Core Insights - Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK) reported strong first-quarter fiscal 2026 results, driven by flagship brands HOKA and UGG, with revenues of $964.5 million, a 17% year-over-year increase, and earnings per share rising 24% to 93 cents, indicating robust consumer demand [1][11] Group 1: Brand Performance - HOKA emerged as the primary growth driver, achieving record quarterly revenues of $653.1 million, a 19.8% increase from the prior year, supported by global wholesale expansion and strong international demand [2][11] - UGG experienced 18.9% growth, reaching $265.1 million, marking its largest June quarter in history, with success attributed to diversification into men's footwear and year-round styles [3][11] Group 2: Strategic Initiatives - The company’s 365 initiative has successfully broadened UGG's consumer base while maintaining its iconic appeal, aided by strong wholesale momentum and new product launches [3][11] - Deckers has implemented selective price increases and operational efficiencies to counteract rising tariffs and freight costs, although these measures may impact near-term profitability [4][5] Group 3: Future Outlook - For second-quarter fiscal 2026, net sales are projected between $1.38 billion and $1.42 billion, with HOKA expected to grow by 10% and UGG anticipated to see mid-single-digit growth [6] - Deckers is well-positioned for continued long-term growth, with HOKA leading performance in running and UGG evolving into a versatile lifestyle brand [5]

Core Insights - The athletic footwear market is experiencing intensified competition, with NIKE Inc. and Deckers Outdoor Corporation as key players attracting investor interest [2] - The question arises regarding which stock presents greater upside potential in the near future [2] NIKE Overview - NIKE maintains its status as a global brand leader, with strong cultural and performance influence through its brands like NIKE, Jordan, and Converse [3] - In fiscal 2025, NIKE regained momentum through significant sports events, enhancing its emotional connection with consumers [3] - Performance categories showed strong results, with running sales growing in the high-single digits and women's basketball sales increasing over 50% year-over-year [4] - Marketplace strategies, including collaborations with DICK'S Sporting Goods and JD Sports, have improved sell-through rates and in-store experiences [5] - However, NIKE faced financial challenges, with Q4 revenues declining 12% to $11.1 billion and gross margins contracting 440 basis points to 40.3% due to discounting and supply chain issues [6] - Greater China remains a challenge, with revenues down 20% and EBIT declining 45%, indicating a slower recovery compared to other regions [7] Deckers Overview - Deckers is experiencing strong growth, particularly in its HOKA and UGG brands, with HOKA sales rising 19.8% to $653.1 million and UGG sales climbing 18.9% to $265.1 million [8] - International markets are a significant growth driver, with companywide international revenues increasing 49.7% year-over-year [9] - Deckers' innovation and brand storytelling are central to its strategy, with ongoing product development and new launches [11] - The company's omni-channel and wholesale strategies are yielding scalable growth, with wholesale net sales rising 26.7% in the first quarter [12] - Despite challenges such as anticipated tariff costs and profitability pressures, Deckers is well-positioned for sustainable growth [13] Comparative Analysis - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NIKE suggests declines in sales and EPS for fiscal 2026, with a 10.6% downward revision in EPS estimates over the past 60 days [14] - In contrast, Deckers' estimates imply a 9% growth in sales for fiscal 2026, with a slight decline in EPS, but a 4% increase in EPS estimates over the past 60 days [17] - Stock performance over the past three months shows DECK shares rising 3.6%, while NKE shares gained 26.9%, reflecting NIKE's stronger brand momentum [19] - Valuation metrics indicate NIKE's forward P/E at 40.28, significantly higher than Deckers' 16.13, suggesting NIKE is pricier relative to historical levels [21] Investment Outlook - Deckers is positioned as a stronger investment candidate due to robust growth in HOKA and UGG, international expansion, and a healthy product pipeline [24] - NIKE, while investing in innovation and digital transformation, faces near-term challenges from revenue declines and margin pressures, making Deckers a more favorable option to hold [25]

