16 December 2025 | 7:45AM CST Equity Research CHINA PROPERTY MONTHLY TRACKER Another month of slippage, and likely carry forward in Dec Nov 2025 nationwide ASP decline persisted and primary sales dropped -17%/-25% yoy by vol/value (largely inline). New starts fell sharply for the second consecutive month, near -30% yoy in Nov, and completions and FAI undershot our estimates at -25%/-30% yoy. Nov FAI reached the lowest level since 2012 (excl. Jan-Feb which are reported on a combined level). Secondary transac ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported Q3 EPS of $0.53 and net sales of $297.2 million, both exceeding consensus expectations [3] - Gross profit margin expanded by 160 basis points to 37.6%, driven by disciplined pricing and a shift towards higher-income customers [4][17] - Net income for Q3 was $14.6 million, down from $19.2 million year-over-year, primarily due to re-banner investments impacting EPS by $0.22 [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Shoe Station net sales grew by 5.3%, while Shoe Carnival net sales declined by 5.2%, reflecting a significant performance gap of 10.5 percentage points [5][15] - Athletics represented 51% of total sales in Q3, with low single-digit growth overall, while non-athletic categories saw a mid-single-digit comp decline [4][16] - Shoe Station's product margins expanded by 260 basis points, contrasting with Shoe Carnival's decline due to economic pressures on lower-income households [5][18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is strategically shifting away from lower-income households, focusing on customers with median incomes of $60,000-$100,000 [5][9] - The competitive response in the lower-income segment is driving margins down across the industry, while Shoe Station is positioned to capture premium brand demand [5][9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to consolidate to one brand, Shoe Station, to improve operational efficiency and capitalize on the stronger performance of this banner [8][9] - By the end of fiscal 2027, the company expects to achieve $20 million in annual cost savings and $100 million in working capital freed from inventory reduction [9][27] - The transition to Shoe Station is expected to restore comparable sales growth and expand EPS significantly by fiscal 2028 [12][27] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted that fiscal 2026 will be an investment year, with expectations of continued pressure on sales in the first half, followed by a potential turnaround in the second half as Shoe Station becomes the dominant brand [22][23] - The company remains debt-free with over $100 million in cash, allowing it to fund its transformation without external financing [10][13] - Management expressed confidence in the long-term value creation potential of the one-banner strategy, emphasizing the shift in consumer preferences towards premium brands [29] Other Important Information - The company completed 101 store re-banners during fiscal 2025, with plans to reach 51% of its stores operating as Shoe Station by back-to-school 2026 [7][28] - The Rogan's acquisition is fully integrated into Shoe Station, and results will be reported under this banner starting in Q4 [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the expected drag on earnings from re-bannering next year? - Management indicated that re-banner expenses for the next year are expected to be between $25 million and $30 million, with costs being front-loaded due to the conversion of approximately 70 stores [30][31] Question: How will the company manage inventory reductions? - The company plans to liquidate non-GoForward products aggressively and expects some margin pressure during this process [52][53] Question: What is the outlook for the boot business? - Management noted that while the boot season started slowly, there were double-digit increases in sales as inventory improved in October [35] Question: Will the company be able to elevate its product assortment at Shoe Station? - Management confirmed that there are ongoing discussions with premium brands to enhance the product assortment at Shoe Station [37] Question: What is the timeline for achieving the 80% re-bannering goal? - Management stated that the focus is on reaching the critical 51% threshold by summer 2026, with plans to exceed 90% by the end of fiscal 2028 [54]

Core Insights - The company reported a significant decline in revenues for the first half of 2025, with total revenues of €86.6 million, down 8.5% compared to the same period in 2024 [1][5][6] - The decline was particularly pronounced in the French market, where revenues fell by 17.4%, while international revenues saw a more moderate decrease of 1.3% [6][11] Revenue Breakdown - In France, revenues for H1 2025 were €35.1 million, down from €42.5 million in H1 2024, reflecting a 17.4% decline [5][8] - International revenues totaled €51.4 million in H1 2025, down from €52.4 million in H1 2024, marking a 1.3% decrease [5][11] - Q2 2025 revenues were €44.4 million, down 13.7% from €51.6 million in Q2 2024 [1][7] Market Performance - The spirits market in France continues to decline, with Q2 2025 sales down 23.8% compared to Q2 2024, largely due to distribution losses for the William Peel brand [6][8] - The On-Trade sector showed positive growth, with sales up 12.6% in H1 2025, indicating a divergence in performance between On-Trade and Off-Trade channels [6][10] - Internationally, the United States experienced a sharp revenue decline of 57.5% in Q2 2025, primarily due to inventory reductions by the importer [19][20] Strategic Responses - The company is implementing price adjustments to counteract rising costs of matured spirits and is focusing on maintaining constructive dialogue with Off-Trade chains to recover market positions [23][24] - Efforts are being made to diversify offerings through the development of Industrial Services and Agency Brands, which are showing growth potential [25][26] Outlook - The company anticipates continued challenges in the international wine and spirits market, with uncertainties regarding trade negotiations and potential increases in customs duties impacting profitability [22][26]

FY 2024 Earnings March 2025 Safe Harbor Statement During this presentation, the Company may discuss forward-looking information. Except for the historical information contained in this release, all forward-looking statements are estimates by the Company's management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ from management's current expectations. Such factors include weather conditions, changes in regulatory policy and other risks as detailed from time-to-time in th ...