VF(VFC) - 2026 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q3 was $2.8 billion, up 2% year-over-year on a constant dollar basis, exceeding guidance of a decline of 1%-3% [18] - Operating income was $341 million, with net debt down almost $600 million or nearly 20% compared to last year [8][22] - Adjusted gross margin was up 10 basis points year-over-year, reaching 54.5% or better, with operating margin at 12.1%, up 30 basis points year-over-year [21][25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The North Face revenue grew 5%, with a notable 15% increase in the Americas [9][18] - Timberland revenue was up 5%, reflecting growth across all channels [11][18] - Altra showed strong growth of 23% year-over-year, with expectations to exceed $250 million in revenue for fiscal 2026 [13] - Vans revenue declined 10%, consistent with previous quarters, but showed signs of improvement in digital sales [14][18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Americas region performed strongly, up 6%, while EMEA was down 3% and APAC down 4% [19] - Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) sales were up 3%, marking the first positive quarter in two years, driven by strong e-commerce performance [19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on premiumization, particularly for The North Face, with a systematic approach to enhance product offerings [98] - A new flagship store for The North Face was opened in New York, aiming to reimagine physical retail [10] - The leadership team is undergoing a transition, with Brent Hyder becoming the Chief Commercial Officer [16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the turnaround, citing multiple growth engines and positive trends despite a challenging environment [30] - The company expects Q4 revenue to be flat to up 2% on a constant dollar basis, with a positive FX benefit of about 5% [22][23] - Management is cautious about consumer sentiment but believes they have control over many operational levers [30] Other Important Information - The company plans to prepay EUR 500 million notes in March 2026, further reducing debt levels [22] - The impact of tariffs was noted, with an unmitigated impact of approximately $40 million in Q3 [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is the company assessing consumer demand and potential erosion? - Management is optimistic about their control over operational levers and believes they can navigate a choppy environment [30] Question: What is the outlook for gross margin? - Management is confident in reaching the 55% target and believes they can mitigate tariff impacts moving forward [31] Question: What is the underlying trend for Vans? - The underlying trend for Vans remains down high single digits, but there are signs of improvement expected in Q4 [38][45] Question: How is the company viewing the performance of The North Face in the Americas? - Management sees significant growth potential in the Americas and believes the recent performance is sustainable [51] Question: What are the expectations for DTC versus wholesale for Vans? - DTC, particularly e-commerce, is prioritized, with expectations for improvement in physical store traffic over time [97]