Johnson Outdoors, Inc., the parent of the Jetboil, Old Town, Minn Kota, Humminbird, and ScubaPro brands, posted strong fiscal first-quarter top-line growth, with double-digit sales increases across its product segments. Still, it was the Fishing segment that owned the day, with 36 percent year-over-year growth during the holiday quarter, an indicator of things to come for the spring.

Total company net sales increased 31.0 percent to $140.9 million in the three-month period ended January 2, compared to $107.6 million in the prior-year first fiscal quarter. The Fishing segment accounted for nearly 80 percent of sales volume in the quarter.

“We’re pleased with the positive start to our fiscal year,” offered company Chairman and CEO Helen Johnson-Leipold. “We saw markets stabilize, and we continue to get solid reception to our innovation. Our critical investments in new products and digital commerce, combined with our ongoing hard work on improving profitability, are essential to position us for success.”

During the first fiscal quarter, the company said it was ramping up for the primary selling period of its warm-weather outdoor recreation products across its second and third fiscal quarters.

Fishing segment sales, which include Minn Kota and Humminbird, increased 36.0 percent to $112.4 million, said to be mainly due to the success of new product launches and improved trade inventory levels. The sharp increase comes after a 39.1 percent increase in the fiscal fourth quarter.

Camping & Watercraft Recreation segment sales, including Old Town canoes and kayaks, Carlisle paddles and Jetboil outdoor cooking systems, were reportedly up 12 percent to $10.6 million, said to be primarily due to new product success and growth in the e-commerce channel. The performance was a reversal from the 13.3 percent decline in the fiscal fourth quarter.

Diving segment sales, including the ScubaPro brand, increased 15 percent to $18.0 million, reportedly driven by improvements across global markets. The increase came after a 17.5 percent increase in the fiscal fourth quarter.

Profitability & Expenses

  • Gross margin improved to 36.6 percent, compared to 29.9 percent in the prior-year quarter, mainly due to improved overhead absorption and cost-savings efforts, the company said.
  • Operating expenses of $54.5 million increased $2.1 million from the prior-year period, reportedly due primarily to higher sales volume-related expenses, partially offset by lower warranty expense.
  • Total company operating loss was $2.9 million for the fiscal first quarter, compared to an operating loss of $20.2 million in the prior-year first quarter.
  • A loss before income taxes was $1.3 million in the current year quarter, compared to a loss of $18.9 million in the prior-year first quarter, mainly attributable to the improvement in operating loss.
  • Net loss for the quarter was $3.3 million, or a loss of 33 cents per diluted share, compared to a loss of $15.3 million, or a loss of $1.49 per diluted share, in the prior-year first quarter.

Other Financial Information

  • The company reported cash and short-term investments of $130.7 million as of January 2, 2026.
  • Depreciation and amortization were $5.1 million in the three months ending January 2, 2026, compared to $4.8 million in the prior three-month period.
  • Capital spending totaled $4.3 million in the latest quarter compared with $4.1 million in the prior-year Q1 period.

In December 2025, the company’s Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend to shareholders of record as of January 8, 2026, payable on January 22, 2026.

“We continue to benefit from our ongoing efforts to improve operational efficiency, enabling us to improve our margins and continue to reduce our inventory levels,” added company CFO David W. Johnson. “Looking forward, we will continue to strategically manage costs while protecting investments to strengthen the business.”

Image courtesy of Minn Kota/Johnson Outdoors, Inc., Data and table courtesy Johnson Outdoors, Inc.