Top 2 Quarterly Results To Watch Tomorrow - Friday, November 18
Foot Locker (FL): Much of its success can be credited to the growing popularity of basketball shoes. Foot Locker has established itself as the preeminent mall-based supplier of basketball shoes, leaps and bounds ahead of close competitor Finish Line. This distinct segment accounts for a large portion of its sales with yearly releases of Michael Jordan’s and LeBron James’s signature shoes driving those gains. Foot Locker is more than proficient in several of the other lines it carries as well, mainly running and casual footwear. Despite an influx of direct to consumer efforts from Nike and Under Armour, Foot Locker hasn’t seen a material impact on financial performance. Additionally, Dick’s Sporting Good’s better than expected report earlier this week sets a favorable tone for Foot Locker. Near term threats still persist including heavy international exposure and increasing competition.
Abercrombie and Fitch (ANF): Teen retailers have made a comeback in recent quarters but Abercrombie has missed the boat. The retailer posted a miss the past 2 quarters which included a significant year over year declines on both the top and bottom line. Abercrombie’s dismal performance has resulted in a 40% drop in the stock during 2016. Soft traffic trends in its flagship U.S. and tourist stores are expected to take its toll on comparable store sales for the remainder of the year. The company remains encouraged that the performance of its Hollister brand along with efficient cost controls can curb its losses. While tomorrow’s print is important, investors will be focused on guidance for the pivotal holiday season.
Disclosure: None.