G-III Apparel (US:GIII)2025-12-09 14:30Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales for Q3 2026 were $989 million, down from $1.09 billion in the same period last year, generally in line with expectations [27] - Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share were $1.90, compared to $2.59 in the previous year, significantly better than expectations [30] - Gross margins were 38.6%, down from 39.8% in the previous year's third quarter, primarily due to tariffs [29] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Wholesale segment net sales were $977 million, down from $1.07 billion last year, mainly due to lower sales from Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger licensed businesses [28] - Retail segment net sales increased to $46 million from $42 million, driven by solid comp sales increases across North American DKNY and Karl Lagerfeld stores [28] - Donna Karan is expected to grow by 40% in fiscal 2026, with strong performance in North America and significant traffic increases on its website [10][12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America saw double-digit growth compared to last year, while Europe posted high single-digit growth [6] - Digital sales grew nearly 20%, with Donna Karan showing particularly strong performance [22] - The licensed team sports business delivered a solid quarter with sales up 9%, supported by a strong NFL season [23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on driving both near and long-term growth, with a core focus on building brand strength and enhancing digital capabilities [8][9] - Strategic investments in technology, infrastructure, and talent are prioritized to improve efficiency and capture market share [8] - The company aims to expand its owned brands internationally and through licensing, with a focus on higher-margin products [10][32] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to manage through a challenging marketplace, highlighting strong consumer demand and effective inventory management [4][5] - The company updated its fiscal 2026 guidance, expecting net sales of approximately $2.98 billion and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share between $2.80 and $2.90 [26][33] - Management acknowledged the impact of tariffs but indicated that gross margins are expected to normalize and expand in the future [32] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with a net cash position of $174 million after repurchasing approximately $50 million in stock year-to-date [30] - A new dividend program was introduced, with an initial quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share [31] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you unpack the gross margin performance? - Management indicated that gross margins were better than expected due to strong full-price selling, despite the impact of tariffs [35][37] Question: Will the company be able to fully mitigate the tariff situation next year? - Management stated it is early to say if all impacts will be mitigated but expressed intent to adjust pricing to achieve normal margins [38][39] Question: How is the performance of the Nautica and other licensed brands? - Nautica is growing nicely, and initial efforts with Halston and BCBG are showing improvement, with potential for significant future growth [49][51] Question: What are the priorities for maintaining momentum for owned brands like Donna Karan? - Management emphasized the importance of customer satisfaction and repeat purchases, with a focus on expanding distribution and product offerings [46][59] Question: How have order trends changed for the wholesale channel? - Order trends have improved significantly, with higher demand for full-price retail, particularly in coats and dresses across all brands [56][57]