SGB Executive Sports & Fitness
Acushnet Lifts Outlook On Promising Q3
Acushnet Holdings Corp. slightly lifted its full-year guidance for earnings and sales after reporting robust growth in Titleist golf clubs and solid growth in Titleist balls that led to better-than-expected third-quarter results.
Aisle Talk Week of October 29
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week, including the outlook for U.S. apparel and footwear manufacturers being changed to positive from stable, according to Moody’s Investors. The agency cited the progress of companies like VF Corp. (pictured) in the report.
Champion’s Sales Soar Again In Q3
While Hanesbrands faced a number of challenges in the third quarter, including absorbing a bad-debt charge from Sears, currency headwinds and replenishment lags in Innerwear, the Champion business remains on fire. Champion’s sales grew in excess of 30 percent globally on a currency-neutral basis in the quarter and 40 percent excluding the mass channel.
Fitbit’s Smartwatch Entry Propels Rebound In Q3
Shares of Fitbit Inc. rose $1.22, or 25.8 percent, to $5.95 Thursday after the fitness tracker leader returned to profitability on a non-GAAP basis for the first time in two years on surging sales of smartwatches. The just-launched Fitbit Charge3 is also seeing a strong reception.
Big 5 Outlines Strategy For Adapting To Market Pressures
Though Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp.’s third quarter earnings fell within guidance, the company was shy of expectations as August and September sales were “disappointing,” company President and CEO Steven Miller said on Tuesday afternoon’s earnings conference call with analysts.
Fitness And Outdoor Wearables Shines For Garmin In Q3
Boosted by double-digit gains for both its Fitness and Outdoor segments on strength in wearables, Garmin Ltd.’s adjusted earnings climbed 32.0 percent in the third quarter ended September 29, easily topping Wall Street’s target. The Fitness segment was led by advanced wearables, led by the GPS-enabled Vívo line of products. The Fēnix’s series continues to drive Outdoor.
Behind The Deal: Hibbett Makes Strong Retail Play With City Gear Acquisition
Hibbett Sports Inc. CEO Jeff Rosenthal spoke with SGB about the company’s $88 million (plus undisclosed incentives) acquisition of Memphis, TN-based “city specialty” retailer City Gear, which the Birmingham, AL-based retailer believes will be transformational for both companies as they leverage each other’s strengths.
Under Armour’s Shares Pop As Transformation Gains Traction
Shares of Under Armour shot up $5.04, or 27.7 percent, to $23.23 Tuesday, the stock’s highest one-day gain since 2008, as the company reported third-quarter earnings that more than doubled Wall Street’s consensus expectations. On a conference call with analysts, Kevin Plank, CEO, described the performance as “another solid proof point that our multiyear journey toward becoming a more operationally excellent company is on track.”
Nautilus Sees Modest Impact From Sears Bankruptcy
Nautilus Inc. reported earnings tumbled in the third quarter due to higher input costs and a sharp drop in sales at the company’s Direct segment due to the timing of a relaunch but management indicated results were in line with plans. Officials also expect only a modest impact from the bankruptcy of Sears.
Retail Reports Roundup
Retail studies arrived on the online benefit to having physical stores, holiday spending forecasts on tech gadgets and seasonal celebrations, the challenges facing online holiday delivery, the positive payback from creating emotional connections and responding to online reviews.
Aisle Talk Week of October 22
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week, including Yeti’s lukewarm initial public offering debut.
Puma Sees Strong Start In Return To Basketball
Puma raised the company’s outlook for full-year sales and operating profit as the company reported strong sales growth in the third quarter in the Americas and Asia. Puma’s first basketball shoe in 20 years has been well-received, but Puma officials indicated there’s more work to do. On a conference call with journalists, Bjørn Gulden, CEO, said, ”The father will remember that Puma was in basketball. The son doesn’t.”
Outdoor Drives Amer Sports In Q3 As Company Stays Quiet On Anta Bid
Amer Sports made it clear Thursday that the company wouldn’t discuss Anta Sports’ acquisition bid, leaving the company to focus solely on Amer’s solid third-quarter performance, especially in the company’s outdoor segment. Amer Sports reported earnings in the third quarter ended September 30 increased 47 percent while sales grew 8.5 percent.
Callaway Golf Q3 Gains Lift From U.S. Momentum
With revenues in the U.S. running ahead 14.7 percent with the help of a good reception to the Rogue driver, Callaway Golf reported third-quarter earnings and sales exceeded guidance for the seventh straight quarter.
The North Face Sees Lifestyle Offerings Driving Q2 Momentum
With continued over-sized growth for The North Face in the EMEA region and some improvement in the Americas in the second quarter due to strengthening demand for lifestyle apparel offerings, VF Corp. slightly raised the company’s sales outlook for the outdoor brand for the current fiscal year.
