SGB Executive Sports & Fitness

EXEC: BOA and PrimaLoft Deliver Healthy Double-Digit Growth in Q2 for CODI
Citing the benefits of inventories rebalancing in the marketplace, Compass Diversified (CODI) reported BOA’s sales surged 42.1 percent in the second quarter while PrimaLoft returned to growth with a 14 percent gain. Said Elias Sabo, CODI’s CEO, on a call with analysts. “We believe both businesses are positioned for a strong back half of the year.”

Sebago, Kappa Parent Sees Strong Double-Digit H1 Declines in Americas and Asia
The parent of the Sebago, Superga, Briko, Kappa, K-Way, Jesus Jeans, and Sabelt brands posted 2024 first half revenues of €173.9 million, a 3.4 percent decline compared to €180.0 million in H1 2023.

EXEC: Adidas CEO Sets N.A. Growth Focus on Being More American in America
Adidas Group reported underlying sales in North America increased 2 percent on a currency-neutral basis in Q2r and the region is expected to grow in the second half as well. CEO Bjørn Gulden said the focus has to be on being “more American in America” to further accelerate gains in the region.

EXEC: Nike Cuts Workforce but Doubles Down on Endorsement Deals
Employee headcount at Nike’s Beaverton HQ declined 6.1 percent to 10,700 at the close of the company’s fiscal year, which ended May 31, but endorsement deals due within a year surged 31 percent year-over-year.

Vista Outdoor Cancels CSG Deal Vote Again; Will Look at Other Options
Adjourned its shareholder vote on the sale of the Kinetic Group, its ammunition business, to the Czechoslovak Group (CSG) to pursue a more extensive review of “strategic alternatives,” including a sale of its Revelyst outdoor products business and selling the company outright to MNC Capital.

EXEC: Investor Pressure Builds on Vista Outdoor Ahead of Ammo Sale Vote
Investor groups from the two sides of the vote scheduled for July 27 have been making their preferences known, and analysts and advisors have weighed in with their views. After rescheduling a vote three times, tomorrow is V-Day.

EXEC: Hoka DTC Drives Fiscal Q1 Growth; Dick’s and JD Sports Boost U.S. Wholesale
The brand saw accelerated DTC growth and continued strong wholesale gains helped drive a 29.7 percent jump in Hoka sales in fiscal Q1 ended June 30. Hoka’s parent company also called out the sales of the Sanuk business in July.

EXEC: Lululemon Pulls Breezethrough Leggings Line, Stock Price Targets Cut
The LULU collection, aimed at hot, low-impact workouts, faced criticism over the design, with a 3.1-star rating from 112 reviews on the company’s website, with comments highlighting issues like unflattering seams and discomfort.

EXEC: JD Sports Completes Acquisition of Hibbett Sports
Hibbett is now part of JD and will cease to be a stand-alone publicly traded company. Mike Longo will continue as president and CEO of Hibbett and Jared Briskin is now chief operating officer.

EXEC: Moncler Group Posts Double-Digit Sales Growth in First Half
The company reported first half revenues increased 11 percent year-over-year in constant-currency terms to €1.23 billion, Moncler brand revenues of €1.04 billion and Stone Island brand revenues of €188.9 million.

EXEC: Sports Direct Parent Sees Adjusted Profit Up Double Digits as Sales Inch Up
Excluding the impact of the 53rd week in fiscal 2023, Retail revenues increased by 0.6 percent year-over-year to £5.54 billion for the 52-week fiscal 2024 period ended April 28.

EXEC: Wall Street Sounds Off on VF Corp’s Supreme Sale
SGB Executive compiled input from notes produced by a range of Wall Street sell-side analysts to get a feel for how the deal is being viewed and measure if the perspectives of the Street are fairly universal. They were not.

EXEC: Thule Posts Tepid Q2 Sales Growth; U.S. Market Seen as “Weak but Positive”
The North American market continued to be challenging with a high level of promotional activity. Sales of bike-related products, Juvenile & Pet and Thule branded products in Packs, Bags & Luggage showed growth in the region.

EXEC: Adidas Raises Full-Year Outlook Again After Double-Digit Q2 Growth
In euro terms, the company’s revenues grew 9 percent to €5.82 billion from €5.34 billion in Q2 last year. Excluding Yeezy sales in both years, currency-neutral revenues increased 16 percent for the quarter.

EXEC: Merida Bikes’ June Sales Surge Fuels Big Second Quarter Gain
Second-quarter revenues were up 24.8 percent to NT$9.29 billion, with revenues for June 2024 increasing 48.7 percent, May sales growing 7.5 percent and April sales surging 24.0 percent year-over-year.