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Should Investors Buy BOOT Stock at Its Current Valuation?
ZACKS· 2026-02-17 17:11
Core Insights - Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (BOOT) is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 22.44, higher than the industry average of 18.41, indicating investor confidence in long-term growth despite trading below its one-year median P/E ratio of 24.48, suggesting a potential value opportunity [1] Price Performance - BOOT's shares have increased by 36.3% over the past year, significantly outperforming the Zacks industry's growth of 6.8%, the Retail-Wholesale sector's decline of 2.4%, and the S&P 500's increase of 13.9% during the same period [2] Stock Trading Metrics - Closing at $187.99, Boot Barn stock is 10.6% below its 52-week high of $210.25 reached on December 12, 2025, and is trading above its 200-day simple moving average of $174.46, indicating a favorable technical setup [3] Sales and Margin Growth - BOOT reported a 5.7% same-store sales growth and expanded merchandise margins by 110 basis points, driven by high single-digit growth in Western boots and mid-teens growth in denim [6][7] - Merchandise margin expansion was supported by buying scale benefits, supply chain efficiencies, and a 240 basis points growth in exclusive brands, with selective price increases planned for certain exclusive products [8] Omnichannel Strategy - The company's omnichannel strategy shows digital growth supported by strong in-store performance, with total same-store sales growing by 5.7%, including a 19.6% increase in e-commerce same-store sales and a 3.7% increase in retail store sales [9] Store Expansion - Boot Barn ended the fiscal third quarter with 514 stores, including 25 new openings, and aims for a long-term target of 1,200 locations nationwide, with new stores expected to generate approximately $3.2 million in annual sales in their first full year [11] Updated Guidance - The company raised its full-year sales outlook to between $2.24 billion and $2.25 billion, reflecting growth of 17% to 18% compared to fiscal 2025, and lifted merchandise margin guidance to approximately 50.8% of sales [14] - Consolidated same-store sales growth is now forecasted between 6.5% and 7%, with retail same-store sales expected to be in the range of 5.5%-6% and e-commerce same-store sales projected at 14.5%-15% [15] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BOOT's current and next financial year earnings per share has improved by 13 cents and 23 cents, respectively, in the past 30 days [17] Investment Perspective - Boot Barn's premium valuation is supported by broad-based category strength, disciplined margin expansion, and an accelerating omnichannel execution, suggesting that the current valuation reflects quality [18]
Boot Barn's Comps Show Broad Strength Across Categories and Regions
ZACKS· 2026-02-11 17:06
Core Insights - Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (BOOT) reported a strong performance in Q3 of fiscal 2026, with revenue increasing by 16% year over year to $706 million and same-store sales rising by 5.7% [1][9] Financial Performance - Quarterly revenue reached $706 million, marking a 16% increase year over year, with consolidated same-store sales up 5.7% [1][9] - Retail store same-store sales increased by 3.7%, while e-commerce same-store sales surged by 19.6% [1][9] - For the first five weeks of Q4, same-store sales rose by 5.7%, with an even higher rate of approximately 9.1% before weather disruptions [4][9] Category Performance - All major product categories showed robust growth, with men's and women's Western boots achieving high single-digit comparable sales growth [3] - Apparel outperformed the chain average, particularly denim, which saw mid-teens same-store sales growth [3] - Work boots also experienced mid-single-digit comparable sales growth, indicating sustained consumer demand across footwear and apparel [3] Digital and E-commerce Growth - The digital segment benefited from newly launched standalone websites for exclusive brands, attracting new customers [2] - Management plans to launch dedicated websites for additional brands, further enhancing digital presence [2] Market Position and Outlook - Boot Barn's sales growth, expanding margins, and strong digital traction support confidence in its long-term growth strategy and store expansion targets [5] - BOOT's shares have increased by 10% year to date, outperforming the industry average of 3.7% [8] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate indicates a year-over-year earnings growth of 26% for the current fiscal year and 16.1% for the next [12]
Boot Barn(BOOT) - 2026 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript
2026-02-04 22:32