Core Insights - Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK) is currently trading at a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 2.67, which is above the Zacks Retail-Apparel and Shoes industry average of 1.64 [1][4] - The company's stock has experienced a significant decline of 22.3% over the past three months, underperforming the industry drop of 2.1% [4][5] - DECK's gross margin fell by 110 basis points year over year to 55.8% in Q1 of fiscal 2026, with expectations of further contraction [14] Valuation and Performance - DECK's P/S ratio is higher than peers such as Boot Barn Holdings (2.22), Under Armour (0.43), and Crocs (0.99) [4] - The stock closed at $100.47, which is 55.1% below its 52-week high of $223.98 [10] - The company has trailed the Retail-Wholesale sector's rally of 3.5% and the S&P 500's growth of 9.3% during the same period [5] Operational Challenges - DECK faces margin pressures due to a shift towards lower-margin wholesale sales, elevated tariff costs, and softer U.S. direct-to-consumer trends for HOKA [5][13] - The anticipated $185 million in unmitigated tariff costs is a primary concern, particularly with potential increases in Vietnam import duties [13] - Elevated inventory levels reached $849 million, up 13% year over year, raising concerns over potential markdowns [16] Growth Potential - Despite challenges, DECK's brands HOKA and UGG exceeded growth targets in Q1, with HOKA growing 19.8% to $653.1 million and UGG growing 18.9% to $265.1 million [19] - International revenues surged by 49.7% year over year in Q1, with strong gains in Europe, APAC, and China [20] - The company is focusing on innovation and brand storytelling, with new product launches and optimized distribution strategies [21] Strategic Initiatives - DECK's wholesale net sales rose 26.7% to $652.4 million in Q1, driven by HOKA's 30% increase in global wholesale revenues [22] - The company expects a 14% increase in wholesale revenues in fiscal 2026 [23] - Management is implementing strategies to address operational headwinds, including loyalty program improvements and store expansion [15]

Core Insights - Deckers Outdoor Corporation's international business is a key growth driver, with international sales increasing by 49.7% year-over-year to $463.3 million in Q1 of fiscal 2026, significantly outperforming U.S. sales [1][9] - HOKA and UGG brands are contributing to this growth, with HOKA's international wholesale revenues rising by 30% year-over-year, particularly in EMEA and APAC regions [2][9] - UGG experienced a 19% revenue increase, driven by successful product launches and marketing initiatives in EMEA and China [4][9] International Performance - HOKA's flagship models, Bondi and Clifton, saw volumes double year-over-year in China, while the new Arahi 8 exceeded expectations [3] - HOKA's global campaign "Together We Fly Higher" aims to strengthen brand connection and has expanded its retail presence to 48 stores globally [3] - UGG's 365 initiative has been successful globally, with popular styles like the Goldenstar Glide and Lowmel driving sales [4] Future Outlook - Deckers anticipates continued international growth, supported by premium products, expanding retail presence, and regional marketing investments [5] - The company is well-positioned for sustainable international expansion through fiscal 2026 and beyond [5] Financial Performance - Deckers' shares have declined by 42.5% year-to-date, compared to an 8.2% decline in the industry [6] - The forward price-to-earnings ratio for Deckers is 18.47X, slightly below the industry average of 18.56X [7] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Deckers' fiscal 2026 earnings indicates a year-over-year decline of 2.7%, while fiscal 2027 estimates show an increase of 8.6% [11]

Core Insights - Deckers Outdoor Corporation's performance is primarily driven by strong consumer demand for its flagship brands, HOKA and UGG, with year-over-year sales growth of 10% and 3.6% respectively in Q4 FY25 [1][9] Brand Performance - HOKA's sales reached $2.2 billion in FY25, reflecting a 23.6% year-over-year increase, supported by new product launches and international expansion, particularly in EMEA and China [4][2] - UGG generated $2.5 billion in sales for FY25, marking a 13.1% year-over-year growth, with a focus on expanding its product line beyond cold-weather offerings [4][3] International Growth - HOKA's international revenues grew by 39% year-over-year, now accounting for 34% of total brand sales, while UGG's international revenues increased by 20%, representing 39% of total sales [4][2] Competitive Landscape - Key competitors in brand innovation include Wolverine World Wide, Inc. and Urban Outfitters Inc., with Wolverine's Saucony and Merrell brands showing strong revenue growth [5][6] - Urban Outfitters' brand portfolio also demonstrated positive performance, with notable increases in net sales for its brands [7] Financial Performance and Valuation - Deckers' shares have declined by 50% year-to-date, compared to a 17.6% decline in the industry [8] - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 16.45X, slightly below the industry's average of 17.01X [10] - Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a projected earnings decline of 4.4% for FY26, with a potential recovery of 9.1% in FY27 [11]