Shares of DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc. ( DKS ) have been a mixed performer over the past year, losing about 4% of their value. The retailer has done a solid job of navigating a sluggish consumerOver fifteen years of experience making contrarian bets based on my macro view and stock-specific turnaround stories to garner outsized returns with a favorable risk/reward profile. If you want me to cover a specific stock or have a question for an article, just let me know!Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we have no stock, opt ...

Core Viewpoint - Dick's Sporting Goods plans to close an unspecified number of Foot Locker locations following its acquisition of the company, focusing on eliminating underperforming assets and aligning with a new strategic vision [1][2]. Group 1: Company Strategy - The executive chairman emphasized the need to "clean out the garage of underperforming assets," which includes closing unproductive stores and managing inventory effectively [2]. - Foot Locker's previous leadership failed to adapt to market changes, particularly Nike's shift towards direct-to-consumer sales, which has since been addressed by Nike as it seeks to rebuild relationships with retailers [2]. Group 2: Store Operations - Foot Locker currently operates nearly 2,600 stores globally, with approximately 1,600 located in North America; the company closed 15 locations during the last quarter [3]. - Ann Freeman, a former Nike executive, has been appointed to lead the North American division, while Matthew Barnes, the former CEO of Aldi, will oversee the international segment [3]. Group 3: Testing and Future Plans - The company has initiated an 11-store test to explore changes in Foot Locker's product assortment and in-store experience [4]. - Further details regarding the specific stores to be closed will be provided in the fourth-quarter earnings report [4].

About this content About Emily Jarvie Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, ...

