Amer Sports, Inc. (AS) Q2 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Access earnings results, analyst expectations, report, slides, earnings call, and transcript.
Overview
The earnings call reveals strong financial performance with significant growth in key areas such as DTC and regional sales, particularly in Asia Pacific. The raised revenue and EPS guidance, coupled with a 250 basis point increase in gross margin, reflect optimism. The Q&A section supports this with positive momentum in Salomon and Arc'teryx, robust inventory, and strategic growth plans. Despite some vague responses on margins, the overall sentiment is bolstered by strong earnings, optimistic guidance, and effective market strategies, suggesting a strong positive stock price reaction.
Key Financial Performance
Sales Growth 23% sales growth, or 22% excluding currency impact. Reasons for growth include strong performance in Outdoor Performance and Technical Apparel, as well as solid performance in Ball & Racquet.
Adjusted Operating Margin Expanded by 260 basis points. Reasons for expansion include gross margin expansion and strong growth in Outdoor Performance and Technical Apparel.
Adjusted Gross Margin Increased 250 basis points to 58.7%. Reasons include favorable channel, geographic, product, and brand mix, as well as lower discounts compared to the prior year.
Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Growth 40% growth in DTC, led by Salomon in Greater China and APAC, as well as Arc'teryx globally. Reasons include new store openings and higher productivity.
Regional Growth - Asia Pacific 45% growth in Asia Pacific, with China growing 42%. Reasons include strong demand for premium sports and outdoor products and effective local team operations.
Technical Apparel Revenue Increased 23% to $509 million. Reasons include 31% DTC expansion and strong performance of Arc'teryx.
Outdoor Performance Revenue Increased 35% to $414 million. Reasons include strong performance in Salomon footwear, apparel, and bags, as well as growth in DTC and wholesale channels.
Ball & Racquet Revenue Increased 11% to $314 million. Reasons include strong performance in soft goods and racquet sports.
Inventory Growth 29% year-over-year increase. Reasons include early receipt of merchandise, higher goods in transit, and FX translation from a weaker U.S. dollar.
Operating Cash Flow Generated $108 million in the first half. Reasons include strong profit growth and disciplined working capital management.
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Operating Highlights
Salomon Footwear Acceleration: Salomon sneakers are experiencing global acceleration with unique performance and design positioning, but still hold a small share of the global sneakers market.
Arc'teryx Footwear and Women's Growth: Arc'teryx footwear and women's categories are growing faster than the brand overall, with new product launches like the Norvan LD 4 and Vertex Speed shoes.
Wilson Soft Goods: Wilson soft goods more than doubled in Q2 2025, with strong consumer response to products like the Intrigue women's tennis shoe.
Arc'teryx Store Expansion: Arc'teryx opened 7 net new stores in Q2, including flagship locations in Vancouver and upcoming openings in New York City. Expansion is focused on high-quality, productive locations.
Salomon Store Growth in Asia: Salomon opened 16 net new shops in Greater China and 10 in APAC, with plans to reach 290 stores in Greater China by year-end.
Wilson Expansion in China: Wilson plans to open approximately 50 more Tennis 360 shops in China this year.
Direct-to-Consumer Growth: DTC sales grew 40%, led by Salomon in Greater China and APAC, and Arc'teryx globally.
Inventory Management: Inventory growth is up 29% year-over-year, driven by early receipt of merchandise and lower airfreight usage.
Tariff Mitigation Strategies: The company is implementing strategies to mitigate the impact of higher tariffs, including pricing power and a diverse global footprint.
Wilson Leadership Transition: Andrew Page, CFO, has been appointed Interim President and CEO of Wilson, following Joe Dudy's departure.
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Risk or Challenges
Tariff Exposure: The company faces higher tariffs on imports from China (30%), Vietnam (20%), Europe (15%), and other countries. This could impact the Ball & Racquet segment more significantly, particularly due to the termination of the steel and aluminum exemption and unfavorable timing of shipments.
Inventory Management: Inventory levels are up 29% year-over-year, driven by early receipt of merchandise, higher goods in transit, and FX translation. Elevated inventory levels may pose risks to cash flow and operational efficiency.
