Group 1 - The article introduces Josh Lukimin as a new contributing analyst for Seeking Alpha, inviting others to share their investment ideas for publication and potential earnings [1] - The focus is on long-term growth in the tech sector, emphasizing innovation and emerging technologies as key areas for investment [2] - The approach combines a deep understanding of market dynamics with a forward-looking perspective, aiming to build wealth through strategic, long-term investments in high-potential tech stocks [2]

2 June 2025 | 10:42PM HKT Xtep International Holdings (1368.HK): Consumer & Leisure Corporate Day: Full-year outlook reiterated; confidence in Saucony's Bottom line: We hosted Xtep Group at our Consumer & Leisure Corporate Day on Jun 2. Key takeaways include 1) Full year guidance reiterated in view of YTD trend, i.e. deliver positive sales growth at group level (Saucony/Merrell is guided to deliver 30%-40% sales growth) and >10% yoy NP growth. 2) Xtep core: discount level stayed broadly stable in 2Q-to-date ...

Core Insights - Deckers Outdoor Corporation's international expansion strategy is a significant driver of growth, with HOKA and UGG brands contributing notably to this momentum [2][12] - In fiscal 2025, international sales increased by 19.9% year over year, reaching $374.1 million, underscoring the importance of global markets [2][12] International Sales Performance - HOKA's international revenues grew by 39% year over year, now making up 34% of total sales, up from 30% in fiscal 2024 [3] - UGG's international revenues rose by 20% year over year, accounting for 39% of total UGG sales, an increase from 37% in the previous fiscal year [3] Strategic Initiatives - Deckers expanded its presence in key regions such as Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and China, including the opening of HOKA's Shanghai Experience Center [4] - In Europe, HOKA gained significant shelf space and recognition in markets like the U.K., Germany, France, and Italy, while in China, the brand enhanced digital engagement and visibility through sponsorships [5] Future Growth Plans - The company aims to increase its international revenue mix to 50% of total sales in the coming years, reducing reliance on the North American market [6] - Management anticipates that international growth will continue to outpace growth in the U.S. market [6] Competitive Landscape - Key competitors in the international market include Wolverine World Wide and Skechers U.S.A., with Wolverine reporting a 16.4% year-over-year sales increase in Q1 2025 [7][8] - Skechers' international sales now represent 65% of its total business, with EMEA sales growing by 14% [9] Financial Performance and Valuation - Deckers' shares have declined by 47.9% year to date, compared to the industry's decline of 13.7% [10] - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 17.02X, slightly below the industry average of 17.72X [13] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings implies a year-over-year decline of 3.3%, while fiscal 2027 estimates suggest a 9.1% increase [14]

Group 1 - Genesco Inc. reported Q1 '26 earnings results, indicating a mixed quarter performance [1] - Journeys showed good comparable sales, but gross profit did not increase due to rising footwear prices [1] Group 2 - The investment approach focuses on operational aspects and long-term earnings potential rather than market-driven dynamics [1] - The strategy emphasizes holding companies for the long term, with a small fraction being considered for buy recommendations [1]

Group 1 - ENBO has officially launched its flagship store on JD.com, offering a wide range of products including popular models like Cliff Garden Shoes, Exploration Clogs, and Birkenstock Shoes, along with over 20 exclusive models for JD, providing consumers with rich choices and promotional offers [1][3] - The new summer collection features comfortable and stylish footwear, including the ENBO Birkenstock half-toe cork sandals designed for casual retro style, lightweight non-slip clogs with enhanced sports performance, and women's thick-soled clogs that are approximately 4.5 cm thick, ideal for summer outfits [3] - JD.com has seen significant growth in the fashion sector, with the number of leading footwear brands increasing by over 60% year-on-year and the number of third-party merchants growing by more than 200% since 2024, indicating a strong trend towards enhanced consumer shopping experiences and high-quality brand growth [5]

