SGB Executive Sportsmans
Academy Sports Faces Layoffs Again
Following a round of layoffs last summer, Academy Sports + Outdoors said it will be laying off approximately 140 corporate employees largely due to the outsourcing of certain IT functions at the retailer.
Aisle Talk, Week of January 22
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week.
Susquehanna Upgrades Dick’s SG To Positive On Weather Benefit
Believing the retailer’s fourth-quarter results should surprise on the upside given management’s conservative guidance and the benefits of cold weather, Susquehanna Financial Group raised its rating on Dick’s Sporting Goods to “Positive” from “Neutral.”
Amazon Already Dominant Website For Buying Apparel
Amazon, which has ramped up its investments in the apparel space in only the last few years, appears to have quickly become the leading place consumers buy apparel online, according to a new survey from CPC Strategy.
Aisle Talk, Week Of January 15
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week.
CES 2018: Sports Tech’s Highlights
Artificial intelligence, sensors embedded in apparel, the quantified self and gamification were some underlying themes across the sports and fitness-related products that landed at CES 2018. Black Box VR, Garmin, Peloton, Myant, L’Oreal and Sony were among the brands earning some hype.
Buckingham Research Hikes Dick’s To Buy
Buckingham Research raised its rating due to the potential bottoming of domestic athletic cyclical pressures, an improving vendor product pipeline set to arrive in the second half of 2018, and an eventual payback from its strong partnerships with the industry’s key branded players: Nike, Adidas and Under Armour.
Macquarie Capital Downgrades Under Armour To Underperform
Macquarie Capital downgraded its rating on Under Armour to “Underperform” due to sales, margin and capital concerns. Sales In North America are expected to be pressured by the speculated exit out from tennis and some outdoor categories as well as continued challenges from Academy Sports & Outdoor.
Deutsche Bank Upgrades Dick’s On Signs Of Stabilizing Industry
Deutsche Bank upgraded its rating on Dick’s Sporting Goods to “Buy”’ due to the signs of more-favorable trends in footwear and inventory pressures across the industry lessening.
Aisle Talk, Week Of January 8
Top headlines from the active lifestyle industry you may have missed this week.
Hydro Flask Sees Robust Sell-Throughs In Q3
Said Julien Mininberg, CEO of Helen of Troy on a conference call with analysts, “Hydro Flask, with its number one market share position in insulated beverage bottles, continues to enjoy excellent point of sale performance across channels we track; retailer inventory levels are largely in line with consumer takeaway.”
SGB Industry Outlook 2018
Nearly 40 active lifestyle industry executives share their thoughts on where we’re headed next. Comments from Brooks, Smartwool, PGA Tour Superstore, United Sports Brands, Fleet Feet, PrimaLoft, The North Face, Osprey Packs, TRX Training, Wilson, Saucony, SKLZ and others.
Susquehanna Downgrades Under Armour Over Discount-Channel Concerns
Believing it’s making the same mistake as Reebok in selling to lower-tier channels, Susquehanna Financial Group lowered its stock rating on Under Armour to “Negative,” which is essentially a sell, from “Neutral.”
Wells Fargo Sees Dick’s As Long-Term “Survivor”
Wells Fargo upgraded its rating on Dick’s Sporting Goods to “Outperform” in part because it believes the company will ultimately benefit from the industry’s consolidation, much like Best Buy has done in the consumer electronics channel.
M&A Fever Continues In 2017
Cabela’s, Gander Mountain, Eastern Mountain Sports, Majestic Athletic, Icebreaker, Villa, JackRabbit, Ogio and SIA’s Snow Show were among the businesses sold in yet another busy year of M&A action in 2017.
