Shoe Carnival(US:SCVL) Benzinga·2025-11-20 17:00Core Viewpoint - Shoe Carnival, Inc. reported third-quarter sales of $297.155 million, surpassing expectations, while comparable store sales declined by 2.7% [1][3] Financial Performance - Gross profit increased to $111.8 million from $110.4 million year-over-year, with a gross profit margin climbing to 37.6%, an increase of 160 basis points [4][5] - The company reported adjusted earnings per share of 75 cents for the third quarter [5] - Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities totaled $107.7 million at the end of the quarter, an increase of 18.2% compared to the prior year [6] Strategic Initiatives - The One Banner Strategy is gaining traction, with Shoe Station achieving 5.3% net sales growth [1] - The company plans to transition to a single Shoe Station banner, expecting to unlock significant operational and financial gains by fiscal 2027, including $20 million in annual cost savings [8] - Management aims to reach 215 Shoe Station stores by Back-to-School 2026, with over 90% of locations expected to operate as Shoe Station by the end of fiscal 2028 [7][8] Market Positioning - Shoe Station's core customer has a median household income of $60,000-$100,000, showing a preference for premium products and elevated service [2] - The company is intentionally moving away from lower-income consumers, which has led to a 5.2% sales decline at Shoe Carnival [3][4] Future Outlook - The company raised its 2025 GAAP earnings outlook to a range of $1.80 to $2.10 per share, while reaffirming its full-year sales forecast of $1.12 billion to $1.15 billion [11] - Despite expected sales declines in early 2026 due to rebranding efforts, inventory reductions of up to $60 million should fund the conversion program [10]