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue increased by 16% year-over-year to $706 million, with same-store sales growth of 5.7% [5][14] - Earnings per diluted share rose to $2.79, compared to $2.43 in the prior year, marking a 14.8% increase [16][17] - Gross profit increased by 18% to $281 million, with a gross profit rate of 39.9%, up 60 basis points from the prior year [14][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated same-store sales grew 5.7%, with brick-and-mortar same-store sales increasing by 3.7% and e-commerce same-store sales growing by 19.6% [6][14] - Men's and ladies' western boots saw high single-digit comp growth, while men's and ladies' apparel outperformed the chain average, particularly in denim with mid-teen growth [8][9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company opened a record 25 new stores in the third quarter, bringing the total to 514 stores, with plans for 15 additional openings in the fourth quarter [7][8] - The company aims for a total of 70 new stores for the fiscal year and estimates 20 openings in the first quarter of fiscal 2027 [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on four strategic initiatives: new store growth, same-store sales, omnichannel expansion, and merchandise margin expansion [5][10] - Plans to launch standalone websites for additional exclusive brands to enhance customer engagement and sales [10][74] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the underlying business tone and anticipated continued strength in same-store sales despite recent winter storms [6][23] - The company raised its full-year guidance, expecting total sales of $2.25 billion, representing an 18% growth over fiscal 2025 [20][21] Other Important Information - Inventory increased by 17% year-over-year to $805 million, with markdowns as a percentage of inventory below historical levels [17] - The company repurchased approximately 67,000 shares for $12.5 million as part of its $200 million share repurchase program [17] Q&A Session Questions and Answers Question: Can you elaborate on the drivers of acceleration seen in January before the storms? - Management noted that the acceleration was broad-based across most major merchandise categories, with work apparel being slightly softer due to warmer weather [27][28] Question: What is the overall visibility for planning the business moving forward? - Management indicated confidence in maintaining low to mid-single-digit comp growth, supported by new store productivity and broad performance across merchandise categories [30][32] Question: Can you elaborate on the merchandise margin outlook for the fourth quarter? - Management expects a headwind from shrink and freight, with exclusive brand penetration contributing to margin expansion [36][39] Question: How are you thinking about the price points between exclusive brands and national brands? - Management believes that price points will normalize over time, with careful consideration to avoid breaking psychological price points [92][96] Question: What are the expectations for new store openings in fiscal 2027? - Management is confident in maintaining a 12%-15% new unit growth rate, with a strong pipeline for the first quarter [40][41]
Boot Barn(BOOT) - 2026 FY - Earnings Call Transcript
2026-01-12 16:32
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved a merchandise margin expansion of 110 basis points, exceeding the guidance of 30 basis points year-over-year [3][4] - Over the past seven years, the company has seen a total of 700 basis points of merchandise margin expansion [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The exclusive brand penetration met expectations, contributing to growth but not the margin beat [3] - Lower markdowns compared to previous years allowed for better full-price selling, positively impacting margins [4] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has expanded its Total Addressable Market (TAM) from $40 billion to $58 billion, incorporating the Country Lifestyle segment and denim [22][23] - The average new store volume is approximately $3.2 million, with plans to open stores in both legacy and new markets [24][28] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on building a proper sourcing team for exclusive brands and reinvigorating the work boot business [7][10] - Marketing initiatives are being tailored to reach a broader Country Lifestyle customer base, including partnerships with mainstream events like NASCAR and the NFL [20][23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism regarding the economic landscape, noting that tax refunds and household income trends could positively impact sales [43][44] - The company aims for a mid-teens EBIT margin over time, currently tracking around 13% for the fiscal year [38] Other Important Information - The company is leveraging social media, particularly TikTok, to market stores and products, focusing on authenticity through everyday creators rather than professional influencers [35][36] - The company plans to raise prices on exclusive brands post-holiday to preserve margin rates, with low single-digit increases expected [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the drivers behind the merchandise margin expansion? - Management highlighted better buying economies of scale, lower markdowns, and improved inventory management as key drivers [4][3] Question: How is the company approaching pricing in relation to tariffs? - The company has held exclusive brand pricing through the holiday season and plans to implement low single-digit price increases post-holiday [16][12] Question: What is the strategy for reaching the Country Lifestyle customer? - The company is expanding marketing efforts to include mainstream partnerships and events, targeting customers who embody a rural lifestyle without being traditional ranchers [19][20] Question: What are the expectations for store growth? - The company has raised its store growth target to 1,200 locations, with a focus on both legacy and new markets [24][25] Question: How is the company performing in urban markets? - The company has seen success in urban areas, indicating strong performance in densely populated regions [32][34]