Retail Expansion: The company is expanding its retail footprint globally, including new stores for Arc'teryx and Salomon. However, this expansion involves significant investment and could lead to operational inefficiencies or underperformance in certain locations.
Economic and Market Conditions: Economic uncertainties and macroeconomic factors, such as transportation, logistics, and material costs, continue to pose challenges, although partially mitigated by pricing power and brand strength.
Leadership Transition: The departure of Joe Dudy, CEO of Wilson, introduces uncertainty in the Ball & Racquet segment during a critical growth phase.
China Market Risks: While the company sees strong growth in China, the market's reliance on premium sports and outdoor segments could be vulnerable to economic or regulatory changes.
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Guidance & Outlook
Revenue Growth: Amer Sports raised its full-year revenue growth guidance from 15%-17% to 20%-21%, including a 100 basis point benefit from favorable FX impact. By segment, Technical Apparel revenue growth is expected to increase from 20%-22% to 22%-25%, Outdoor Performance from mid-teens to 22%-25%, and Ball & Racquet from mid-single digits to 7%-9%.
Adjusted Gross Margin: The company raised its full-year adjusted gross margin guidance from 56.5%-57% to approximately 57.5%.
Adjusted Operating Margin: Amer Sports increased its adjusted operating margin guidance from 11.5%-12% to 11.8%-12.2%. By segment, Technical Apparel is expected to achieve approximately 21%, Outdoor Performance is raised from 9.5%-11% to 11.5%, and Ball & Racquet remains at 3%-4%.
Adjusted Diluted EPS: The company raised its adjusted diluted EPS guidance for the full year from $0.67-$0.72 to $0.77-$0.82.
Capital Expenditures: CapEx is expected to be approximately $300 million, primarily to support new store expansion, ERP optimization, and distribution and logistics investments.
Third Quarter Guidance: For Q3, Amer Sports expects reported revenue growth of approximately 20%, adjusted gross margin of 56.5%, adjusted operating profit margin between 12%-13%, net finance cost of $30-$35 million, and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.20-$0.22 per share.
Store Expansion: Arc'teryx plans to open approximately 25 net new stores globally in 2025, with most openings in North America. Salomon aims to reach approximately 290 stores in Greater China by year-end, with long-term potential for several hundred locations.
Product Launches: Arc'teryx has an exciting pipeline for shoe launches in the second half of 2025, and Salomon is seeing strong early responses to its new gravel line and other footwear innovations.
China Market Growth: Amer Sports continues to achieve strong growth in China, with brands competing in the premium sports and outdoor market. The company plans to open 50 more Wilson Tennis 360 shops in China this year.
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Shareholder Return Plan
The selected topic was not discussed during the call.
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Key Q&A
Q:Could you elaborate on the momentum in the third quarter supporting the 20% outlook and drivers of growth at Salomon?
A:Management highlighted strong Q2 results carrying into Q3, particularly for Salomon footwear. They introduced a unique category called outdoor sneakers, resonating with younger female consumers. Growth was also noted in the Outdoor Performance segment and Wilson Tennis 360 formats, especially in China and Southeast Asia.
Q:Can you expand on the raised expectations at Arc'teryx and trends seen in the third quarter relative to the second quarter?
A:Arc'teryx showed strong direct-to-consumer business with a 15% comp in Q2. Management noted reduced markdowns and strong traffic trends. Inventory positions were strong, and initial sell-through in Q3 was encouraging, supporting the guidance.
Q:What are the next levers of growth at the Salomon brand, particularly in the U.S. and international regions?
A:Salomon is growing rapidly, driven by momentum in China, Asia Pacific, and EMEA. In the U.S., they plan to open 4-5 shops by year-end in major cities and strengthen B2B partnerships with accounts like REI and Nordstrom. They are also testing models in running specialty stores.
Q:What are your views on pricing at each of the brands and customer response to price increases?
A:Wilson implemented approximately 10% price increases for certain products. Salomon and Arc'teryx have untapped pricing flexibility but have mitigated tariff impacts without raising prices so far.
Q:How are Arc'teryx stores performing in terms of full-price versus outlet stores, and what is the inventory situation?
