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A 10 Percent Owner Bought 13.2 Million Under Armour Shares for $67.4 Million
The Motley Fool· 2026-01-03 19:09
Company Overview - Under Armour reported a revenue of $5.05 billion for the trailing twelve months (TTM) and a net income loss of $87.65 million [4] - The company has 6,800 employees and experienced a 30.40% decline in share price over the past year, calculated using January 2, 2026, as the reference date [4] Insider Transaction - V. Prem Watsa, a 10% owner, purchased 13,182,469 shares of Under Armour for approximately $67.4 million on January 2, 2026 [1][2] - The transaction resulted in zero direct ownership for Watsa, consolidating his holdings under Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited subsidiaries, with post-transaction indirect holdings of 51,416,278 shares [6] - The shares were acquired through open-market purchases, with no options or derivative securities involved [6] Market Context - Under Armour's market capitalization has significantly decreased from over $24 billion at its market debut in early 2018 to approximately $2.15 billion recently [9] - The company's revenue contracted slightly to $2.5 billion during the six months ended September 30, 2025, with a gross margin decline of 1% year over year to 47.7% [11] - Watsa's purchase included 11.5 million Class A shares, which have voting rights, and 1.7 million Class C shares, which do not, indicating a potential activist investor approach [10] Business Model - Under Armour operates a hybrid business model that combines wholesale distribution to retailers and direct-to-consumer sales through branded stores and e-commerce platforms [7] - The company targets athletes, sports enthusiasts, and active consumers globally, with a presence in North America, EMEA, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America [8]
Week in review: We initiated a position — plus, top gainers and laggards of 2025
CNBC· 2026-01-03 16:14
Market Overview - The stock market experienced a mixed performance during the holiday-shortened week, with the Dow and Nasdaq declining by 0.1% and 1.5% respectively, while the S&P 500 fell approximately 1%, marking its third consecutive loss since Monday [1] - The S&P 500 had a strong performance in 2025, advancing over 16%, with the Nasdaq Composite and Dow Jones gaining 20% and 13% respectively, all reaching record highs during the year [1] Federal Reserve Insights - The Federal Reserve's December policy meeting minutes revealed a divided opinion among officials regarding a 25-basis-point rate cut, which was approved by a 9-3 vote, indicating the most dissent since 2019 [1] - The market's reaction to the Fed's decision was muted, with stocks continuing to decline despite the announcement [1] Company Performances Winners - **GE Vernova**: Increased by 98.7%, benefiting from the AI boom and strong quarterly earnings, with positive guidance through fiscal 2028 [1] - **Corning**: Rose by 84.3%, driven by strength in consumer electronics and a partnership with Apple, also benefiting from AI-related demand for specialty glass [1] - **Alphabet**: Gained 65.3%, with improved investor sentiment due to a robust AI roadmap and developments in its large language models [1] Laggards - **Salesforce**: Decreased by 20.8%, facing challenges from AI adoption that threatens its seat-based business model, leading to a downgrade to a hold-equivalent rating [1] - **Nike**: Fell by 15.8%, impacted by a decline in the China market and challenges in its direct-to-consumer strategy, despite insider buying signaling confidence [1] - **Procter & Gamble**: Dropped by 14.5%, affected by macroeconomic uncertainties and fears regarding costs due to changing rates and tariffs, though it remains a hedge against consumer spending pullbacks [1]
Benzinga Bulls And Bears: Nike, SpaceX, Ultragenyx — And Chinese Tech Stocks Slide Benzinga Bulls And Bears: Nike, SpaceX, Ultragenyx — And Chinese Tech Stocks Slide
Benzinga· 2026-01-03 14:01
