Core Insights - Deckers Outdoor Corp experienced a nearly 12% decline in stock price following its Q2 FY2026 results, despite surpassing revenue and EPS expectations, primarily due to a cautious full-year outlook and external pressures [1] - The stock has dropped 55% year-to-date, reflecting market sentiment rather than the company's operational achievements [1] Group 1: Brand Performance - HOKA brand continues to lead growth, increasing its market share by two points in the U.S. road-running sector and achieving mid-single-digit growth in wholesale sell-through [3] - International sales for HOKA surged nearly 30%, driven by strong performance in Europe and Japan, with direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales accounting for 39% of total revenue [3] - UGG brand saw low-teens growth in digital traffic and improved in-store conversion rates, indicating strong brand equity despite challenging consumer spending conditions [3] Group 2: Operational Efficiency - Inventory increased by only 7% year-over-year, showcasing improved supply-chain discipline amid varying demand across regions [4] - Management aims to enhance inventory turns by 0.5x in FY2026 while maintaining stable to slightly elevated average selling prices through strong full-price sell-through [4] - E-commerce represented 48% of DTC revenue, with unchanged return rates year-over-year, indicating better product fit and customer retention [5] Group 3: Strategic Growth Initiatives - Deckers is expanding its direct-to-consumer presence, operating 42 HOKA-owned stores globally, up from 34 the previous year [7] - Wholesale activity remains robust, with UGG reorder rates reported as "better than planned," suggesting strong retail demand [7] - Strategic advancements in DTC locations, streamlined inventory, and balanced channel distribution position Deckers to respond effectively once consumer spending normalizes [8] Group 4: Overall Assessment - The Q2 results reflect a recalibration rather than disappointment, with management focusing on brand control and margin integrity over short-term growth [9] - Key indicators such as market share gains, healthy DTC metrics, stable pricing, and leaner inventory suggest that Deckers continues to outperform its sector [9]

Golden Goose is set to appoint Mauro Maggioni as its new chief executive officer of the Americas, the brand confirmed to FN exclusively. The news comes as outgoing CEO of the Americas Silvia Merati announced she would be leaving the Italian footwear company to helm the denim brand Frame in Los Angeles. More from WWD As for Maggioni, he has been with Golden Goose since 2019, most recently serving as the CEO of the Asia-Pacific region. Prior to joining the company, the executive spent seven years at Ermen ...

Gen Z has a new favorite shoe. Sales of the 76-year-old shoe brand Onitsuka Tiger have taken off amid a global tourism boom to Japan. https://t.co/axvxUNtld1 ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales for Q3 2025 increased by 7% to $122.5 million, with gross profit at $49.3 million, representing 40.2% of net sales, up from 38.1% in Q3 2024 [12][16] - Adjusted diluted EPS was $1.03, a 34% increase compared to Q3 2024 [3][16] - Gross margins improved by 210 basis points, driven by higher wholesale and retail margins [13][16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Wholesale net sales increased by 6.1% to $89.1 million, retail net sales rose by 10.3% to $29.5 million, and contract manufacturing net sales grew by 4.1% to $3.9 million [12][16] - XTRATUF brand showed strong growth, particularly in U.S. wholesale, which increased by double digits [4][5] - Muck brand continued its positive trajectory with double-digit growth in U.S. wholesale, supported by successful collaborations and improved inventory positions [6][8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced a challenging consumer environment, with cautious spending observed among consumers [21][23] - E-commerce business showed recovery in September after a sluggish period in July and August, indicating strong marketplace performance [29][31] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is diversifying its sourcing base to mitigate the impact of higher tariffs, including adding new manufacturing partners outside of China and Vietnam [3][4] - Plans to manufacture approximately 50% of inventory needs in-house by 2026, up from 30% in 2025, to improve gross margins [18][19] - The company is focusing on expanding its direct-to-consumer business and enhancing marketing investments to support growth [15][19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism about the fourth quarter, balancing strong brand momentum with concerns about the broader consumer environment [11][19] - Anticipated that headwinds from higher tariffs will abate midway through 2026, with expectations for improved gross margins in the second half of next year [12][18] - Management noted that Q4 2025 is expected to be the worst quarter from a tariff perspective, with improvements anticipated in 2026 [35] Other Important Information - The company reported a decrease in total debt by 7.5% year-over-year, totaling $139 million [16][17] - Inventory levels increased by 12.7% year-over-year, primarily due to higher tariffs and increased production in-house [16][17] Q&A Session Summary Question: Thoughts on the consumer environment - Management noted that the consumer environment is dynamic, with cautious spending observed, but products are still selling well [21][23] Question: Quantifying delayed sales due to supply chain issues - Delays in sourcing changes resulted in a few million dollars in missed inventory, with expectations that bringing more products in-house will help margins in 2026 [25] Question: Insights on third-quarter results versus expectations - Management expressed satisfaction with Q3 results despite challenges, noting strong performance in marketplace and e-commerce [29][31] Question: Pockets of weakness and fourth-quarter guidance - Durango brand showed some weakness due to pulled-forward orders, while other brands like XTRATUF and Georgia Boot performed well [32][33] Question: Implied profit guidance for the fourth quarter - Management indicated that pricing will help offset tariff impacts, but Q4 margins are expected to be depressed due to timing of tariff effects [34][35] Question: Potential impact of consumer stimulus in 2026 - Management is prepared to take advantage of any consumer stimulus, with positive momentum expected for XTRATUF in 2026 [39][40]