Tariffs hit boots, bags and more as leather prices jump — and relief could be years away
CNBC· 2025-12-25 13:00
Core Insights - The leather industry is facing significant challenges due to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, leading to increased costs and price hikes for consumers [2][4][5] Industry Challenges - Twisted X, a bootmaker, has transformed its headquarters into a "tariff war room" to manage the chaos caused by surging import costs and fluctuating invoices [2] - Leather retailers are experiencing higher prices at the register, which are expected to remain elevated for the foreseeable future [2][4] - Pre-tariff inventory has been depleted, and replacement orders are significantly more expensive due to increased costs for hides, processing, and shipping [3][10] Price Projections - The Yale Budget Lab forecasts that leather goods prices will remain elevated by nearly 22% over the next one to two years due to inflation, supply chain issues, and heavy tariff exposure [4][14] - Analysts expect prices for leather footwear and accessories to rise approximately 22% in the short term and around 7% in the long term as tariffs and freight costs persist [14] Supply Chain Dynamics - The U.S. leather trade deficit is substantial, with imports of $1.37 billion in leather apparel against exports of only $92.7 million, indicating a 15-to-1 deficit [8] - The reliance on foreign production has backfired, with companies facing bottlenecks and increased costs across the supply chain [7][10] Domestic Manufacturing Decline - The domestic leather manufacturing workforce has drastically decreased from over 300,000 in the 1950s to around 50,000 in 2025, limiting options for companies to pivot away from global supply chains [16] - The burden of tariffs has primarily impacted brands relying on finished goods from Asia, rather than those sourcing leather domestically [17] Raw Material Shortages - U.S. leather companies are contending with a shortage of cattle hides due to a declining cattle herd, which is at its smallest since the 1950s [18] - Fewer cattle result in higher costs for high-quality leather production, affecting the overall pricing of leather goods [19] Impact on Alternatives - Synthetic materials, often used as alternatives to leather, are also experiencing cost increases due to reliance on petrochemical inputs that fall under the new tariff schedules [20]
Boot Barn(BOOT) - 2026 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-07-31 21:30
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - First quarter revenue increased by 19% to $504 million, with consolidated same store sales rising by 9.4% [5][17] - Earnings per diluted share grew by 38% to $1.74 compared to $1.26 in the prior year [5][19] - Merchandise margin rate increased by 180 basis points year-over-year, contributing to a gross profit increase of 26% to $197 million [5][17][18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - New store growth: 14 new stores opened in Q1, bringing the total to 473 stores across 49 states [5][6] - Same store sales: Brick and mortar same store sales increased by 9.5%, driven by an 8.5% increase in transactions [7][8] - Ecommerce same store sales grew by 9.3%, with bootbarn.com accounting for approximately 75% of online sales [10][17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The denim business showed strong performance, with double-digit growth in both men's and women's categories [8][31] - The work boots business experienced low single-digit positive comp growth, indicating a steady recovery [12][62] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on four strategic initiatives: new store growth, same store sales, omnichannel expansion, and merchandise margin expansion [5][12] - Plans to double the store count in the U.S. over the next several years, with a target of opening 65 to 70 new stores in fiscal 2026 [6][23] - Exclusive brand penetration increased to 40.6% of sales, with a goal to reach 50% over the next five to six years [12][49] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed caution regarding overall consumer sentiment and macroeconomic uncertainty, particularly in the second half of the year [15][21] - Despite challenges, the company remains confident in its ability to execute its strategic initiatives and drive growth [26][78] - The company raised its full-year guidance due to strong Q1 results and positive momentum into Q2 [20][21] Other Important Information - Inventory increased by 23% year-over-year to $774 million, with markdowns as a percentage of inventory below historical levels [19][20] - The company repurchased approximately 78,000 shares for $12.5 million as part of its $200 million share repurchase program [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Drivers of demand strength in Q1 and July acceleration - Management noted that transaction growth was a key driver, with broad-based strength across all regions and categories, particularly in denim [30][31] Question: Markdown levels relative to last year - Markdowns remained low compared to last year and historical levels, with expectations for this trend to continue [34][36] Question: Exclusive brand marketing initiatives - The company is focusing on marketing its exclusive brands, with successful campaigns for Hawx and Cody James, targeting blue-collar customers [38][40] Question: Tariff-related price increases - Price increases from suppliers remain at mid-single digit levels, with reticketing expected to be completed by August [42][43] Question: Competitive landscape and share gain opportunities - Management believes the company is well-positioned relative to competitors, especially with exclusive brands and inventory management [68][70] Question: Inventory management and buying plans - The company feels confident in its inventory flow and believes it has enough inventory to meet guidance and potential upside [76][77] Question: Future strategic initiatives - Management is focused on current strategic priorities and is not considering new initiatives at this time [78][79]
Boot Barn(BOOT) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-05-14 21:32
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Full year fiscal 2025 revenue reached a record $1,900,000,000, reflecting a $1,000,000,000 increase over the last four fiscal years [8] - Earnings per diluted share grew by 23% to $5.88, an increase of $1.08 over the prior year [8] - Fourth quarter total revenue increased by 17%, with earnings per diluted share at $1.22 compared to $0.96 in the prior year [9][10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated same store sales increased by 6% in the fourth quarter, with brick-and-mortar sales up 5.5% and e-commerce sales up 9.8% [9][10] - Merchandise margin expanded by 210 basis points in the fourth quarter and by 130 basis points for the full year [21][25] - Exclusive brand penetration increased to 38.6% for fiscal 2025, with a growth of 1,500 basis points over the last four years [21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company opened 60 new stores in fiscal 2025, expanding its footprint into four new states, ending the year with 459 stores [14] - The customer loyalty database grew by 14% year-over-year, reaching 9,600,000 active customers [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to open 65 to 70 new stores in fiscal 2026, maintaining a growth rate of 15% [15] - The strategy includes a focus on exclusive brands and managing pricing in response to tariff impacts [12][22] - The company aims to maintain merchandise margin rates while potentially sacrificing some margin to gain market share [23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in navigating ongoing uncertainties related to tariffs and consumer demand [10][29] - The company anticipates a potential decline in merchandise margin in the second half of fiscal 2026 due to tariff impacts [22][29] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining strong customer relationships and brand loyalty as key drivers for future growth [18][35] Other Important Information - The company has authorized a share repurchase program of up to $200,000,000, reflecting confidence in cash flow generation [34] - The company expects to face a tariff impact of approximately $8,000,000 in fiscal 2026, with strategies in place to mitigate this [11][41] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on April and May same store sales? - Management noted strong sales trends in the first quarter, with a guidance of plus 6% for the entire quarter, consistent with Q4 [38][40] Question: Can you elaborate on pricing power for the Boot Barn brand? - Management indicated that they have seen good pricing power, with typical price increases absorbed by customers, but expect some elasticity of demand due to mid-single-digit price increases [41][42] Question: What about product shortages from China? - Management stated that only 5% of exclusive brand products are sourced from China, with efforts to diversify production to other countries [48][49] Question: How do you plan to leverage SG&A expenses? - Management expects to leverage SG&A through normalized incentive compensation and lower legal expenses, benefiting from new store openings [78] Question: What is the outlook for merchandise margins? - Management anticipates strong margins in the first half of fiscal 2026 but expects pressure in the second half due to tariffs [70][71] Question: How is the competitive landscape behaving? - Management noted that larger competitors remain rational, while smaller mom-and-pop retailers may face challenges due to price increases [90][91]
Boot Barn(BOOT) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-05-14 21:32
