SGB Executive Sports & Fitness
EXEC: Asics Lifts FY EPS Outlook After Robust Q3 Results; North America Profitability Jumps
Asics Corp. raised its earnings forecast for the year after reporting earnings in the third quarter jumped 44.0 percent on a 21.3 percent sales gain, driven by SportStyle and Onitsuka Tiger categories. Operating profits in the Americas region increased by 28.2 percent, driven by 5.7 percent sales growth.
EXEC: On Holding’s Shares Pop on Q3 Beat, Continued U.S. Sales Momentum
Profits at On Holding AG catapulted 182.9 percent on an adjusted basis in the third quarter as sales grew 24.9 percent year-over-year on a reported basis and 34.5 percent on a constant currency basis. On raised its outlook as both sales and profits far exceeded analyst targets. Currency-neutral sales in the Americas grew 21.0 percent, only slightly below the 23.6 percent pace seen in the second quarter.
EXEC: Ames Watson’s Lawrence Berger Discusses Lids’ Turnaround
Lawrence Berger, co-founder of Ames Watson, explains how the private-equity firm has helped reinvent and revive the Lids fan chain with a focus on exclusivity, customization, and cultural relevance.
EXEC: Yonex Hikes Guidance On Q2 Momentum
Yonex, the Japanese racquet sports and golf company, raised its outlook for the year after reporting results for the second quarter ended September 30, which had exceeded plan, benefiting from a weakening yen.
EXEC: Analysts Becoming Slightly More Bullish on Topgolf’s Recovery
Shares of Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp. (jumped $1.33, or 14.3 percent, to $10.40 on November 7 after the company reported third-quarter results that topped guidance as Topgolf’s same-venue-sales turned positive for the first time in two years and the Golf Equipment segment also topped plan. Several analysts continue to be impressed by Topgolf’s recovery, but some are looking for additional signs of stabilization and the conclusion of a sale.
EXEC: Gorewear to Close After 40 Years
WL Gore & Associates is reporting that it will shut down the German cycling and running apparel brand Gorewear in 2026 after 40 years. The Gore-Tex waterproof fabrics business is unaffected.
EXEC: Mizuno’s Fiscal Q2 Sales Climb 7 Percent, Americas Sees Slight Decline Despite Golf Momentum
Japan-based sporting goods company Mizuno Corp. reported sales advanced 7.1 percent in the fiscal second quarter ended September 30 as gains in Japan, Europe and Asia offset a slight decline in the Americas region. The Americas region continued to show an uptick in profitability in the quarter, with sales expanding to reach record levels in the half, as robust golf sales offset softness in running and baseball.
EXEC: Peloton’s Fiscal Q1 Beats Plan, Bullish On New Equipment Launches, Retail Push
Peloton reported its second consecutive profitable quarter, topping analyst expectations, while releasing strong guidance for the holiday shopping season. Said Peloton CEO Peter Stern. “Our continued momentum on bottom line performance sets the stage for improvements on the top line as we progress through the fiscal year.”
EXEC: Callaway Raises Full Year Outlook as Topgolf Inflects to Growth
Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp hiked its guidance for the year after reporting third-quarter results that handily topped guidance. The performance benefited from Topgolf’s same venue sales inflecting to positive growth and the golf equipment segment expanding 4 percent.
EXEC: Under Armour Sees North American Wholesale Stabilizing in Fiscal 2027
During Under Armour’s second-quarter analyst call, Kevin Plank, chairman, president and CEO, stated the company’s North American business is finally showing signs of recovery with replenishment orders improving and the company now sees a path to bring U.S. wholesale back to growth, with stabilization arriving during fiscal 2027. The founder told analysts, ““I think probably the best way for me to qualify this is that we now have a stable order book.”
EXEC: New Wave Group Hurt by Currency Translation in Q3 but Acquisitions Add Gains
The Swedish-based owner of Ahead, Auclair, Craft, Cutter & Buck, and Tenson AB, reported that net sales increased 8.3 percent (+3.6 percent currency-neutral) to SEK 2.39 billion. The company in September acquired 100 percent of the shares in Austrian textile wholesaler Cotton Classics Handels GmbH.
EXEC: Merrell and Saucony Can Only Watch as Parent’s Stock Falls on Soft Outlook
Shares of Wolverine Worldwide fell $5.36, or 24.2 percent, to $16.72 after the company reported Q3 results that beat expectations, but provided fourth-quarter guidance that was below analyst targets. During an analyst call, Chris Hufnagel, President and CEO, remained bullish on the prospects for Saucony and Merrell, indicated that Sweaty Betty is starting to recover, and stated that footwear industry veteran Justin Cupps was hired to turn around the Wolverine brand and work on the group business.
EXEC: AlixPartners Calls Out “Booming” Athletic Footwear Sector, Sees Fickle Brand Loyalty
AlixPartners’ recently released Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI) identifies that demand for athletic footwear is “booming” amid strong shifts toward casual, comfort and active lifestyles. However, the Index also found that brand loyalty within athletic footwear is “fleeting,” with several brands experiencing fluctuations in popularity among consumers over the last year.
EXEC: Acushnet CEO Sees Growth Across Titleist and FootJoy Segments in Q3
The company updated its full-year 2025 consolidated net sales guidance range to a range of approximately $2.52 billion to $2.54 billion. or an increase 2.6 percent to 3.4 percent year-over-year on a constant-currency basis.
EXEC: Smith Optics Sees Solid NA DTC Growth in Q3; Sport Shops Hurt by China Deliveries
In the North America Sports segment, Smith reportedly delivered “solid growth” in its direct-to-consumer business, benefiting from positive demand and effective online engagement. Sales to physical sport shops were instead affected by the ongoing recovery of sport products shipments from China.