Market Overview - U.S. stocks opened 2026 with modest gains, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 rising, while the Nasdaq Composite lagged behind, reflecting cautious optimism after a strong 2025 for equities [1] - Trading volumes were light, indicating a rebound from late-December weakness [1] Sector Performance - Chipmakers, particularly Nvidia and Micron, led early gains due to ongoing enthusiasm around AI demand, although weakness in several megacap technology and consumer discretionary stocks limited broader market gains [2] Economic Outlook - Investors are focusing on upcoming economic data and Federal Reserve signals to assess the outlook for rates and growth in 2026, with strategists cautioning that early January market movements may not dictate future trends [3] Bullish Stocks - Nike, Inc. shares rose nearly 3% following insider buying, which is seen as a vote of confidence in the company's turnaround strategy, with CEO Elliott Hill purchasing approximately $1 million in shares [4] - Energy Fuels Inc. exceeded its production guidance, mining over 1.6 million pounds of uranium and projecting Q4 sales around 360,000 pounds, generating approximately $27 million in revenue [6] - A potential SpaceX IPO in 2026 could significantly impact the market, potentially leading to capital rotation from Tesla as investors buy SpaceX shares, while ultimately benefiting Elon Musk-linked companies [5] Bearish Stocks - U.S.-listed Chinese tech stocks, including Alibaba, JD.com, and PDD Holdings, declined due to thin holiday trading volumes and disappointing economic data from China, reflecting broader market weakness [7] - Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical and Mereo BioPharma shares fell to 52-week lows after a late-stage clinical trial for a bone disease therapy failed to meet its primary endpoint [8] - Corcept Therapeutics shares dropped sharply following an FDA refuse-to-file letter for its investigational drug relacorilant, which surprised investors and led to reassessment of the company's regulatory pathway [9]
Who's Going Public Next? Kalshi Bets Drop US IPO Clues Before 2027— And It's Not Just SpaceX Or OpenAI - NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA)
Benzinga· 2026-01-03 04:55
Core Insights - Investor confidence has been tested over the past year due to policy changes and a government shutdown, but sentiment is shifting positively as of 2026, driven by enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (AI) [1] IPO Predictions - Kraken has an 83% chance of going public before 2027, having already filed confidentially for a U.S. IPO, contributing to a trend among digital asset companies preparing for the U.S. equity markets ahead of the 2026 midterms [3] - Cerebras Systems, an AI chipmaker, has a 77% probability of announcing an IPO before next year, with plans to re-file after previously withdrawing its IPO paperwork [4] - Databricks, an AI software company, has a 70% chance of going public before 2027, having raised over $4 billion at a valuation of $134 billion [5] - Discord also has a 70% probability of announcing an IPO before 2027, with a last valuation around $15 billion [5] - Fintech firm Plaid has a 49% chance of going public, while defense tech company Anduril and apparel brand Skims both have a 46% likelihood [6]
Can Crocs Navigate Tariff Risks and Protect Margins in 2026?
ZACKS· 2026-01-02 17:45
Core Insights - Crocs, Inc. (CROX) is experiencing significant tariff-related pressures impacting its quarterly performance, with an adjusted gross margin of 58.5%, reflecting a 110-basis point decline year over year, primarily due to tariffs weighing on margins by 230 bps [1][8]. Group 1: Financial Performance - In fiscal 2025, Crocs achieved $50 million in gross cost savings, which provided some relief against external cost pressures [2]. - The company has identified an additional $100 million in incremental gross cost savings expected to benefit fiscal 2026, focusing on simplifying organizational structure and optimizing the supply chain [2]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a year-over-year earnings decline of 7.9% for the current year, with a projected growth of 3.9% for the next year [9]. Group 2: Strategic Initiatives - Crocs is maintaining a disciplined approach to managing its adjusted SG&A base to drive operating leverage in fiscal 2026, enhancing flexibility across the profit and loss statement [3]. - The company is benefiting from supply chain efficiencies due to years of investment and deeper integration of the HEYDUDE and Crocs supply chains, leading to operational improvements and cost advantages [4]. Group 3: Market Position - Crocs' shares have declined by 20.3% over the past six months, compared to the industry's decline of 9.9%, and currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [5]. - From a valuation perspective, CROX trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 7.05X, significantly lower than the industry average of 17.76X [7].
