Investors in Caleres, Inc. (CAL) need to pay close attention to the stock based on moves in the options market lately. That is because the Oct 17, 2025 $42.50 Call had some of the highest implied volatility of all equity options today.What is Implied Volatility?Implied volatility shows how much movement the market is expecting in the future. Options with high levels of implied volatility suggest that investors in the underlying stocks are expecting a big move in one direction or the other. It could also mea ...

Core Insights - Nike (NKE) has a strong history of beating earnings estimates and is well-positioned for continued success in its upcoming quarterly report [1][5] - The company has achieved an average earnings surprise of 58.33% over the last two quarters, indicating robust performance [1][2] Earnings Performance - For the last reported quarter, Nike's earnings were $0.54 per share, significantly exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.28 per share, resulting in a surprise of 92.86% [2] - In the previous quarter, Nike reported earnings of $0.78 per share against an expected $0.63 per share, delivering a surprise of 23.81% [2] Earnings Estimates - There has been a favorable change in earnings estimates for Nike, with a positive Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) indicating potential for another earnings beat [5][8] - The current Earnings ESP for Nike is +2.43%, suggesting analysts are optimistic about the company's near-term earnings potential [8] Predictive Metrics - Stocks with a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) or better have a nearly 70% chance of producing a positive surprise [6] - The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, reflecting the latest analyst revisions [7]

Caleres Inc. (CAL) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.22 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.37 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.88 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -40.54%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this footwear wholesaler and retailer would post earnings of $0.27 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.33, delivering a surprise of 22.22%.Over the last four ...

Core Viewpoint - NIKE Inc. is experiencing a significant decline in stock performance, with shares dropping below key moving averages, indicating bearish sentiment and concerns over growth prospects [1][5][9]. Stock Performance - On May 23, 2025, NIKE's stock closed at $60.02, below its 50-day simple moving average (SMA) of $60.89, marking a short-term bearish trend [1][3]. - The stock has lost 24.4% over the past three months, underperforming the Zacks Shoes and Retail Apparel industry's decline of 20.2% and the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector's decline of 0.9% [5][6]. - Currently, NIKE's stock trades 38.8% below its 52-week high of $98.04 and 14.8% above its 52-week low of $52.28 [8]. Growth Concerns - The decline in stock price is attributed to concerns regarding NIKE's growth prospects, including weak performance in the lifestyle segment and a drop in digital sales, alongside lower retail traffic in Greater China [9][11]. - Management has indicated potential mid-teen revenue declines due to shipment timing disruptions, adverse foreign exchange rates, and new tariffs on imports [11][12]. Margin and Profitability - NIKE anticipates a gross margin contraction of 400-500 basis points, influenced by prior restructuring charges and ongoing margin pressures [12]. - SG&A expenses are expected to grow in the low to mid-single digits, further squeezing profitability [12]. Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NIKE's fiscal 2025 EPS remains unchanged, while the estimate for fiscal 2026 EPS has decreased by a penny [13]. - For fiscal 2025, revenue and EPS are projected to decline by 10.7% and 45.6%, respectively, with fiscal 2026 estimates indicating further declines of 1.4% and 9.8% [15]. Strategic Initiatives - NIKE is focusing on its "Win Now" strategy, which includes tighter inventory control, accelerated innovation, and strengthened wholesale partnerships to stabilize performance [16][17]. - The company is enhancing its sports-driven identity through faster product development and a shift towards full-price, digitally led sales [17]. Valuation Perspective - NIKE's current forward P/E ratio of 30.86X is significantly higher than the industry average of 24.21X and the S&P 500's average of 21.36X, raising questions about the justification of its premium valuation [18][20]. - Competitors like adidas, Caleres, and Carter's have lower forward P/E ratios, indicating a stretched valuation for NIKE [20]. Long-Term Outlook - Despite near-term challenges, NIKE's long-term potential is supported by its strong brand equity, innovation, and strategic direction aimed at reigniting growth [22]. - The company is well-positioned for long-term, profitable growth, but current market conditions and technical indicators suggest a cautious approach [23][24].

Company Performance - Birkenstock reported quarterly earnings of $0.58 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.57 per share, and up from $0.44 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of 1.75% [1] - The company posted revenues of $604.17 million for the quarter ended March 2025, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.39%, compared to $522.51 million in the same quarter last year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Birkenstock has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times and topped consensus revenue estimates two times [2] Future Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.68 on revenues of $720.28 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $1.85 on revenues of $2.31 billion [7] - The estimate revisions trend for Birkenstock is mixed, resulting in a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating that shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future [6] Industry Context - The Shoes and Retail Apparel industry, to which Birkenstock belongs, is currently in the bottom 11% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges for stock performance [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which could impact Birkenstock's stock performance [5]

Company Performance - Wolverine World Wide (WWW) reported quarterly earnings of $0.18 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.11 per share, and showing an increase from $0.05 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of 63.64% [1] - The company posted revenues of $412.3 million for the quarter ended March 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.29% and increasing from $394.9 million year-over-year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Wolverine has consistently surpassed consensus EPS estimates and revenue estimates [2] Stock Outlook - Wolverine shares have declined approximately 33.3% since the beginning of the year, in contrast to the S&P 500's decline of 4.3% [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.24 on revenues of $443.98 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $1.09 on revenues of $1.81 billion [7] Industry Context - The Shoes and Retail Apparel industry, to which Wolverine belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 16% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating potential challenges for stock performance [8] - Empirical research suggests a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which could impact Wolverine's stock performance [5]

