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Steven Madden, Ltd.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 25 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Q4 revenue rose 29.4%: Fourth quarter revenue was $753.7 million, up from $582.3 million a year earlier. Net sales were $749.8 million in the quarter against $578.8 million. Source
  • Q4 GAAP diluted EPS was $0.32: Fourth quarter diluted EPS on a GAAP basis was $0.32, against $0.49 a year earlier. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.48, against $0.55. Source
  • Wholesale revenue rose 7.5%: Wholesale revenue was $433.3 million in the fourth quarter. Excluding Kurt Geiger, wholesale revenue declined 2.6%. Source
  • Direct-to-consumer revenue rose 79.9%: Direct-to-consumer revenue was $316.6 million in the fourth quarter. Excluding Kurt Geiger, direct-to-consumer revenue increased 1.6%. Source
  • Adjusted gross margin rose to 43.8%: Adjusted gross margin was 43.8%, against 40.4%. GAAP gross margin was 42.4%. Adjustments included $10.1 million of inventory purchase accounting from acquired businesses. Source
  • No 2026 EPS guidance given: Management is not giving 2026 earnings guidance. It cited uncertainty about recent US tariff policy developments. Source
  • Higher 2026 SG&A expected: Management expects higher SG&A in 2026, driven by the return of incentive compensation to normal levels and restored senior executive salaries. Source
  • Net debt fell to $121.7 million: Total debt was $234.2 million and cash $112.4 million at year-end, leaving net debt of $121.7 million, against $185.0 million at September 30, 2025. Source

“Our product assortments and marketing campaigns are resonating with consumers, our brands are powerful and gaining relevance, and we have a sound strategy for long-term value creation with multiple levers for growth.”

Edward Rosenfeld, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Source2026 compared with 2025increase 9% to 11%New

Fourth quarter and full year results

  • Q4 revenue rose 29.4%: Fourth quarter revenue was $753.7 million, up from $582.3 million a year earlier. Net sales were $749.8 million in the quarter against $578.8 million. Source
  • Full-year revenue rose 11.0%: Full-year 2025 revenue was $2,534.1 million, up from $2,282.9 million in 2024. Net sales for the year were $2,521.5 million. Source
  • Q4 GAAP diluted EPS was $0.32: Fourth quarter diluted EPS on a GAAP basis was $0.32, against $0.49 a year earlier. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.48, against $0.55. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS $1.70: Full-year adjusted diluted EPS was $1.70, against $2.67 in 2024. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.63, against $2.35. Source
  • Q4 operating income fell: Fourth quarter income from operations was $36.2 million, or 4.8% of revenue, against $46.7 million, or 8.0%. Adjusted operating income was $50.9 million, or 6.8% of revenue. Source

Channels, products and brands

  • Wholesale revenue rose 7.5%: Wholesale revenue was $433.3 million in the fourth quarter. Excluding Kurt Geiger, wholesale revenue declined 2.6%. Source
  • Direct-to-consumer revenue rose 79.9%: Direct-to-consumer revenue was $316.6 million in the fourth quarter. Excluding Kurt Geiger, direct-to-consumer revenue increased 1.6%. Source
  • Footwear sales rose 11.0%: Wholesale footwear revenue rose 11.0%. Excluding Kurt Geiger, the increase was 5.5%. Source
  • Accessories and apparel rose 3.1%: Wholesale accessories and apparel revenue rose 3.1%. Excluding Kurt Geiger, that revenue decreased 13.0%. Source

“Looking to 2026, we are encouraged by the momentum building in our flagship Steve Madden brand”

Edward Rosenfeld, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Margins and operating costs

  • Adjusted gross margin rose to 43.8%: Adjusted gross margin was 43.8%, against 40.4%. GAAP gross margin was 42.4%. Adjustments included $10.1 million of inventory purchase accounting from acquired businesses. Source
  • Wholesale margin rose on Kurt Geiger: Adjusted wholesale gross margin was 31.5%, against 30.5%. Management attributed the increase to Kurt Geiger, partly offset by new tariffs on imported goods. Source
  • Direct-to-consumer margin fell on tariffs: Adjusted direct-to-consumer gross margin was 59.8%, against 62.0%. The company cited the Kurt Geiger concessions business and new tariffs on imported goods. Source
  • Q4 operating expenses rose to 37.0%: Adjusted operating expenses were 37.0% of revenue in the fourth quarter, against 31.4% a year earlier. GAAP operating expenses were 37.3% of revenue. Source
  • Kurt Geiger compensation adjusted out: Full-year non-GAAP adjustments included $38.8 million of acquisition-related compensation for Kurt Geiger sellers and employees. The fourth quarter included a $6.3 million trademark impairment. Source

2026 expectations

  • No 2026 EPS guidance given: Management is not giving 2026 earnings guidance. It cited uncertainty about recent US tariff policy developments. Source
  • Higher 2026 SG&A expected: Management expects higher SG&A in 2026, driven by the return of incentive compensation to normal levels and restored senior executive salaries. Source
  • Private label pressure expected in 2026: Management expects pressure on its private label business in 2026. This is separate from the higher SG&A it also expects. Source

Balance sheet and cash flow

  • Net debt fell to $121.7 million: Total debt was $234.2 million and cash $112.4 million at year-end, leaving net debt of $121.7 million, against $185.0 million at September 30, 2025. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell to $162.2 million: Operating cash flow was $162.2 million in 2025, against $198.1 million in 2024. Capital expenditures were $42.7 million, against $25.9 million. Source
  • Inventories rose to $417.0 million: Inventories were $417.0 million at December 31, 2025, up from $257.6 million a year earlier. Source

Capital returns and dividend

  • No open-market buybacks in 2025: No shares were repurchased in the open market in 2025. Shares acquired through net settlement of employee stock awards cost $13.5 million for the year, including $5.2 million in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Quarterly dividend held at $0.21: The Board approved a $0.21 quarterly cash dividend. Full-year 2025 dividends declared were $0.84 per share, the same as in 2024. Source
  • Cash dividends paid held near $61 million: Cash dividends paid on common stock totaled $61.0 million in 2025, the same amount as in 2024. Source

Coming up, as management said on 25 February 2026

  • Dividend payable March 20, 2026: The $0.21 quarterly dividend is payable on March 20, 2026 to holders of record as of March 11, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Company-operated brick-and-mortar retail stores Source399, including 98 outlets
Company-operated concessions in international markets Source133
E-commerce websites Source7

Risks management discussed

  • External: New tariffs on goods imported into the United States reduced adjusted gross margin in both wholesale and direct-to-consumer. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said fourth quarter earnings were above its guidance, following its earlier statement that it expected stronger results from the fourth quarter. 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.