A:Full-price stores are performing robustly, while outlet stores are a mid-single-digit drag on comps. Inventory is strong overall, but some footwear and spring/summer apparel categories are stocked out, indicating high demand.
Q:Can you discuss the women's business at Arc'teryx and the factors driving Salomon's growth?
A:Arc'teryx women's business grew over 30% in Q2, with strong performance in women's-specific models. Salomon's growth is driven by unique product propositions like outdoor sneakers, strong direct-to-consumer channels in China, and strategic B2B partnerships in Europe.
Q:What is the outlook for Outdoor Performance growth in the second half and Winter Sports Equipment?
A:Outdoor Performance is expected to grow 20% in the second half, with consistent growth in Q3 and Q4. Winter Sports Equipment is projected to grow in low single digits for the year.
Q:What is the opportunity in bringing the Korea business in-house, and how is the company investing in growth?
A:Korea is seen as a significant opportunity, potentially surpassing Japan in revenue. Investments are being made in new store openings, marketing, and brand awareness, particularly for Salomon footwear.
Q:What is the outlook for omni-comp trends and the Americas region?
A:Omni-comp trends for Arc'teryx are expected to remain strong or improve in the second half. In the Americas, Arc'teryx and Salomon showed strong double-digit growth, while Ball & Racquet saw slower growth due to cautious sporting goods retailers and category-specific trends.
Q:Review of Unclear Management Responses
A:Management avoided providing specific details on the structural reasons preventing Outdoor Performance margins from reaching mid-teens, stating they would provide a longer-term update at the Investor Day. Additionally, they did not clearly address the evolution of omni-comp trends beyond general positive expectations.
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Earnings Word Cloud
The most frequently occurring keywords in this quarter's earning call
Aero Glide
Apparel
Arcteryx brand
Arcteryx store
Ball Racquet
Bank
CEO Wilson
Capital Markets
Community engagement
Group
Milano
President CEO
Research Division
Wilson good
Wilson transition
acceleration
climbing
demand Salomon
expansion brand
gravel line
legacy
level store
location Arcteryx
location quality
mountain town
shop Greater
shopping
store closure
store commerce
store expansion
store fleet
tariff
terrain
trail gravel
AS Transcript
Amer Sports, Inc. (AS) Q3 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive11-18
The earnings call summary and Q&A indicate strong revenue growth, improved margin guidance, and optimistic expansion plans, especially in China and North America. Although management was vague about specific store growth numbers, the overall sentiment is positive with raised guidance across multiple metrics, strong regional performance, and strategic investments in growth areas like footwear and new stores. These factors suggest a likely positive stock price movement.
Amer Sports, Inc. (AS) Q2 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive8-19
The earnings call reveals strong financial performance with significant growth in key areas such as DTC and regional sales, particularly in Asia Pacific. The raised revenue and EPS guidance, coupled with a 250 basis point increase in gross margin, reflect optimism. The Q&A section supports this with positive momentum in Salomon and Arc'teryx, robust inventory, and strategic growth plans. Despite some vague responses on margins, the overall sentiment is bolstered by strong earnings, optimistic guidance, and effective market strategies, suggesting a strong positive stock price reaction.
Amer Sports, Inc. (NYSE:AS) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive5-21
The earnings call highlights strong financial performance, with significant increases in revenue, operating margin, and net income. The Q&A session reveals confidence in sustainable growth, particularly in Salomon's expansion and the premium outdoor segment. The raised guidance for Salomon and strategic moves in China further support a positive outlook. While management avoided specifics on long-term targets, the overall sentiment remains optimistic, with no major concerns raised. The market is likely to respond positively, with potential stock price increase in the range of 2% to 8%.
Amer Sports, Inc. (AS) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
Positive5-20
The earnings call reveals strong financial performance with a 23% sales growth and improved margins, alongside optimistic guidance for Salomon's growth. Despite supply chain concerns, the company has mitigated tariff impacts. The Q&A session highlights strong brand momentum and market opportunities, especially in the women's segment and Asia. However, the lack of a share repurchase program and unclear guidance on long-term growth targets slightly temper the outlook. Overall, the positive financial results and strategic growth initiatives suggest a stock price increase in the short term.
AS Report
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