Vera Bradley Goes Back to Its Whimsical Roots
WSJ· 2026-01-02 11:00
Group 1 - The company is refocusing on the unique aspects of its quilted bags and accessories after a rebranding effort that did not resonate with consumers [1] - The rebrand has been identified as a factor that turned off consumers, prompting the company to return to its original product identity [1]
Behind glam luxury brands Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo lurks a troubled holding company losing millions
Yahoo Finance· 2026-01-02 09:13
Core Insights - Capri is struggling significantly, with a reported loss of $1.18 billion in fiscal 2025 and a 21% revenue decline from $5.6 billion to $4.4 billion over the past two fiscal years [2] - The company is facing intense competition from Tapestry, particularly its Coach brand, which has seen substantial revenue growth [1][19] - Capri's transformation plan has failed to resonate with consumers, leading to a decline in brand perception and sales [15][16] Financial Performance - Capri's revenues fell from $5.6 billion in fiscal 2025 to $4.4 billion, marking a 21% decrease [2] - The Michael Kors brand, which constitutes nearly 70% of Capri's revenues, experienced a sales drop of $864 million since 2023 [2] - Versace's revenue declined from $1.1 billion in fiscal 2023 to $821 million in fiscal 2025 [13] Strategic Moves - Capri announced the sale of Versace to Prada for $1.375 billion, a significant loss for the company [2] - The company aims to stabilize its business by using proceeds from the Versace sale to repay debt and strengthen its balance sheet [14] - Capri plans to target $4 billion in revenue from Michael Kors and $800 million from Jimmy Choo in the future [22] Market Context - The luxury market is experiencing its first contraction in 15 years, with a 2% decline, as consumers shift towards experiential indulgence rather than conspicuous consumption [12] - The number of luxury customers decreased from 400 million in 2022 to approximately 340 million in 2025 [12] Brand Strategy - Capri is refocusing on its core brands, Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo, and plans to renovate 50% of its retail spaces over the next three years [21] - A new marketing campaign, "Hotel Stories," aims to enhance brand perception and connect with consumers [21] - The company is also emphasizing a "renewed focus" on Jimmy Choo, targeting growth in accessories and casual footwear [22]
Jim Cramer Points To Bob Swan Bet On Nike Amid Elliott Hill, Tim Cook's Purchases: Set To 'Win Now' - Nike (NYSE:NKE)
Benzinga· 2026-01-02 07:14
Core Insights - CNBC's Jim Cramer highlights a significant insider purchase at Nike Inc. by former Intel CEO Bob Swan, suggesting it as a bullish signal for investors [1][2] - Cramer emphasizes the importance of insider buying, noting that the convergence of purchases from Swan, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and Nike CEO Elliott Hill indicates a strong outlook for the company [3] Insider Activity - Bob Swan acquired approximately 8,700 shares of Nike at an average price of $57.54, which Cramer interprets as a calculated vote of confidence in the company [2][3] - Tim Cook made a notable purchase of 50,000 shares, marking his first open-market transaction in two decades on the board [3] Company Performance and Strategy - Nike is currently navigating a challenging period, with its stock down 13.52% in 2025 due to tariff concerns and slowing momentum [4] - CEO Elliott Hill stated that the company is in the "middle innings" of its turnaround, suggesting optimism for future performance [5] - The stock closed at $63.71, reflecting a 4.12% increase on the last trading day of 2025, although it has seen a decline of 16.60% over the past six months [5]
The FIFA World Cup is Nike’s to lose versus Adidas
The Economic Times· 2026-01-02 06:11
Core Insights - The upcoming FIFA World Cup presents a significant opportunity for Nike and Adidas to compete for market share and brand visibility, particularly in North America where Nike has a strong presence [1][16] - Nike's CEO Elliott Hill aims to leverage new product launches and a robust marketing strategy to capitalize on this opportunity, while Adidas, led by Bjoern Gulden, seeks to maintain its heritage in football and expand its brand appeal [1][7][10] Company Strategies - Nike plans to introduce new products, including the Aero-Fit cooling fabric and the latest Tiempo football boots, to enhance athlete performance and comfort during the World Cup [5][7] - The company is also focusing on off-pitch football gear, exemplified by the Hollywood Keepers streetwear collection, to attract a broader audience [6][8] - Adidas is expanding its Originals line into performance wear and aims to make sports apparel more stylish, appealing to both fans and athletes [10][11] Market Dynamics - Nike sponsors more teams in the FIFA Top 10 than Adidas, which positions it favorably in terms of brand visibility during the tournament [2][16] - Retailers are reportedly committing to 40% more football products for the World Cup compared to the previous tournament, indicating strong market demand [7] - Analysts estimate that the World Cup could generate $1.3 billion in additional revenue for Nike, while Adidas anticipates €1 billion ($1.2 billion) in sales from the event [7][12] Competitive Landscape - Adidas has a strong heritage in football and is providing the official ball for the tournament, which could enhance its brand recognition [9][16] - Other brands like Puma, Skechers, New Balance, and Reebok are also entering the football market, increasing competition for both Nike and Adidas [13][17] - The "Kardashianization" of sports, where individual athlete endorsements can significantly impact brand perception, poses both opportunities and risks for these companies [2][15]
Bullish flow in Nike with shares up 4.34%
Yahoo Finance· 2026-01-01 19:20
Core Viewpoint - Nike (NKE) shares experienced a bullish trend, increasing by $2.65, or 4.34%, reaching approximately $63.84 [1] Options Activity - Options volume for Nike surpassed the daily average, with 272,000 contracts traded, indicating strong market interest [1] - Calls outnumbered puts, resulting in a put/call ratio of 0.51, significantly lower than the typical level of around 0.8, suggesting bullish sentiment [1] Implied Volatility - The implied volatility (IV30) rose by 2.4 points to approximately 29.5, which is below the 52-week median, indicating a potential daily price movement of $1.19 [1] Market Sentiment - The put-call skew has flattened, reflecting a modestly bullish tone in the market for Nike [1]