Core Viewpoint - Xcel Brands, Inc. reported a challenging first quarter of 2025 with a significant decrease in total revenue, but showed improvements in operational costs and social media engagement, positioning the company for future growth [2][3][5]. Financial Performance - Total revenue for Q1 2025 was $1.3 million, down approximately $0.9 million (-39%) from Q1 2024, primarily due to a decline in net licensing revenue following the divestiture of the Lori Goldstein brand [3]. - Direct operating costs and expenses decreased by approximately $1.7 million (-42%) to $2.3 million in Q1 2025, with an expected annual run rate of less than $10 million [4]. - The net loss attributable to Xcel Brands stockholders for Q1 2025 was approximately $2.8 million, or $(1.18) per share, compared to a net loss of $6.3 million, or $(3.09) per share, in the prior year [5][10]. - Adjusted EBITDA improved from negative $1.6 million in Q1 2024 to negative $0.7 million in Q1 2025, representing a 56% improvement [6][10]. Balance Sheet - As of March 31, 2025, the company had stockholders' equity of approximately $25.7 million, unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of approximately $0.3 million, and a working capital deficit of approximately $0.6 million [7]. - The company also reported $8.5 million in long-term debt [7]. Brand and Market Position - The social media following of Xcel's brand portfolio increased from 5 million to 45 million followers over the past five months, with a goal of reaching 100 million followers [2]. - Xcel Brands has generated over $5 billion in retail sales through livestreaming and digital channels, with a broadcast reach into 200 million households [11].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported total revenue of $474 million for the first quarter, an increase of approximately 4% year-over-year, driven by a 5% growth in comparable sales, marking the third consecutive quarter of positive comps [34][35] - Adjusted gross margin for the quarter was 46.7%, a decline of 90 basis points compared to the previous year, primarily due to a shift towards higher price point but lower margin products [35] - Adjusted earnings per share loss improved by $0.05 year-over-year, with an adjusted diluted loss per share of $2.05 for the quarter compared to a loss of $2.10 last year [38][42] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Journeys led the business with comparable sales up 8%, while Schuh saw a 1% increase, and Johnston and Murphy experienced a 2% decline in comps [34][35] - The company noted that all channels posted positive growth, with store comps improving by 5% and direct comps increasing by 7% [34][36] - Schuh's digital capabilities and e-commerce business remained a key channel, with digital sales growth outpacing store sales in Q1 [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The consumer environment was described as choppy, with consumers showing a willingness to shop during specific events like Valentine's Day and Easter, but retreating during quieter periods [5][6] - The UK consumer remains selective, impacting the footwear category and overall purchases [19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on diversifying its product offerings and strengthening its leadership in premium athletic footwear, with a significant increase in athletic sales contributing to overall growth [25][26] - The strategic growth plan for Journeys includes enhancing product assortments, improving customer experience through store remodels, and leveraging brand partnerships [24][29] - The company is actively mitigating tariff impacts by diversifying suppliers and sourcing from countries with lower tariffs, aiming to reduce dependence on China [12][13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in navigating the current trade environment and emphasized the importance of compelling footwear and freshness to motivate consumer purchases [8][9] - The company reaffirmed its full-year EPS guidance range of $1.30 to $1.70, despite acknowledging increased uncertainty in the external consumer environment [42][43] - Management highlighted the importance of the back-to-school and holiday shopping periods for driving sales and expressed optimism about the second half of the fiscal year [30][42] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with 1,256 total stores, having closed 26 stores and opened 4, resulting in a net reduction of 65 stores year-over-year [40] - Free cash flow for the quarter was negative $120 million, impacted by higher capital spending and inventory growth to meet consumer demand [39][40] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about the impacts of new athletic brand relationships on Q1 comps? - Management noted that existing brands drove the comp, but new brands like HOKA and Saucony had a positive impact, validating Journeys' position in lifestyle running [50][51] Question: How did the vulcanized product category perform? - Management acknowledged pressure on vulcanized products but stated that strength in other brands offset this pressure [53][54] Question: What are the expectations for Journeys in the back half of the year? - Management indicated that while they are lapping more difficult comparisons, they are optimistic about serving a broader market and continuing to strengthen product leadership [67][70] Question: How does the company view recent M&A activity in the footwear landscape? - Management expressed confidence in their positioning, focusing on lifestyle-driven offerings for the teen market, which differs from the performance-focused M&A activity [78][79] Question: What are the expectations regarding gross margins and price increases? - Management discussed the shift towards athletic products impacting margins but emphasized that they do not expect to absorb gross margin reductions due to tariffs [80][81]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported total revenue of $474 million for Q1 2026, an increase of approximately 4% year-over-year, driven by a 5% growth in comparable sales, marking the third consecutive quarter of positive comps [30][31] - Adjusted gross margin for the quarter was 46.7%, a decline of 90 basis points compared to the previous year, primarily due to a shift towards higher price point but lower margin products [32] - SG&A expenses were 52.5% of sales, improving by 170 basis points year-over-year, driven by reduced occupancy and bonus expenses along with cost-saving initiatives [33] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Journeys led the business with comparable sales up 8%, while Schuh saw a 1% increase, and Johnston and Murphy experienced a 2% decline in comps [30][31] - Journeys' strong performance was attributed to a strategic focus on product assortment and brand partnerships, resulting in double-digit gains across several brands [14][23] - Schuh's comps increased due to improved brand access and digital capabilities, with over 40% of sales coming from e-commerce [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The consumer environment remains choppy, with consumers showing willingness to shop during key events but retreating during quieter periods [5][28] - The UK consumer market is under pressure, impacting Schuh's performance, while Johnston and Murphy faced challenges in factory store traffic [19][28] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on diversifying its product offerings and strengthening its brand partnerships, particularly in the athletic category, to capture a broader teen market [22][23] - The strategic growth plan for Journeys includes enhancing product assortment, elevating customer experience through new store designs, and increasing brand awareness through marketing initiatives [26][68] - The company is actively mitigating tariff impacts by diversifying suppliers and adjusting inventory strategies [12][11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in navigating the current trade environment and emphasized the importance of compelling footwear and freshness to drive consumer purchases [7][10] - The company reiterated its full-year EPS guidance of $1.3 to $1.7, acknowledging ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties and the impact of tariffs [38][39] - Management expects positive comps for Journeys in Q2, despite challenges in other business segments [56][58] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with a negative free cash flow of $120 million, attributed to higher capital spending and inventory growth to meet consumer demand [36][37] - The company repurchased approximately 605,000 shares during the quarter, representing about 5% of its outstanding shares [37] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about the impacts of new athletic brand relationships on Q1 comp? - Management noted that existing brands drove the comp, but new brands like HOKA and Saucony had a positive impact, validating Journeys' position in lifestyle running [46][48] Question: How did vulcanized product trends compare to expectations? - Management acknowledged pressure on vulcanized products but stated that strength in other brands offset this pressure [50][51] Question: What is the guidance for Journeys in Q2? - Management indicated that Journeys is tracking similarly to Q1, with expectations for a positive comp, despite challenges in other segments [56][58] Question: What are the drivers for Journeys in the back half of the year? - Management highlighted the focus on product assortment, store remodels, and marketing initiatives as key drivers for growth [60][68] Question: How does the company view recent M&A activity in the footwear landscape? - Management stated that the company is positioned differently from competitors focused on performance athletic, emphasizing lifestyle and style-driven strategies [77][78] Question: What are the impacts on gross margin and balancing price increases? - Management explained that the shift to athletic products has affected margins, but they are working with brand partners to manage costs and maintain profitability [79][80]

