Columbia Sportswear Q4 Earnings Beat Estimates, Sales Down Y/Y

Core Insights - Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM) reported fourth-quarter 2025 results with both sales and earnings exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate, although both metrics declined year over year [2][12]. Financial Performance - Earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter were $1.73, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.22, but down 3.9% from $1.80 in the prior-year period [4][12]. - Net sales reached $1,070.2 million, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,037 million, but fell 2.4% year over year, primarily due to timing-related factors [5][12]. - Gross profit decreased 1.6% year over year to $551.7 million, while gross margin improved by 50 basis points to 51.6%, driven by better inventory quality [6][12]. - Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) expenses rose 2.5% to $441.5 million, with the percentage of sales increasing to 41.3% [7][12]. - Operating income was $116.7 million, down 15% from the previous year, with operating margin decreasing by 160 basis points to 10.9% [8][12]. Sales Performance by Region and Channel - U.S. net sales declined 8% year over year to $626 million, slightly missing estimates, while international markets showed growth with EMEA and Asia Pacific net sales increasing by 8% [9][12]. - Direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales increased 1% to $640.8 million, exceeding expectations, while wholesale channel sales decreased by 7% [10][12]. Product Category Performance - Net sales in the Apparel, Accessories, and Equipment category fell 2% to $855 million, while Footwear sales decreased by 5% to $215.3 million [13][12]. - Sales for the Columbia, SOREL, and Mountain Hardwear brands experienced declines, while the prAna brand saw a 6% increase year over year [13][12]. Financial Position and Future Outlook - As of December 31, 2025, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $442 million and no debt on its balance sheet [14][12]. - For 2026, the company anticipates net sales growth of 1% to 3%, projecting revenues between $3.43 billion and $3.50 billion [17][12]. - Gross margin is expected to decline to a range of 49.8% to 50%, while operating margin is projected to improve modestly to between 6.2% and 6.9% [18][12]. - EPS for 2026 is forecasted to range from $3.20 to $3.65, with first-quarter 2026 net sales expected to decline approximately 2.5% to 4% year over year [19][12].