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Crocs, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 4 new, 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue slipped 1.7% reported: Revenues were $921 million, down 1.7% as reported and 4.0% on a constant currency basis, against $937 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EPS nearly flat year on year: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.99 against $3.00. GAAP diluted EPS was $2.71 against $2.83. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin fell to 22.3%: Adjusted operating income was $206 million, down 7.8%, with adjusted operating margin of 22.3% against 23.8%. GAAP operating margin was 21.8%. Source
  • HEYDUDE revenue fell 12.3%: HEYDUDE Brand revenue fell 12.3% to $154 million, or 13.2% on a constant currency basis, from $176 million a year earlier. Source
  • Direct-to-consumer sales grew 12.1%: Crocs Brand DTC revenue rose 12.9% to $322 million, and HEYDUDE Brand DTC rose 8.6% to $71 million. Source
  • Wholesale declined at both brands: Enterprise wholesale fell 9.9%. Crocs Brand wholesale fell 6.5% to $446 million, and HEYDUDE wholesale fell 24.7% to $83 million. Source
  • Share repurchases after quarter end: From March 31 through April 23, 2026, the company repurchased 0.8 million shares for $73.6 million. Source

“We delivered enterprise revenue of over $900 million including growth in our direct-to-consumer channels for both brands.”

Andrew Rees, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Crocs Brand revenues SourceSecond quarter 2026up approximately 1% to 3%New
HEYDUDE Brand revenues SourceSecond quarter 2026down approximately 14% to 12%New
Adjusted operating margin SourceSecond quarter 2026approximately 24.7%New
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceSecond quarter 2026$4.15 to $4.35New
Revenues (enterprise) SourceFull year 2026down approximately 1% to up 1%Raised from down approximately 1% to up slightly
Crocs Brand revenues SourceFull year 2026flat to up approximately 2%Kept
HEYDUDE Brand revenues SourceFull year 2026down approximately 7% to 5%Raised from down approximately 9% to 7%
Non-GAAP adjustments SourceFull year 2026approximately $25 millionKept
Adjusted operating margin SourceFull year 2026expand modestly from 22.3%Kept
Effective tax rate SourceFull year 2026GAAP about 23%; adjusted about 18%Kept
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFull year 2026$13.20 to $13.75Raised from $12.88 to $13.35
GAAP diluted EPS SourceFull year 2026$12.01 to $12.56Raised from $11.71 to $12.18
GAAP operating margin SourceFull year 2026>21.7%Kept
Capital expenditures SourceFull year 2026$70 million to $80 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year revenue range top end raised to up 1% from up slightly; low end unchanged at down 1%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year HEYDUDE Brand revenue range raised to down 7% to 5% from down 9% to 7%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year adjusted diluted EPS range raised to $13.20 to $13.75 from $12.88 to $13.35. Source
  • New guidance: Second-quarter 2026 revenue, adjusted operating margin and adjusted diluted EPS expectations were given for the first time in this release. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue slipped 1.7% reported: Revenues were $921 million, down 1.7% as reported and 4.0% on a constant currency basis, against $937 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EPS nearly flat year on year: Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.99 against $3.00. GAAP diluted EPS was $2.71 against $2.83. Source
  • Consumer relevance across both brands cited: Management attributed the quarter to broad consumer relevance for both brands and disciplined execution against its strategy. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin fell to 22.3%: Adjusted operating income was $206 million, down 7.8%, with adjusted operating margin of 22.3% against 23.8%. GAAP operating margin was 21.8%. Source

Brands and regions

  • Crocs Brand revenue nearly flat: Crocs Brand revenue rose 0.8% to $767 million, or fell 1.9% on a constant currency basis. Source
  • HEYDUDE revenue fell 12.3%: HEYDUDE Brand revenue fell 12.3% to $154 million, or 13.2% on a constant currency basis, from $176 million a year earlier. Source
  • International revenue grew 7.2%: International revenue rose to $421 million, which the release gives as 2.3% growth on a constant currency basis. Source
  • North America revenue declined 6.1%: North America, which includes the United States and Canada, fell to $346 million, or 6.4% on a constant currency basis. Source

“Based on our first quarter performance, we are raising our full-year outlook on both the top- and bottom-line.”

Andrew Rees, Chief Executive Officer

Channels and customers

  • Direct-to-consumer sales grew 12.1%: Crocs Brand DTC revenue rose 12.9% to $322 million, and HEYDUDE Brand DTC rose 8.6% to $71 million. Source
  • Wholesale declined at both brands: Enterprise wholesale fell 9.9%. Crocs Brand wholesale fell 6.5% to $446 million, and HEYDUDE wholesale fell 24.7% to $83 million. Source
  • Product newness cited for demand: Management linked consumer response to newness across categories with its pace of innovation and brand storytelling. Source

Costs and margins

  • Gross margin fell 90 basis points: Adjusted gross margin was 56.9% against 57.8%. GAAP gross margin was 56.8%. Crocs Brand gross margin was 59.5% against 60.7%, and HEYDUDE 43.9% against 46.6%. Source
  • SG&A rose on a GAAP basis: GAAP SG&A was $322 million, up 1.1%, or 35.0% of revenues. Adjusted SG&A was about flat at $319 million, or 34.6% of revenues. Source
  • HEYDUDE leasehold impairment excluded: A $3.3 million impairment of HEYDUDE leasehold improvement assets was excluded from adjusted SG&A. Source

“We are focused on executing against our initiatives to drive diversified growth across both brands, channels, and markets, and we remain confident in the long-term health of the business.”

Andrew Rees, Chief Executive Officer

Cash flow and borrowings

  • Free cash flow negative in quarter: Free cash flow was negative $98.9 million, from $80.9 million of operating cash use and $18.0 million of capital expenditures, against negative $82.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Inventory slightly above last year: Inventories were $398 million at March 31, 2026, against $391 million a year earlier. Source
  • Total borrowings at $1.34 billion: Total borrowings were $1.34 billion at March 31, 2026, against $1.48 billion a year earlier. Source

Share repurchases and cash

  • Share repurchases after quarter end: From March 31 through April 23, 2026, the company repurchased 0.8 million shares for $73.6 million. Source
  • Remaining repurchase authorization $673.2 million: After those repurchases, $673.2 million of share repurchase authorization remained available. Source
  • Cash balance $131 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $131 million at March 31, 2026, against $166 million a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 April 2026

  • Second-quarter 2026 expectations: Management set out expected second-quarter 2026 revenue, adjusted operating margin and adjusted diluted EPS, at April 27, 2026 currency rates. Source
  • Guidance excludes future buybacks: Adjusted diluted EPS guidance does not include any effect from potential future share repurchases. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management cited costs tied to moving HEYDUDE away from a third-party logistics provider and software transition at the Dayton, Ohio distribution center, excluded from adjusted gross profit. Source
  • Financial: Management said non-GAAP adjustments are subjective and involve significant management judgment, and their timing is hard to predict. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.