Core Insights - Dick's Sporting Goods reported third-quarter profit that fell short of estimates and issued a warning regarding potential charges of up to $750 million related to a comprehensive review of its recently acquired Foot Locker business [1] Financial Performance - The company missed profit estimates for the third quarter, indicating potential challenges in its financial performance [1] - The anticipated charges of up to $750 million suggest significant financial implications stemming from the acquisition of Foot Locker [1] Strategic Review - A sweeping review of the Foot Locker business has been initiated, which may lead to substantial financial adjustments [1] - The review indicates a strategic reassessment of the integration and performance of the acquired business [1]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated net sales increased by 36.3% to $4.17 billion, driven by approximately $931 million from the Foot Locker acquisition and a 5.7% comp increase for the DICK'S business [26][28] - Non-GAAP EPS for the DICK'S business was $2.78, up from $2.75 in the prior year's quarter [31] - Consolidated gross profit was $1.38 billion, or 33.13% of net sales, down 264 basis points from last year, primarily due to the lower gross margin from the Foot Locker business [28][30] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - DICK'S business comps increased by 5.7%, with growth in average ticket and transactions, following a 4.3% increase last year [18][27] - Foot Locker's proforma comp sales for Q3 declined by 4.7%, with a 10.2% decline internationally [8][28] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - DICK'S business saw broad-based strength across footwear, apparel, and hard lines, contributing to the overall sales growth [27] - Foot Locker's comparable sales in North America decreased by 2.6%, while international sales decreased by 10.2%, primarily due to softness in Europe [28] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The acquisition of Foot Locker is viewed as a transformative opportunity, aiming to redefine sports retailing and expand the total addressable market [7][9] - Immediate priorities include cleaning out underperforming assets, optimizing inventory, and closing underperforming stores to position Foot Locker for future success [10][35] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the turnaround of Foot Locker, emphasizing the need for operational excellence and strong supplier relationships [9][55] - The back-to-school season in 2026 is anticipated to be an inflection point for Foot Locker's recovery [14][39] Other Important Information - The company plans to invest in Foot Locker to return it to profitable growth, with a focus on cleaning out unproductive inventory and optimizing store performance [10][35] - Future pre-tax charges related to the Foot Locker acquisition are expected to be between $500 million and $750 million [35] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is DICK'S business driving strong comps and confidence going into the holiday season? - Management highlighted the success of their differentiated product assortment and engaging athlete experience, contributing to a 5.7% comp increase [43][44] Question: What assumptions were made about Foot Locker's inventory cleanup in Q4? - Management indicated that Foot Locker's gross margins are expected to decline by 1,000-1,500 basis points due to aggressive inventory markdowns [48][49] Question: Can you walk through the building blocks for Foot Locker to be accretive to EPS in 2026? - Management emphasized the importance of cleaning out unproductive inventory and the confidence in the new management team to drive the turnaround [52][55] Question: How will markdowns at Foot Locker impact the market and DICK'S sales? - Management expressed confidence that markdowns on older inventory will not affect the sales of new products, which are expected to be well-received [67][68] Question: Will there be infrastructure investments needed for Foot Locker's turnaround? - Management indicated that the focus will be on inventory management and merchandising improvements rather than significant capital investments [76][80]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated net sales increased by 36.3% to $4.17 billion, driven by approximately $931 million from the Foot Locker acquisition and a 5.7% comp increase for the DICK'S business [26][27] - Non-GAAP EPS for the DICK'S business was $2.78, up from $2.75 in the prior year's quarter [30] - Consolidated gross profit was $1.38 billion, or 33.13% of net sales, down 264 basis points from last year, primarily due to the lower gross margin from the Foot Locker business [27][30] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - DICK'S business comp sales increased by 5.7%, with growth in average ticket and transactions, on top of a 4.3% increase last year [17][26] - Foot Locker's proforma comp sales for Q3 declined by 4.7%, with a 10.2% decline internationally [8][27] - DICK'S opened 13 new House of Sport locations in Q3, the highest number in a single quarter, bringing the total to 35 [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - DICK'S business saw broad-based strength across footwear, apparel, and hard lines categories [26] - Foot Locker's comparable sales in North America decreased by 2.6%, while international sales decreased by 10.2% [27] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The acquisition of Foot Locker is seen as a transformative opportunity to build a global platform at the intersection of sport and culture [7][9] - The immediate priority for Foot Locker is to clean out underperforming assets, including inventory and stores, to reset the business for long-term success [10][34] - DICK'S is focused on leveraging its operational excellence and supplier relationships to return Foot Locker to profitability [9][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the turnaround of Foot Locker, emphasizing the need for operational improvements and inventory management [55][81] - The back-to-school season in 2026 is expected to be an inflection point for Foot Locker's recovery [13][38] - DICK'S raised its full-year outlook for comp sales growth to 3.5%-4% and EPS to $14.25-$14.55 [16][36] Other Important Information - The company expects Q4 margin rates for Foot Locker to decline between 1,000 and 1,500 basis points due to aggressive inventory clean-up [11][38] - Future pre-tax charges related to the Foot Locker acquisition are anticipated to be between $500 million and $750 million [34] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is DICK'S driving strong comp growth and confidence going into the holiday season? - Management highlighted the differentiated product assortment and engaging athlete experience as key drivers of growth, with strong performance across key categories [42][44] Question: What assumptions were made about Foot Locker's inventory cleanup and store closures? - Management indicated that they are still assessing which stores to close and expect significant markdowns on unproductive inventory [45][46][48] Question: Can you walk through the building blocks for Foot Locker to be accretive to EPS in 2026? - Management emphasized the need for cleaning out old inventory and underperforming assets, along with confidence in the new management team [52][55] Question: How will markdowns at Foot Locker be managed, and will they impact DICK'S sales? - Management expressed confidence that markdowns on older products will not affect the ability to sell new products at full price [66][68] Question: Is Foot Locker's underperformance due to historical issues, and what is the plan for improvement? - Management acknowledged historical underperformance and emphasized the importance of inventory management and merchandising improvements [73][81]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated net sales increased by 36.3% to $4.17 billion, driven by approximately $931 million from the Foot Locker acquisition and a 5.7% comp increase for the DICK'S business [25] - Non-GAAP EPS for the DICK'S business was $2.78, up from $2.75 in the prior year's quarter [30] - Consolidated gross profit was $1.38 billion, or 33.13% of net sales, down 264 basis points from last year, primarily due to the lower gross margin from the Foot Locker business [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - DICK'S business comp sales increased by 5.7%, with growth in average ticket and transactions, following a 4.3% increase last year [17] - Foot Locker's proforma comp sales for Q3 declined by 4.7%, with a 10.2% decline internationally [7][26] - DICK'S opened 13 new House of Sport locations in Q3, the highest number in a single quarter, bringing the total to 35 [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - DICK'S business saw broad-based strength across footwear, apparel, and hard lines categories [25] - Foot Locker's comparable sales in North America decreased by 2.6%, while international sales decreased by 10.2%, primarily due to softness in Europe [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The acquisition of Foot Locker is viewed as a transformative opportunity to redefine sports retailing and expand the total addressable market [6] - The immediate priority for Foot Locker is to clean out underperforming assets, including inventory and stores, to position the business for future success [9][33] - DICK'S is focused on maintaining momentum through a differentiated product assortment and an industry-leading omnichannel athlete experience [6][16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the turnaround of Foot Locker, emphasizing the need for operational excellence and strong supplier relationships [8][49] - The back-to-school season in 2026 is anticipated to be an inflection point for Foot Locker's recovery [12][38] - DICK'S raised its full-year outlook for comp sales growth to 3.5%-4% and EPS to $14.25-$14.55 [36] Other Important Information - The company expects Q4 margin rates for Foot Locker to decline between 1,000 and 1,500 basis points due to aggressive inventory clean-up [10][38] - Future pre-tax charges related to the Foot Locker acquisition are expected to be between $500 million and $750 million [33] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is DICK'S driving strong comp growth and confidence going into the holiday season? - Management highlighted the differentiated product assortment and engaging athlete experience as key drivers of growth, with strong performance across all key categories [41][43] Question: What assumptions were made about Foot Locker's inventory cleanup and store closures? - Management indicated that they are still assessing which stores to close and expect significant markdowns on unproductive inventory [45][46] Question: What are the building blocks for Foot Locker to be accretive to EPS in 2026? - Management emphasized the importance of cleaning out unproductive inventory and optimizing the store portfolio as foundational steps for future profitability [47][49] Question: How will markdowns at Foot Locker impact the market and DICK'S sales? - Management expressed confidence that markdowns on older inventory will not negatively impact DICK'S sales, as new, innovative products will be introduced [54][55] Question: Is Foot Locker's expected accretion based on current EPS guidance? - Management confirmed that the expectation for Foot Locker to be accretive is based on the current EPS guidance for DICK'S business [62]