Core Viewpoint - Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) is undergoing a turnaround similar to Nike, with CEO Brian Niccol emphasizing that this process will take time [2]. Group 1: Company Performance - The recent sluggishness in Starbucks shares is attributed to analyst over-optimism rather than the actual turnaround progress [2]. - There is a belief that the current quarter may be the last challenging period for Starbucks, with expectations for a positive outlook by 2026 [3]. Group 2: Investment Perspective - While Starbucks is seen as a potential investment, there is a conviction that certain AI stocks may offer higher returns with limited downside risk [3].

Core Insights - Deckers Outdoor Corporation (NYSE: DECK) reported disappointing fiscal second-quarter earnings, guiding for $5.35 billion in annual sales, below analysts' expectations of $5.45 billion [1][2] - The company's brands, including UGG and HOKA, are facing challenges, with UGG not performing well and HOKA experiencing increased competition [2] - There is a broader macroeconomic uncertainty affecting the enterprise level, contributing to the lukewarm guidance [2] Company Performance - Deckers Outdoor Corporation's annual sales guidance of $5.35 billion is lower than the market expectation of $5.45 billion, indicating potential struggles in meeting growth targets [1] - The performance of key brands such as UGG and HOKA is under scrutiny, with both brands not achieving expected sales figures [2] Market Competition - The competitive landscape is intensifying, with brands like Nike entering the market against HOKA, and New Balance regaining some market presence [2] - Elevated competition and macroeconomic factors are cited as reasons for the company's challenges, suggesting a need for strategic adjustments [2]

Core Insights - Crocs (CROX) is expected to report quarterly earnings of $2.37 per share, a decline of 34.2% year-over-year, with revenues forecasted at $965.11 million, reflecting a 9.1% decrease compared to the same period last year [1] - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised 5.8% lower in the last 30 days, indicating a collective reevaluation by analysts [2] - Analysts emphasize the importance of earnings estimate revisions as a predictor of investor actions and short-term stock performance [3] Revenue Projections - Revenues for the Crocs Brand are projected to be $819.18 million, down 4.5% from the prior-year quarter [5] - HEYDUDE Brand revenues are estimated at $145.51 million, indicating a significant year-over-year decline of 28.7% [5] - HEYDUDE Brand Wholesale revenues are expected to be $65.23 million, reflecting a 42.3% decrease year-over-year [5] Channel-Specific Revenue Estimates - Direct-to-Consumer revenues for the Crocs Brand are estimated at $433.31 million, a decline of 6.3% year-over-year [6] - Direct-to-Consumer revenues for the HEYDUDE Brand are projected at $82.08 million, suggesting a 9.9% decrease year-over-year [6] - Wholesale revenues for the Crocs Brand are expected to reach $387.87 million, indicating a 2% decline year-over-year [6] Stock Performance - Crocs shares have increased by 4.2% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite, which rose by 3.6% [7] - The company holds a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), suggesting it is expected to underperform the overall market in the near term [7]

