The end of the earnings season is always a good time to take a step back and see who shined (and who not so much). Let’s take a look at how footwear stocks fared in Q1, starting with Genesco (NYSE:GCO).
Before the advent of the internet, styles changed, but consumers mainly bought shoes by visiting local brick-and-mortar shoe, department, and specialty stores. Today, not only do styles change more frequently as fads travel through social media and the internet but consumers are also shifting the way they buy their goods, favoring omnichannel and e-commerce experiences. Some footwear companies have made concerted efforts to adapt while those who are slower to move may fall behind.
The 8 footwear stocks we track reported a strong Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.4% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.
Thankfully, share prices of the companies have been resilient as they are up 5.5% on average since the latest earnings results.
Genesco (NYSE:GCO)
Spanning a broad range of styles, brands, and prices, Genesco (NYSE:GCO) sells footwear, apparel, and accessories through multiple brands and banners.
Genesco reported revenues of $474 million, up 3.6% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 2.2%. Overall, it was a strong quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates and full-year EPS guidance topping analysts’ expectations.
Mimi E. Vaughn, Genesco’s Board Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “Following the significant momentum in last year’s back half, we are pleased with our start to fiscal 2026 with both sales and profitability coming in above our expectations. Our first quarter performance was highlighted by our third consecutive quarter of positive comparable sales increases, with results once again driven by Journeys, as our strategic plan to accelerate growth and increase market share continues to gain traction. At the same time, the work we’ve done realigning our cost structure including our ongoing store optimization initiatives, helped drive a nice year-over-year improvement in operating income.”
The stock is up 1.5% since reporting and currently trades at $22.70.
Is now the time to buy Genesco? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Best Q1: Nike (NYSE:NKE)
Originally selling Japanese Onitsuka Tiger sneakers as Blue Ribbon Sports, Nike (NYSE:NKE) is a global titan in athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessories.
Nike reported revenues of $11.27 billion, down 9.3% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 2.3%. The business had a stunning quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
The market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 13.5% since reporting. It currently trades at $62.15.
Is now the time to buy Nike? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest Q1: Caleres (NYSE:CAL)
The owner of Dr. Scholl's, Caleres (NYSE:CAL) is a footwear company offering a range of styles.
Caleres reported revenues of $614.2 million, down 6.8% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 1.3%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income and EPS estimates.
Caleres delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. As expected, the stock is down 16.4% since the results and currently trades at $13.70.
Read our full analysis of Caleres’s results here.
Deckers (NYSE:DECK)
Established in 1973, Deckers (NYSE:DECK) is a footwear and apparel conglomerate with a portfolio of lifestyle and performance brands.
Deckers reported revenues of $1.02 billion, up 6.5% year on year. This result beat analysts’ expectations by 2.4%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also logged an impressive beat of analysts’ constant currency revenue and EPS estimates.
The stock is down 12% since reporting and currently trades at $111.05.
Read our full, actionable report on Deckers here, it’s free.
Wolverine Worldwide (NYSE:WWW)
Founded in 1883, Wolverine Worldwide (NYSE:WWW) is a global footwear company with a diverse portfolio of brands including Merrell, Hush Puppies, and Saucony.
Wolverine Worldwide reported revenues of $412.3 million, up 4.4% year on year. This number surpassed analysts’ expectations by 4.1%. It was a very strong quarter as it also put up an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.
Wolverine Worldwide scored the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The stock is up 25.8% since reporting and currently trades at $18.63.
Read our full, actionable report on Wolverine Worldwide here, it’s free.
Market Update
Thanks to the Fed’s series of rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has cooled significantly from its post-pandemic highs, drawing closer to the 2% goal. This disinflation has occurred without severely impacting economic growth, suggesting the success of a soft landing. The stock market thrived in 2024, spurred by recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% in November), and a notable surge followed Donald Trump’s presidential election win in November, propelling indices to historic highs. Nonetheless, the outlook for 2025 remains clouded by potential trade policy changes and corporate tax discussions, which could impact business confidence and growth. The path forward holds both optimism and caution as new policies take shape.
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