Company Performance - Steven Madden reported quarterly earnings of $0.60 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.46 per share, but down from $0.65 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of 30.43% [1] - The company posted revenues of $553.53 million for the quarter ended March 2025, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.50%, and showing a slight increase from $552.38 million year-over-year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Steven Madden has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times and topped consensus revenue estimates three times [2] Stock Performance - Steven Madden shares have declined approximately 52.7% since the beginning of the year, in contrast to the S&P 500's decline of 4.7% [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.41 on revenues of $607.61 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $2.06 on revenues of $2.66 billion [7] Industry Outlook - The Shoes and Retail Apparel industry, to which Steven Madden belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 21% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating potential challenges ahead [8] - The outlook for the industry can significantly impact the performance of Steven Madden's stock, as empirical research shows that the top 50% of Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by more than 2 to 1 [8]

Company Overview - Wolverine World Wide (WWW) is anticipated to report a year-over-year increase in earnings, with a projected earnings per share (EPS) of $0.16, reflecting a significant increase of +220% compared to the previous year [3] - The expected revenue for the quarter is $395.35 million, which represents a slight increase of 0.1% from the same quarter last year [3] Earnings Expectations - The earnings report is scheduled for release on May 8, 2025, and could influence the stock price depending on whether the actual results exceed or fall short of expectations [2] - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised down by 6.54% over the last 30 days, indicating a more cautious outlook from analysts [4] Earnings Surprise Prediction - The Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) model indicates that the Most Accurate Estimate for Wolverine is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in an Earnings ESP of -17.46% [10][11] - This negative Earnings ESP, combined with a Zacks Rank of 5 (Strong Sell), suggests a challenging environment for predicting an earnings beat [11] Historical Performance - In the last reported quarter, Wolverine exceeded the consensus EPS estimate by delivering earnings of $0.42 per share against an expectation of $0.41, resulting in a surprise of +2.44% [12] - Over the past four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times, indicating some level of reliability in its earnings performance [13] Industry Comparison - In the broader context of the Zacks Shoes and Retail Apparel industry, Steven Madden (SHOO) is expected to report earnings of $0.46 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decline of -29.2% [17] - Steven Madden's revenue is projected to be $561.97 million, which is an increase of 1.7% from the previous year [17] - Despite a recent downward revision of 6.6% in the consensus EPS estimate for Steven Madden, it has a positive Earnings ESP of 9.29%, although it carries a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell), complicating predictions for an earnings beat [18]

Core Viewpoint - NIKE Inc. is facing significant challenges due to weak performance in its lifestyle segment, declining digital sales, and lower retail traffic in Greater China, leading to slower revenue growth and tighter profit margins [1][10][12]. Group 1: Stock Performance - NIKE's shares have declined by 9.2% in the past month, underperforming the Shoes and Retail Apparel industry and the S&P 500 index, which saw declines of 8.6% and 1.2% respectively [2]. - The current share price of $57.62 is close to its 52-week low of $52.28, reflecting a 41.2% discount from its 52-week high of $98.04 [6]. Group 2: Revenue and Sales Trends - The company reported a 9% decline in sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2025, with a 17% year-over-year decline in Greater China revenues [11][12]. - NIKE's direct-to-consumer sales fell by 11%, while wholesale sales dropped by 18% [13]. Group 3: Outlook and Guidance - NIKE issued cautious guidance for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, projecting mid-teen revenue declines and a gross margin contraction of 400-500 basis points [14][15]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates year-over-year declines of 10.7% in revenues and 45.6% in EPS for fiscal 2025 [16]. Group 4: Competitive Positioning - NIKE is trading at a forward P/E multiple of 29.34X, higher than the industry average of 22.41X and competitors like lululemon and Adidas [17][19]. - Despite ongoing challenges, NIKE is focusing on innovation and strengthening its brand to adapt to shifting consumer preferences [20][21]. Group 5: Strategic Initiatives - The company is implementing a "Speed Lane" product development model to respond to consumer trends more rapidly [22]. - NIKE is shifting its strategy to strengthen wholesale partnerships while enhancing its digital strategy to improve brand positioning and consumer experience [24][26].

Company Performance - Carter's reported quarterly earnings of $0.66 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.53 per share, but down from $1.02 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of 24.53% [1] - The company posted revenues of $629.83 million for the quarter ended March 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.37%, but down from $661.49 million year-over-year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Carter's has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times and topped consensus revenue estimates three times [2] Stock Outlook - Carter's shares have declined approximately 29.5% since the beginning of the year, compared to a decline of 6.8% for the S&P 500 [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.37 on revenues of $578.83 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $3.72 on revenues of $2.79 billion [7] Industry Context - The Shoes and Retail Apparel industry, to which Carter's belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 8% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating potential challenges for stock performance [8] - Empirical research suggests a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which could impact Carter's stock performance [5]