greeksoup/ stock research

Steven Madden, Ltd.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 6.9% to $667.9 million: Total revenue was $667.9 million, including $3.7 million of licensing fee income. The company reported the increase with Kurt Geiger included in the current period. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $0.43 against $0.91: Non-GAAP Adjustments add $9.8 million to GAAP net income. The largest item was $12.3 million pre-tax of acquired-inventory fair-value adjustment. Source
  • Wholesale revenue fell 10.7%: Wholesale revenue totaled $442.7 million. The company reported the decline both including and excluding the Kurt Geiger acquisition. Source
  • Wholesale margin cut by tariffs: Unadjusted wholesale gross margin was 32.7%, against 35.5% a year earlier. The company attributed the adjusted decline to tariffs. Source
  • Adjusted operating income fell to $46.3 million: GAAP income from operations was $31.4 million, or 4.7% of revenue, against $74.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net debt $185.0 million at quarter end: Net debt was $181.6 million at June 30, 2025, so net debt rose during the quarter. Source
  • Fourth-quarter EPS guidance issued: GAAP diluted EPS is guided at $0.30 to $0.35 for the fourth quarter; adjusted diluted EPS is guided at $0.41 to $0.46. Source

“As anticipated, the third quarter was challenging, driven largely by the impact of new tariffs on goods imported into the United States.”

Edward Rosenfeld, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefourth quarter of 2025increase 27% to 30%New
Diluted EPS Sourcefourth quarter of 2025$0.30 to $0.35New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter 2025 revenue and EPS guidance was issued, after the prior quarter withheld 2025 financial guidance.

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 6.9% to $667.9 million: Total revenue was $667.9 million, including $3.7 million of licensing fee income. The company reported the increase with Kurt Geiger included in the current period. Source
  • GAAP net income fell to $20.5 million: Diluted EPS was $0.29, against $0.77 a year earlier. Nine-month net income attributable to the company was $21.5 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS $0.43 against $0.91: Non-GAAP Adjustments add $9.8 million to GAAP net income. The largest item was $12.3 million pre-tax of acquired-inventory fair-value adjustment. Source

Channels, products and brands

  • Wholesale revenue fell 10.7%: Wholesale revenue totaled $442.7 million. The company reported the decline both including and excluding the Kurt Geiger acquisition. Source
  • Direct-to-consumer revenue rose 76.6%: Excluding Kurt Geiger, direct-to-consumer revenue increased 1.5%, a figure the company reported alongside the 76.6% total. Source
  • Footwear and accessories split reported: Wholesale accessories/apparel revenue decreased 10.3%, or 22.5% excluding Kurt Geiger. Source

“Consumers have responded favorably to our Fall assortments, particularly in our flagship Steve Madden brand.”

Edward Rosenfeld, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin flat; adjusted margin higher: Adjusted gross profit as a percentage of revenue was 43.4%, against 41.6%, with the $12.3 million inventory purchase-accounting adjustment excluded. Source
  • Wholesale margin cut by tariffs: Unadjusted wholesale gross margin was 32.7%, against 35.5% a year earlier. The company attributed the adjusted decline to tariffs. Source
  • Direct-to-consumer margin lower on tariffs: Management also cited the addition of the Kurt Geiger concessions business. Unadjusted direct-to-consumer gross margin was 58.3%. Source
  • Operating expenses rose to 36.8% of revenue: Adjusted operating expenses were 36.4% of revenue, against 27.9%. In dollars, adjusted operating expenses were $243.4 million, against $174.2 million. Source
  • Adjusted operating income fell to $46.3 million: GAAP income from operations was $31.4 million, or 4.7% of revenue, against $74.6 million a year earlier. Source

Cash, balance sheet and dividend

  • Net debt $185.0 million at quarter end: Net debt was $181.6 million at June 30, 2025, so net debt rose during the quarter. Source
  • Quarterly dividend held at $0.21: The $0.21 rate matches the prior quarter and the same quarter a year earlier. Source
  • No open-market buybacks in quarter: The company repurchased no shares in the open market during the quarter, the same as the prior quarter. Source

“we are pleased with underlying demand for our brands and products.”

Edward Rosenfeld, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Strategy and fourth-quarter guidance

  • Steve Madden trend and tariff mitigation: Management named an improved Steve Madden trend, tariff mitigation strategies and the Kurt Geiger contribution as the basis for expected stronger results. Source
  • Consumer connection strategy restated: The prior quarter's release described this strategy as positioning the company for long-term growth; the current release does not restate it.
  • Fourth-quarter EPS guidance issued: GAAP diluted EPS is guided at $0.30 to $0.35 for the fourth quarter; adjusted diluted EPS is guided at $0.41 to $0.46. Source

Management commentary on the quarter

  • Pleased with underlying brand demand: Management said it was pleased with underlying demand for its brands and products. Source
  • Fall assortments drew consumer response: Management said consumers responded to the Fall assortments, particularly in the flagship Steve Madden brand. Source
  • Stronger results expected from fourth quarter: Management tied the expected improvement to the Steve Madden trend, tariff mitigation and the Kurt Geiger contribution. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2025

  • Quarterly dividend payable December 26: The $0.21 dividend is payable December 26, 2025 to holders of record at the close of business on December 15, 2025. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Company-operated brick-and-mortar retail stores Source397, including 99 outlets
Company-operated concessions in international markets Source133
E-commerce websites Source7

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Management attributed lower adjusted gross margins in both channels to new tariffs on goods imported into the United States. Source
  • Demand: Excluding the Kurt Geiger acquisition, wholesale revenue declined 19.0% in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said the tariff-driven difficulty of the quarter matched its earlier expectation. Source
  • Not stated: In the prior quarter management said the integration was proceeding smoothly; the current release does not restate that status.

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.