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Dick’s Sporting Goods to Acquire Foot Locker

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Image: Dick’s Sporting Goods’ shares sold off on its announcement that it would acquire Foot Locker. By Brian Nelson, CFA On May 15, Dick’s Sporting Goods (DKS) announced that it would acquire Foot Locker (FL) in a transaction that implies an equity value of $2.4 billion and enterprise value of $2.5 billion. Foot Locker shareholders can elect to receive either $24.00 in cash or 0.1168 shares of Dick’s Sporting Goods common stock for each share of Foot Locker stock they own. Dick’s intends to finance the acquisition through a combination of cash on hand and new debt and is expected to close in the second half of 2025. Dick’s intends to operate Foot Locker as a standalone business unit within … Read more

Nike’s Weak Earnings Growth, Markdowns, and Lofty Inventory Levels Still Telling of a Struggling Consumer

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  Image Source: Valuentum By Brian Nelson, CFA The health of the consumer continues to be one of the biggest questions heading into 2023. Many consumers are working through the excess savings garnered via COVID-19 stimulus (and many market observers expect this savings to run out by mid-2023) and credit card debt is on the rise. Inflation is taking a bite out of consumer discretionary spending as more and more of consumer financial capacity is being allocated to necessities including food and grocery items. Food at home costs have soared, and many have had to cut back in other areas. Nike’s (NKE) second-quarter fiscal 2023 results, released December 20, showed a very discerning consumer that is looking to drive a … Read more

Nike’s Fundamental Backdrop Speaks of Serious Impending Global Recession

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Image Source: Raul Gonzalez By Brian Nelson, CFA In a rapidly declining market as we have been witnessing the past many months, it becomes a relative “game.” Taking on outsize risk to drive positive returns is a quick way to the poor house. There are too many things working against the market for it to pull sustainably higher before year’s end, and we think investors are better off playing defense than attacking the bear. Things are bad out there, and they are likely going to get worse, “Things Are Bad Out There.” It is perfectly reasonable and understandable to have been bullish during the first half of this year, as we were, to at least give the market some breathing … Read more

Nike’s Gross Margin Falls, Inventory Leaps in Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2022

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Image Source: Valuentum By Valuentum Analysts Very few other companies, if any other, have built such deep, personal connections with the consumer as Nike, Inc. (NKE) has, let alone the tremendous brand strength, and its endorsement deal with LeBron James gives it yet another top-notch globally marketable superstar. Nike’s annual free cash flows averaged ~$4.0 billion from fiscal 2019-2021, versus its ~$1.6 billion in dividend obligations in fiscal 2021, and it had a solid net cash position on the books at the end of fiscal 2022. The sustained strength seen at its digital and direct-to-consumer operations supports Nike’s outlook. Nike’s Dividend Cushion ratio is impressive; however, its ~1.1% dividend yield is relatively modest. From its namesake to Jordan Brand to … Read more

Nike Beats Estimates Aided By Its Omni-Channel Selling Strength

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Image Shown: Shares of Nike Inc popped higher after its latest earnings report. By Callum Turcan On June 24, Nike Inc (NKE) reported fourth quarter earnings for fiscal 2021 (period ended May 31, 2021) that beat both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. Shares of NKE popped higher after the report. The top end of our fair value estimate range for Nike sits at $160 per share, meaningfully above where shares of NKE are trading at as of this writing–even after the latest bounce in its stock price. Earnings Update Keeping in mind that the coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic creates a lot of noise when it comes to year-over-year comparisons, Nike’s GAAP revenues surged higher 96% year-over-year last fiscal quarter. Nike-branded footwear … Read more

Lululemon’s Growth Outlook Is Bright

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Image Source: Lululemon Athletica Inc – First Quarter of Fiscal 2021 IR Earnings Infographic By Callum Turcan Athleisure wear maker Lululemon Athletica Inc (LULU) recently reported first quarter earnings for fiscal 2021 (period ended May 2, 2021) that smashed past both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates. Its company-operated stores posted net revenue growth of 106% year-over-year as global economies began to recover from the coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic. The company’s direct-to-consumer (‘DTC’) net revenue grew 55% year-over-year (the e-commerce side of its business) last fiscal quarter, keeping in mind its DTC business more than doubled its net revenues in fiscal 2020. We were impressed with Lululemon’s latest results, and there could be room for shares of LULU to continue climbing higher. … Read more

Dick’s Sporting Goods Soars, Reports Record First-Quarter Sales, Highest-Ever Quarterly Earnings!

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Image Shown: Dick’s Sporting Goods’ stock price soared following the release of its first-quarter fiscal 2021 earnings report and robust guidance for the remainder of the year. We added the sporting goods retailer to the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio last November, and we continue to like shares. By Brian Nelson, CFA On Wednesday, May 26, Dick’s Sporting Goods (DKS) released a stellar fiscal first-quarter earnings report for the period ending May 1, 2021, that showed its omni-channel sales strategy is paying off as the U.S. economy continues its robust recovery. We added Dick’s Sporting Goods to the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio in November of last year, and its dividend growth prospects remain as strong as ever. In March of this year, … Read more

Nike’s Digital Strategy Supports Its Future Revenue Growth and Margin Expansion Prospects

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Image Shown: Since announcing the launch of its Consumer Direct Offense initiative in June 2017, Nike Inc has done a stellar job building its omni-channel selling capabilities. The company’s digitally-oriented direct-to-consumer strategy offers it the opportunity to enhance both its long-term revenue growth outlook and operating margin expansion potential. On March 18, Nike reported mixed earnings though its near-term guidance indicates its financial performance will continue to rebound after taking a beating from the COVID-19 pandemic. As of this writing, shares of NKE are trading in the upper bound of our fair value estimate range, indicating shares are roughly fairly valued at this time. By Callum Turcan The coronavirus (‘COVID-19’) pandemic has made it clear that companies with strong omni-channel … Read more

Dividend Growth Portfolio Idea Dick’s Sporting Goods Raises Dividend 16%!

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  Image Source: Mike Mozart. Dick’s Sporting Goods put up its best same-store-sales growth rate in history during 2020. We continue to like shares of the sporting goods retailer in the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio. By Brian Nelson, CFA Kudos to one of the latest additions to the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio, Dick’s Sporting Goods (DKS). The company announced March 9 concurrent with its fourth-quarter 2020 press release that it increased its quarterly payout 16%, to $0.3625 per share, or $1.45 per share on an annualized basis, good enough for a nice ~2% forward expected dividend yield. The latest iteration of the Dividend Growth Newsletter portfolio can be found here. With a Dividend Cushion ratio of 3.2 at its last … Read more

Peloton Makes a Bet on US Manufacturing

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Image Shown: Shares of Peloton Interactive surged higher during 2020. The firm recently announced it would acquire an exercise equipment manufacturer based in the US. As demand for Peloton’s products has been incredibly strong of late, the firm has had trouble keeping up, which in turn has led to delayed deliveries of its “premium” exercise bikes. This acquisition is expected to help alleviate those concerns. By Callum Turcan The exercise bike and digitally-oriented exercise training service provider Peloton Interactive Inc (PTON) announced it was acquiring Precor, an exercise equipment manufacturer, for $420 million in cash (before closing adjustments) on December 21. Peloton aims to complete the transaction by early 2021 (calendar year), and by the end of 2021, the goal … Read more