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Full year fiscal 2025 revenue reached a record $1.9 billion, reflecting a $1 billion sales growth over the last four fiscal years, driven by 186 new stores and strong same-store sales growth [6][8] - Earnings per diluted share increased by 23% to $5.88, up $1.08 from the prior year [6] - Fourth quarter total revenue increased by 17%, with earnings per diluted share at $1.22 compared to $0.96 in the prior year [7][8][23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Merchandise margin expanded by 130 basis points for the full year and by 210 basis points in the fourth quarter [20][23] - Same-store sales increased by 6% in the fourth quarter, with brick-and-mortar stores up 5.5% and e-commerce up 9.8% [7][15][23] - Exclusive brand penetration increased to 38.6% for fiscal 2025, with a growth of 1,500 basis points over the last four years [20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company opened 60 new stores in fiscal 2025, expanding its footprint into four new states, ending the year with 459 stores [12][13] - The customer loyalty database grew by 14% year-over-year, reaching 9.6 million active customers [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to open 65 to 70 new stores in fiscal 2026, maintaining a 15% growth rate in new units [13][31] - The strategic initiatives focus on new store growth, same-store sales, omnichannel expansion, and merchandise margin improvement [12][18][20] - The company is diversifying its supply chain to reduce reliance on Chinese production, with expectations that only 5% of exclusive brand goods will be sourced from China in the second half of fiscal 2026 [11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in navigating ongoing uncertainties related to tariffs and consumer demand, with a proactive approach to pricing and inventory management [8][9][27] - The company anticipates a potential decline in merchandise margin in the second half of fiscal 2026 due to tariff impacts, but expects to maintain overall margin rates through strategic pricing [21][30] Other Important Information - The company has authorized a share repurchase program of up to $200 million, reflecting confidence in cash flow generation [33] - The guidance for fiscal 2026 includes a total sales range of $2.07 billion to $2.15 billion, with same-store sales expected to increase by 2% at the high end [28][30] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on April and May same-store sales? - Management noted strong sales trends in the first quarter, with a consistent performance across major merchandise categories, but does not anticipate accelerating guidance for the entire quarter [37][39] Question: Can you elaborate on pricing power and tariff headwinds? - Management indicated that tariffs are expected to impact margins by approximately $8 million, with price increases anticipated in the summer [40][41] Question: How are you thinking about product shortages from China? - Management expressed confidence in their diversified sourcing strategy, with only 5% of exclusive brand products expected from China [46][47] Question: Can you discuss SG&A leverage and tariff impacts for fiscal 2027? - Management expects to leverage SG&A through normalized expenses and new store contributions, while acknowledging that tariff costs may carry into fiscal 2027 [72][74] Question: What is the strategy for pricing adjustments? - Management is evaluating pricing on a product-by-product basis, considering psychological price points and exclusive brand penetration opportunities [82][84] Question: How is the competitive landscape behaving? - Management noted that larger competitors remain rational, while smaller mom-and-pop retailers may face challenges due to price increases [88][89] Question: How are new markets performing compared to legacy markets? - Management highlighted that new store openings have positively impacted e-commerce sales, particularly in states like New York [92][93]
Boot Barn(BOOT) - 2025 Q4 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-05-14 21:30
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Full year fiscal 2025 revenue reached a record $1,900,000,000, marking a $1,000,000,000 increase over the last four fiscal years, driven by 186 new stores and strong same-store sales growth [5][6] - Earnings per diluted share grew by 23% to $5.88, an increase of $1.08 over the prior year [5] - Fourth quarter total revenue increased by 17%, with earnings per diluted share at $1.22 compared to $0.96 in the prior year [6][22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Merchandise margin expanded by 130 basis points for the full year and by 210 basis points in the fourth quarter [5][19] - Same-store sales increased by 6% in the fourth quarter, with brick-and-mortar stores up 5.5% and e-commerce up 9.8% [6][22] - Exclusive brand penetration increased to 38.6% for fiscal 2025, with a growth of 1,500 basis points over the last four years [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company opened 60 new stores in fiscal 2025, expanding its footprint into four new states, ending the year with 459 stores [11] - The customer loyalty database grew by 14% year-over-year, reaching 9,600,000 active customers [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to open 65 to 70 new stores in fiscal 2026, maintaining a 15% growth rate in new units [12] - The focus remains on expanding exclusive brands while driving growth within third-party partners, with a goal to maintain merchandise margin rates despite potential price increases due to tariffs [20][21] - The company is diversifying its supply chain to reduce reliance on China, with only 5% of exclusive brand goods expected to be sourced from China in the second half of fiscal 2026 [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in navigating ongoing uncertainties related to tariffs and consumer demand, with a strong trend of growth continuing into fiscal 2026 [7][27] - The