以下文章来源于凤凰WEEKLY ，作者章鱼 凤凰WEEKLY . 有温度、有情感、有趣味的新媒体。 爱拼才会赢。 作者 | 章鱼 编辑 | 闫如意 来源 | 凤凰WEEKLY (ID: phoenixweekly) 众所周知，中国有两个晋江。 一个是晋江文学城，一个是福建晋江。两个晋江又存在一个显著的共同特征： 都盛产霸总。 和邻居阿姨听书时出现的霸总相似，福建晋江的霸总们财气逼人。 这个小县城 有上千家产值过亿的企业 ，涌现出26位超级富豪，总财富高达7 5 0 0亿元。 和老家表妹追短剧时出现的剧情相似，福建晋江的 家族联姻 故事堪称现实版的《流星花 园·无杉菜版》。 晋江商界想促成合作不需要6人法则，家族小辈姻亲中必有当地势均力敌的友商二代。 和等待退休大伯爱看的赘婿文情节相似，福建晋江的 核心商业版图以家族为单位展开 ， 对外来势力天生抱有警惕心。 对福建晋江了解越多，越是会陷入一种魔幻的怀疑： 难道晋江小说的本质，是纪实文学？ 福建晋江，居然遍地霸总？ 福建晋江，是一个分分钟让你对霸总祛魅的县城。 在这里，一块砖砸下来砸到老板概率是1/ 7，砸到总裁的概率是1 / 2 1。 是的，在这个陆域面积不到 ...

Allbirds (BIRD) FY Conference June 03, 2025 11:45 AM ET Speaker0 Hi, everybody. Thank you for joining us today. We're excited to have Speaker1 the CEO of Allbirds, Joe Vernaccio, and the CFO, Annie Mitchell. They are guiding a a very clear turnaround in the Allbirds brand. Allbirds IPO ed in 2021 at a big market cap, and this management team is is guiding the the brand through a big transformation. So, Joe, if we could start with you, something, you know, a little high level. Three or the the key focus area ...