SGB Executive Sports & Fitness
EXEC: Rocky Mountain Transitions into Chaos After Court-Directed Sale of Assets
Three new owners are involved with e-bike maker Maui Bikes, headquartered in Québec. The new ownership team is said to bring diverse expertise, a shared love for cycling and the outdoors and a clear commitment to growing Rocky Mountain while staying true to its DNA.
EXEC: U.S. and China Agree to 90-Day Tariff Pause
In announcing a pause on the tariff war, the U.S. tariffs were cut to 30 percent from 145 percent, and the China tariffs on U.S. goods were cut to 10 percent from 125 percent as the two countries work to develop a long-term deal.
EXEC: Peloton CEO Highlights Four “Objectives” to Drive Growth
The operator of a connected fitness platform in North America and internationally raised its full-year guidance for the third quarter. Recently hired CEO, Peter Stern, highlighted four objectives on an analyst call for engaging current and new members to fuel growth.
EXEC: Saucony is the New Darling for Wolverine Worldwide as Sales Jump 30 Percent in Q1
The Saucony brand is clearly the new darling at its parent company in Grand Rapids, Michigan, delivering revenue growth of 31.1 percent in constant-currency terms in Q1, but is also gaining steam in China, where the licensee there reported 40 percent growth.
EXEC: Merrell Parent’s CEO Lays Out Q1 Results, Tariff Plans and Q2 Growth Estimates
Wolverine Worldwide first quarter revenue grew by over 5 percent on an ongoing basis and nearly 7 percent on a constant-currency basis, with the results driven by the company’s two biggest brands: Saucony and Merrell.
EXEC: SportChek’s Q1 Same-Store Sales Expand 6.3 Percent at CTC
Canadian Tire Corp. reported SportChek delivered a third consecutive quarter of comparable sales growth, up 6.3 percent, driven by strong sales across corporate and franchise stores. Skiing, snowboards, hockey, and outerwear were the top-performing categories in the quarter.
EXEC: Puma SE Profit Plunges on Flat Q1 Sales Growth; Confirms 500 Position Cuts
The company reported flat year-over-year sales growth in the first quarter on a currency-adjusted basis and a 1.3 percent decline in reported terms, as Wholesale fell behind and DTC sales posted double-digit growth.
EXEC: Under Armour’s and Mizuno’s So. America Partner Posts High-Teens Q1 Growth
The company, which manages the Under Armour, Mizuno and Olympikus brands in South America, said in its Q1 report that the e-commerce channel continued its strong growth trajectory during the first quarter, posting a 53.8 percent y/y increase for the quarter.
EXEC: Titleist Parent Says Tariff Pricing Actions Would Be “Last Lever” Taken
The parent of the Titliest and FootJoy golf brands, delivered a healthy Q1 with both earnings and sales exceeding analyst estimates. Still, management declined to raise the company’s outlook due to uncertainties in the marketplace tied to tariffs and expects some pricing actions to offset the related costs.
EXEC: Analysts Offer Take on Skechers USA Going Private in $9.4 Billion Deal
Amid significant uncertainty in the marketplace caused by the President’s trade war, Skechers USA agreed to be acquired by private equity firm 3G Capital for $9.4 billion in a move that will end its 26-year run in the public markets. The sale announcement follows a decision by Skechers not to offer full-year guidance in April due to trade uncertainties with shoe companies highly exposed to President Trump’s tariffs.
EXEC: SFIA State of the Industry Report Reveals Healthy Industry Profits in 2024
Besides tariffs and economic concerns, the SFIA State of the Industry Report outlines that industry executives are pleased with recent performance results and are upbeat about prospects.
EXEC: Brooks Running Boasts Strong Q1 Gains in Int’l Markets and U.S. Run Specialty
The company did not provide growth trends or volume for U.S. national retailers although it did provide select market research data for the channel. That channel is heavily dominated by On and Hoka in the current environment. A push in lifestyle may give Brooks, like Asics last year, a solid re-positioning in the channel.
Report: Sports & Fitness Manufacturers’ Sales Growth Moderated in 2024
SFIA’s latest report found that some key categories, including martial arts gear, tennis balls, pickleball racquets and outdoor/adventure footwear, delivered double-digit growth in 2024 while sales across various categories remained far above pre-pandemic levels.
EXEC: Gymshark to Restructure, Causing Hundreds of Position Cuts and Adds
After reporting that earnings in its latest year had declined due to omnichannel investments and is facing “intense macro-economic volatility” in the marketplace, Gymshark reported it is restructuring the company.
EXEC: Adidas CEO Clarifies U.S. Pricing Position; Will Wait for Competitors’ Moves
On Adidas’ first-quarter analyst call, Bjørn Gulden CEO, said Adidas hasn’t yet raised prices on U.S. products due to the U.S. tariffs but expects to should the tariffs remain and only after other brands raise prices. He said, “I have seen that certain press is writing that Adidas is raising prices. That is, of course, not true.”
