Foot Locker To Rebound Under Dick's? This Analyst Says It Could

Core Viewpoint - Foot Locker's total sales decreased by 4.6% year-over-year to $1.79 billion, missing analyst estimates due to store closures and adverse foreign exchange impacts [1][2]. Sales Performance - The company's sales decline was attributed to soft traffic, particularly in Europe, where sales fell by 10.2%, a significant drop from a 1.9% increase in the previous quarter [2]. - International comparable sales were down 8.5%, with North America showing a slight decline of 0.9% for Foot Locker and 4.6% for WSS, overshadowing growth at Champs (+0.5%) and Kids Foot Locker (+3.4%) [9]. Financial Metrics - Merchandise margin pressure was approximately 10 basis points, influenced by ongoing promotions, while occupancy deleverage accounted for around 30 basis points due to lower sales [4]. - The operating margin was reported at -0.1%, reflecting a year-over-year decline of about 150 basis points, aligning with analyst expectations [9]. - Gross margin decreased by 40 basis points to 28.4%, which was better than the analyst's estimate of 28% and FactSet's estimate of 28.1% [9]. Strategic Developments - The pending acquisition of Foot Locker by Dick's Sporting Goods is viewed positively for shareholders, with expectations of minimal regulatory opposition [5]. - Foot Locker is progressing on its LaceUp plan, which includes store closures, off-mall openings, and refreshes, with 300 refreshes and 80 remodels planned for 2025 and additional plans for 2026 [5][6]. - The acquisition could enhance Foot Locker's supply chain and e-commerce capabilities, leveraging Dick's experienced leadership and operational best practices [6][7]. Future Outlook - Analysts suggest that Dick's could achieve greater operational savings through consolidating functions, closing underperforming stores, and adopting best practices, potentially allowing Foot Locker to return to an 8.9% operating margin seen in 2019 from approximately 2.3% in 2024 [7].