G-III Apparel (US:GIII)2025-12-09 14:32Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales for the third quarter 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, exceeding the midpoint of guidance by $0.37 [6][29] - Gross margins were 38.6%, down from 39.8% in the previous year's third quarter, primarily due to tariffs [28] - The company ended the quarter with a net cash position of $174 million, compared to a net debt position of $119 million in the same period last year [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 [27] - 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 [27] - Donna Karan is expected to grow by 40% in fiscal 2026, reflecting strong consumer demand and pricing power [9][56] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America saw double-digit growth compared to last year, while Europe posted high single-digit growth during the Black Friday period [5] - Digital traffic increased over 20% across owned dot-com, leading to substantial growth in conversion rates and overall sales [5][21] - The company experienced robust digital performance across North America and Europe, with nearly 20% growth in digital sales [20][21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on driving both near and long-term growth through brand strength, direct-to-consumer initiatives, international expansion, and category expansion through licensing [7][8] - Strategic investments in technology, infrastructure, and talent are prioritized to enhance business efficiency [7] - The company aims to capture long-term potential of owned brands, which are seen as sustainable drivers of profitability [9] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to manage through a dynamic marketplace, despite challenges from tariffs and the exit of PVH licenses [3][4] - The company is taking a prudent approach to its outlook for the remainder of the year, mindful of the global consumer environment [5] - Fiscal 2026 guidance was updated to expect net sales of approximately $2.98 billion and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $2.80-$2.90 [26][30] Other Important Information - The company introduced its first-ever dividend program, declaring an initial quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share [30] - The gross impact of tariffs is estimated to be approximately $135 million, with an unmitigated impact of about $65 million for fiscal 2026 [31] - The company is redeploying talent and resources to accelerate growth in its go-forward brands as it winds down PVH licenses [23] 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 [40][41] Question: What are the preliminary thoughts around the top line or bottom line goals for next year? - Management mentioned that they are exploring various strategic opportunities, including acquisitions and licenses, but are not in a rush [47] Question: How has the order trend been changing for your own brands? - Management noted that demand was significantly higher at the full-price channel, with strong sell-throughs across all brands [75] Question: What are the priority levers to keep momentum for owned brands like Donna Karan? - Management highlighted the importance of repeat customers and expanding distribution in premium department stores as key growth drivers [56][80]