Johnson Outdoors, Inc., the parent of the Jetboil, Old Town, Minn Kota, Humminbird, and ScubaPro brands, said it delivered a strong second quarter, with growth across all of business segments as retail conditions improved and the company’s innovation continued to perform well.

“We are proud of our market-leading brands that continue to resonate with consumers,” said Helen Johnson-Leipold, chairman and CEO, Johnson Outdoors, Inc. “By staying focused on disciplined execution of our strategic priorities and strengthening our competitive position, we are confident we are taking the right actions to navigate the current macroeconomic environment while building long-term resilience.”

Total company net sales in the second fiscal quarter ended April 3 increased 16 percent to $194.5 million compared to $168.3 million in the prior year second fiscal quarter.

  • Fishing revenue increased 18 percent mainly due to improved trade conditions, a stronger competitive position in the market, and pricing.
  • Camping & Watercraft Recreation sales were up 1 percent, primarily due to increased e-commerce sales.
  • Diving sales increased 9 percent, driven by improved market conditions and growth in e-commerce.

Gross margin improved to 38.8 percent, compared to 35.0 percent in the prior year quarter, due primarily to improved overhead absorption and cost savings.

Operating expenses of $65.1 million increased $11.2 million from the prior year period, due primarily to increased sales-volume-related costs as well as increased variable compensation costs.

Total company operating income was $10.3 million for the second fiscal quarter versus operating income of $4.9 million in the prior year second quarter.

Profit before income taxes was $10.2 million in the second fiscal quarter, compared to $4.2 million in the prior year second quarter, mainly attributable to the improvement in operating income.

The effective tax rate was an expense of 7.8 percent compared to 44.6 percent in the prior year second quarter.

Net income was $9.4 million, or 89 cents per diluted share, versus $2.3 million, or 22 cents per diluted share in the previous year’s second quarter.

First Half Summary

  • Fiscal 2026 year-to-date (H1) net sales were $335.4 million, a 21.5 percent increase over last year’s first fiscal six-month (H1) period.
  • Gross margin increased to 37.9 percent, compared to 33.0 percent in the prior year-to-date period, due to the same factors noted above for the quarter.
  • Operating expenses were $119.7 million in H1, an increase of $13.3 million from the prior-year H1 period due to the same factors for the quarter.
  • Total company operating income increased to $7.4 million in H1, compared to an operating loss of $15.3 million in the prior-year H1 period.
  • Profit before income taxes for the H1 period was $9.0 million, versus a loss before income taxes of $14.8 million in the prior-year H1 period.
  • In addition to the increase in operating profit, Other income decreased by $0.6 million, said to be primarily due to a decrease in investment gains and earnings on the assets related to the company’s non-qualified deferred compensation plan in the current year-to-date period, offset as a reduction to operating expense.
  • The company’s effective tax rate increased to 31.8 percent in the current year versus a benefit of 12.1 percent in the prior year six-month period.
  • Net income during the first fiscal six months was $6.1 million, or 58 cents per diluted share, versus a net loss of $13.0 million, or a loss of $1.26 per diluted share, in the prior-year H1 period.

Other Financial Information
The company reported cash and short-term investments of $107.9 million as of April 3, 2026, an increase of $13.9 million versus the prior year quarter. Depreciation and amortization were $10.1 million in the six months ending April 3, 2026, compared to $10.0 million in the prior six-month period. Capital spending totaled $10.5 million in the current quarter compared with $7.4 million in the prior year period. In February 2026, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend to shareholders of record as of April 16, 2026, which was payable April 30, 2026.

“Our ongoing efforts to strategically manage costs helped boost margins in the second quarter. At the same time, we are seeing increased cost pressures, along with a modest increase in inventory as we prepare for the upcoming selling season,” said David W. Johnson, Chief Financial Officer. “Despite uncertainties in the broader economic environment, we remain focused on our financial discipline and will continue to closely manage the business to balance near-term pressures with long-term value creation.”