Core Insights - Investors should focus on undervalued stocks that have the potential to become major players in the market, rather than overvalued stocks that have already seen significant price increases [2][3] - Nintendo and Crocs are highlighted as promising investment opportunities due to their potential for growth and turnaround, respectively [3][8] Nintendo - Nintendo is a well-known gaming brand that has a strong presence in family-friendly entertainment with popular franchises like Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon [4] - The company has experienced a resurgence with the Nintendo Switch, which has sold over 150 million units since its launch in 2017 [5] - The recently launched Nintendo Switch 2 has already sold close to 6 million units within weeks of its release, with expectations to sell between 20 million and 25 million units by the end of the fiscal year in March 2026 [6] - Increased hardware sales are expected to drive profits, as Nintendo generated $2 billion in net income over the past 12 months, with software sales being a key profit driver [7] - Nintendo is positioned as an undervalued stock with significant profit potential anticipated in 2026 [8] Crocs - Crocs is currently trading at a low price and is expected to undergo a turnaround in the coming year, making it an attractive investment opportunity [8]

Core Viewpoint - Deckers Outdoor (DECK) stock is currently trading within a support range of $82.59 to $91.29, where it has historically rebounded significantly, achieving an average peak return of 59.2% after three previous instances of trading at this level [1] Financial Performance - The stock has faced a decline this year due to mixed earnings and margin pressures from rising tariffs and higher selling expenses, but it has strong brand momentum from high-growth lines like Hoka and Ugg [5] - Ugg sales increased by 10.1% and Hoka sales grew by 11.1%, reaching $634.1 million in the last quarter [5] - Revenue growth for DECK stands at 16.3% over the last twelve months (LTM) and an average of 16.5% over the past three years [7] - The company has a free cash flow margin of nearly 19.2% and an operating margin of 23.6% LTM [7] - The lowest annual revenue growth in the last three years was 15.1% [7] - DECK stock trades at a price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of 13.6, indicating a lower valuation compared to the S&P [7] Market Position and Risks - Deckers Outdoor has a solid financial foundation and expanding international opportunities, despite being susceptible to significant declines during market turmoil [6] - The company operates 140 retail locations worldwide and distributes through various channels, including department stores and specialty retailers [6] - Historical performance shows that DECK experienced a 44% decline during the Dot-Com crash and a 77% drop during the Global Financial Crisis, highlighting its vulnerability to market conditions [6]

Core Insights - Kornit Digital has launched a groundbreaking digital footwear solution aimed at the sports and athleisure markets, marking a significant milestone in the industry [1][2] - The company has successfully sold over one million pairs of sports shoes globally, demonstrating that digital footwear manufacturing is now a commercial reality [2] Market Opportunity - The addressable market for Kornit is approximately one billion decorated shoe uppers annually within the global sports and athleisure footwear industry, driven by consumer demand for variety, innovation, and personalization [3] - Kornit's technology addresses key market challenges such as design limitations and overproduction by offering a single-step digital workflow that enhances durability, flexibility, and design freedom [3] Technological Advancements - Kornit's patented technology allows for high-quality prints directly on technical fabrics, streamlining the production process and enabling brands to create on demand [3][5] - The footwear solution has been successfully deployed with leading manufacturers in China, and Kornit is expanding its customer base globally, including in Vietnam and Germany [4] Sustainability - The new footwear production process is designed to be sustainable, requiring no water, using minimal energy, and facilitating local production, which reduces waste and carbon footprint [5] - Kornit's next-generation footwear technology will be showcased at Techtextil 2026, featuring new polymers and expanded material compatibility to enhance performance and scalability [5] Industry Transformation - The footwear industry is experiencing a transformation towards digital solutions, with Kornit leading the way through innovation and collaboration with global brands [4] - Customer feedback indicates that Kornit's digital solution significantly accelerates footwear development, allowing brands to respond quickly to market trends [4]