Core Insights - The Q3 earnings season for S&P 500 companies is showing positive results, with a projected 13.4% increase in earnings per share, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth [2] - Initial expectations for Q3 earnings were lower, with analysts predicting only a 7.9% increase as of September 30 [3] Group 1: Earnings Reports - As of November 21, 95% of S&P 500 companies have reported their Q3 results, indicating a strong performance overall [2] - Companies such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Burlington Stores are expected to report soon, which will provide insights into consumer sentiment and purchasing behavior [4] Group 2: Sector Insights - Upcoming earnings reports from technology and other sectors include companies like Zoom, Dell, Workday, HP Inc., Deere, and Pony AI, which will further contribute to the understanding of the overall market performance [4]

Dick's Sporting Goods raised its outlook for its namesake banner, which continues to log higher sales, though profit slipped in part due to higher costs tied to the turnaround of its recently acquired... ...

Dick's Sporting Goods Business Performance and Strategy - DICK'S Business is a leading U S sports retailer with growth potential, holding approximately 9% market share within a ~$140 billion total addressable market[14] - The company achieved strong FY24 results, including a 52% increase in comparable sales and net sales of $1344 billion, a 3590% non-GAAP gross margin (+89 bps year-over-year), a $152 billion non-GAAP EBT (+83% year-over-year), and a $1405 non-GAAP EPS (+88% year-over-year)[20] - DICK'S Business is focused on three growth areas: driving growth in key categories, accelerating eCommerce, and repositioning real estate and store portfolio[32] - The company is expanding its House of Sport locations, aiming for 75 to 100 stores by the end of FY27, with each location generating approximately $35 million in Y1 Omni sales and ~$7 million in Y1 4-Wall Omni EBITDA[37, 45] - DICK'S Business is also growing its Golf Galaxy footprint, including Performance Centers, with 112 Golf Galaxy locations, including 32 Performance Centers as of FY25[47, 53] Acquisition of Foot Locker and Future Outlook - DICK'S Sporting Goods acquired Foot Locker, Inc to create a global platform within the growing sports retail industry with a ~$300 billion total addressable market and ~65% market share[7, 16] - Foot Locker, Inc has approximately 23K global stores across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, with FY24 revenue of $8 billion and adjusted EBIT of $193 million[113] - The company expects to achieve $100 million to $125 million in cost synergies from the Foot Locker acquisition over the medium-term and expects the acquisition to be accretive to EPS in FY26, excluding one-time costs[117] - DICK'S Business Q3 2025 comparable sales grew 57%, and the company is raising its full-year 2025 outlook for the DICK'S Business, expecting net sales of $1395 billion to $140 billion and diluted EPS of $1425 to $1455[133, 135] Capital Allocation and Shareholder Returns - The company has returned approximately $22 billion to shareholders over the past three years, representing approximately 110% of free cash flow, including ~$13 billion in share repurchases and ~$880 million in dividends[126, 127] - DICK'S Sporting Goods announced authorization of a new five-year share repurchase program of up to $3 billion[130]