerald Holding—of the 76 stocks tracked by S.G.B. Executive showed gains.

Peloton announced plans to exit all in-house manufacturing operations and shift to outsourcing in an effort to simplify its operations and reduce costs. About 570 jobs are reportedly impacted.

Shares of Lululemon Athletica and Under Armour were under pressure on Monday after downgrades by Jefferies. Analysts led by Randal Konik said Lululemon faces tough comparisons and “rising competition” while Under Armour is being sidetracked by “management volatility and lagging fundamentals.”

Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America’s (FDRA) second-quarter survey of footwear executives found 87.1 percent of respondents seek a six-month outlook for shoe shoppers turning “weaker” or “very weak,” the fourth straight quarter of eroding sentiment and nearly double the share noted in its first-quarter survey.

Seawall Capital earlier this year rebranded Kent Watersports to Kent Outdoors to signal its interest in acquiring companies beyond water sports. In an interview with SGB Executive, Matt Eby, founder and managing partner, Seawall Capital discusses Seawall’s interest in the outdoors space, its acquisition strategy and the recent acquisitions of BOTE paddle boards and Kona Bicycles.

Shares of Helen of Troy, Ltd. lost about 9 percent of their value on Thursday after the company slashed its outlook for the fiscal year due to inflationary pressures and macroeconomic concerns. Sales in the Home & Outdoor segment, which includes Hydro Flask, Osprey and OXO, are now expected to grow from 9.0 percent to 11.0 percent in its fiscal year ending February 2023, down from previous guidance for 19.0 percent to 21.0 percent.

In what will mark its largest acquisition to date, Vista Outdoor Inc. announced that it had agreed to acquire Fox Racing for $540 million. The acquisition of the motocross and mountain bike helmet and apparel specialist moves Vista deeper into the adventure sports space that the firm already dabbles in with its QuietKat e-bike brand and its cycling brands that are led by Giro and Bell.

Several Wall Street analysts trimmed their EPS targets and dropped price target expectations on Kohl’s, Inc. after the department store chain ended buyout negotiations with retail holding company Franchise Group and lowered its second-quarter sales guidance.

In 2020, Houston businessman Bill Voss quietly launched Everest.com, which claims to be the first community-driven online marketplace for outdoor gear ranging from hunting and fishing to hiking, camping, and rock climbing. Today, Everest.com offers products from over 1,000 U.S.-based merchants with plans for rapid expansion in the current year.

Ammo, Inc., the owner of GunBroker.com, saw revenues in the fiscal year ended March 31 soar 285 percent to $240.3 million. On a call with Fred Wagenhals, chairman and CEO of Ammo Inc., the owner of GunBroker.com, said Ammo remains “well-positioned” to double its market share over the next two to three years.

Wall Street analysts across the board reduced their price targets and go-forward EPS estimates on Nike, Inc. after the sportswear giant guided FY23 EPS below analyst targets as significant markdowns are expected over the next two quarters to recalibrate China’s bloated inventory levels. Most analysts still kept favorable ratings on Nike’s stock.

Shares of Nike fell about 7 percent Tuesday toward a two-year low after the company reported earnings for the fiscal fourth quarter that topped Wall Street estimates but warned that surging transport costs and a strong U.S. dollar would eat into profit margins over its coming fiscal year.

Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. does not see a spike in firearms sales arising out of the latest pushes for gun-control legislation. Indeed, Mark Smith, president and CEO, predicted a decline in sales in its current year ended April 2023 as demand returns to calendar 2019 levels.

Winnebago Industries reported another record quarter, but also announced plans to reduce RV production for the rest of the year in line with an expected broader decline in sales of RVs this year. Winnebago’s CEO Michael Happe told analysts, “We continue to still be a pretty economically viable option for people that want to spend time in the outdoors.”