DKS Q3 Earnings Top Estimates, Foot Locker Acquisition Lifts Outlook

Core Insights - DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc. (DKS) reported strong third-quarter fiscal 2025 results, with both sales and earnings exceeding expectations and showing year-over-year growth [1][2] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings were $2.78 per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.62 but slightly down from $2.75 in the same quarter last year [3] - Net sales reached $4.17 billion, a 36.3% increase year over year, exceeding the consensus estimate of $3.97 billion, driven by strong comparable sales and transaction growth [4] - Consolidated comparable sales grew by 5.7% year over year, supported by increased customer traffic [4] Profitability Metrics - Gross profit rose 26.3% year over year to $1.38 billion, surpassing the estimate of $1.14 billion, although gross margin contracted by 264 basis points due to the lower margin impact from the Foot Locker business [5] - Adjusted SG&A expenses increased by 40.8% year over year to $1.11 billion, higher than the estimated $836 million, with the adjusted SG&A expense rate rising to 26.8% [5] Financial Health - DKS ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $821 million and no outstanding borrowings, while total debt stood at $1.9 billion [6] - Total inventory increased by 51% year over year [6] Shareholder Returns - The company repurchased 1.4 million shares for $299 million in the 39 weeks ended Nov. 1, 2025, with $3.2 billion remaining under its share repurchase authorization [7] - DKS paid quarterly dividends totaling $306 million for the same period and announced a quarterly cash dividend of $1.2125 per share payable on Dec. 26, 2025 [8] Strategic Developments - During the third quarter, DKS introduced 13 House of Sport locations and six DICK'S Field House locations [9] - The acquisition of Foot Locker, completed on Sept. 8, 2025, valued at $2.5 billion, is expected to enhance DKS's position in the sports retail industry, although it will incur future pre-tax charges of $500-$750 million due to integration costs [11][12] Future Outlook - DKS raised its full-year fiscal 2025 guidance, projecting net sales between $13.95 billion and $14 billion, up from the previous estimate of $13.75 billion to $13.95 billion, with comparable sales growth expected to be between 3.5% and 4% [13] - Earnings per share guidance was also raised to a range of $14.25 to $14.55, with anticipated gross margin expansion [14]