company anticipates potential merchandise margin pressure in the second half of fiscal 2026 due to tariff impacts, but expects to leverage strong sales growth in the first half [20][27] Other Important Information - The company has authorized a share repurchase program of up to $200,000,000, reflecting confidence in strong cash flow generation [32] - Inventory increased by 25% year-over-year, attributed to new store openings and proactive shipment pull-forwards in anticipation of tariffs [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on April and May same-store sales? - Management noted strong sales trends in the first six weeks of Q1, with a consistent performance across major merchandise categories, expecting to maintain positive comp growth [37][38] Question: Can you elaborate on pricing power and tariff headwinds? - Management indicated that tariffs are expected to impact margins by approximately $8,000,000, with price increases anticipated in the summer [39][41] Question: How are new markets performing compared to legacy markets? - New store openings have positively impacted e-commerce sales, with notable increases observed in states like New York [95][96] Question: What is the strategy for managing SG&A expenses? - Management expects to leverage SG&A through normalized expenses and increased store count, which helps cover fixed costs [72][77] Question: How does the company view the competitive landscape? - Management has not observed significant changes in competitor behavior, noting that larger competitors remain rational while smaller players may face challenges [90][91]
Boot Barn(BOOT) - 2025 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript
2025-01-30 22:30
Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue increased by 17% in Q3 fiscal 2025, with consolidated same store sales growth of 8.6% [6][15] - Earnings per diluted share reached $2.43, up from $1.81 in the prior year period, exceeding guidance by $0.36 [7][19] - Gross profit increased by 20% to $239 million, with a gross profit rate of 39.3%, reflecting a 100 basis point increase [15][16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Same store sales in brick-and-mortar increased by 8.2%, while e-commerce sales grew by 11.1% [6][15] - Merchandise margin expanded by 130 basis points, driven by supply chain efficiencies and better buying economies [7][13] - Exclusive brand penetration increased by 180 basis points, contributing to merchandise margin expansion [13][19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company opened 13 new stores in Q3, bringing the total to 438 stores across 46 states [8][9] - The company plans to open 21 additional stores in Q4, aiming for a total of 60 new stores for the fiscal year [9][20] - Active customers in loyalty programs increased to 9.4 million, a 15% increase year-over-year [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expanding its store base, driving same store sales, strengthening omnichannel leadership, and expanding merchandise margins [8][10][12] - The company believes it has the potential to double its store count in the U.S. over the next several years [9] - The new Chief Digital Officer is expected to enhance the company's digital strategy and e-commerce performance [13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the current business tone and the start of Q4, with same store sales growth continuing [14] - The company raised its full-year guidance, expecting total sales to reach $1.92 billion, representing a 15% growth over fiscal 2024 [19] - Management noted that inventory levels are healthy, with no significant markdown risks anticipated [37] Other Important Information - The company experienced a $0.22 benefit related to the CEO transition included in Q3 earnings per diluted share [8] - SG&A expenses decreased as a percentage of sales due to the forfeiture of incentive-based compensation related to the CEO transition [16][90] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on traffic and demand in January? - Management noted an acceleration in both men's and women's Western categories, with a strong start to Q4 expected to continue [26][27] Question: What are the drivers of merchandise margin? - Management expects Q4 merchandise margin to increase by 120 basis points, driven by supply chain efficiencies and exclusive brand penetration [29][30] Question: How is inventory positioned for future sales? - Management expressed confidence in inventory levels, stating markdown inventory is lower than previous years and pre-COVID times [37][38] Question: What is the company's exposure to tariffs? - The company has 30% of orders from China and 25% from Mexico, with plans to negotiate pricing with vendors if tariffs increase [51][53] Question: How does the company view store density and cannibalization? - Management indicated that store placement depends on market density, with successful openings within close proximity in urban areas [59][60] Question: What are the opportunities in private label? - The company sees potential in its exclusive brands, particularly in work boots, with plans to expand offerings [70][71] Question: What are the expectations for SG&A expenses next year? - Management anticipates a flat lease expense and potential benefits from reduced incentive-based compensation next year [73][74]