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Steven Madden, Ltd.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 19.1% to $665.9 million: Total revenue was $665.9 million, up from $559.0 million a year earlier, with growth in both wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS rose to $0.44: Adjusted net income was $31.7 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, against $13.9 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, a year earlier. Source
  • Wholesale revenue up 13.0%: Wholesale revenue was $407.5 million; excluding Kurt Geiger, it rose 11.5%. Source
  • Wholesale adjusted gross margin rose: Wholesale adjusted gross margin was 35.2%, up from 30.9%. Management cited higher average selling prices, a smaller tariff impact and lower private-label penetration. Source
  • Net debt fell to $30.1 million: Net debt was $30.1 million at June 30, 2026, against $209.3 million at March 31, 2026, as stated in the first-quarter release. Source
  • Q1 tariff recovery added $55.1 million: The first-quarter adjustments included a $55.1 million benefit for expected tariff recovery, excluded from adjusted results. No comparable second-quarter item was listed.

“We delivered robust top- and bottom-line growth in the second quarter, reflecting the strength of our brands and disciplined execution across the organization.”

Edward Rosenfeld, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue growth SourceFiscal 2026 compared with fiscal 202511% to 13%Raised from 10% to 12%
GAAP diluted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$2.55 to $2.65Kept
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$2.05 to $2.15Raised from $2.00 to $2.10

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Revenue growth guidance for fiscal 2026 raised to 11% to 13% from 10% to 12%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted diluted EPS guidance for fiscal 2026 raised to $2.05 to $2.15 from $2.00 to $2.10. Source
  • Guidance kept: GAAP diluted EPS guidance of $2.55 to $2.65 was kept. Source
  • New: Board to expand from ten to eleven directors effective October 1, 2026, with Ken Pilot joining as a director. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 19.1% to $665.9 million: Total revenue was $665.9 million, up from $559.0 million a year earlier, with growth in both wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS rose to $0.44: Adjusted net income was $31.7 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, against $13.9 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, a year earlier. Source
  • GAAP net income was $27.7 million: GAAP net income was $27.7 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, compared with a $39.5 million loss, or $0.56 per share, a year earlier. Source
  • GAAP operating income was $39.3 million: GAAP income from operations was $39.3 million, or 5.9% of revenue, against a loss of $40.3 million, or 7.2% of revenue, a year earlier. Source

Segments and channels

  • Wholesale revenue up 13.0%: Wholesale revenue was $407.5 million; excluding Kurt Geiger, it rose 11.5%. Source
  • Accessories and apparel outgrew footwear: Wholesale footwear rose 9.0%, or 7.8% excluding Kurt Geiger; accessories and apparel rose 19.2%, or 17.5% excluding Kurt Geiger. Source
  • Direct-to-consumer revenue up 30.6%: Direct-to-consumer revenue was $255.4 million; excluding Kurt Geiger, it rose 11.1%. Source

“we are raising our revenue and Adjusted diluted earnings per share outlook for 2026.”

Edward Rosenfeld, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Wholesale adjusted gross margin rose: Wholesale adjusted gross margin was 35.2%, up from 30.9%. Management cited higher average selling prices, a smaller tariff impact and lower private-label penetration. Source
  • Direct-to-consumer gross margin rose: Gross margin on direct-to-consumer revenue was 64.0%, up from 58.7% a year earlier. The company recorded no non-GAAP adjustment to this line in the second quarter. Source
  • Consolidated adjusted gross margin rose: Adjusted gross profit was 46.5% of revenue, up from 41.9% in the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Reported expense ratio fell; adjusted rose: Reported operating expenses were 40.6% of revenue, down from 47.2%; adjusted operating expenses were 39.8%, up from 37.9%. Source
  • Second-quarter adjustments in operating expenses: Adjustments included $1.5 million of severances, $3.4 million of legal settlements and fees, and $0.3 million for an acquisition and joint ventures. Source

Cash, debt and capital returns

  • Total debt and cash at June 30: Total debt was $124.8 million and cash and cash equivalents were $94.7 million at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Net debt fell to $30.1 million: Net debt was $30.1 million at June 30, 2026, against $209.3 million at March 31, 2026, as stated in the first-quarter release. Source
  • No open-market share repurchases: The company bought no shares in the open market during the second quarter. Source
  • Quarterly dividend of $0.21 approved: The board approved a $0.21 quarterly cash dividend. Six-month cash dividends paid totaled $30.6 million. Source
  • Six-month operating cash flow of $149.3 million: Net cash from operating activities was $149.3 million for six months, against $47.6 million a year earlier. Borrowings net of repayments were a $110.0 million outflow. Source

“The Steve Madden brand was the highlight, continuing to gain momentum as consumers responded enthusiastically to the trend-right assortments created by Steve and his design team.”

Edward Rosenfeld, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Leadership and board

  • Ken Pilot founded advisory firm: Pilot is founder and chief executive of Ken Pilot Ventures, an advisory and investment firm focused on retail, consumer and commerce technology. Source
  • Three decades of retail leadership: Pilot brings more than 30 years of retail and consumer leadership, with senior executive roles at several named retailers. Source
  • Pilot's advisory work covers AI: Pilot currently advises and invests in companies focused on artificial intelligence, e-commerce infrastructure and retail technology platforms. Source
  • Rosenfeld welcomed new director: Rosenfeld said the company welcomed Pilot and cited his brand-building and digital experience as valuable to its growth strategy. Source

First-quarter comparison

  • Wholesale grew 1.0% in first quarter: First-quarter wholesale revenue was $443.6 million, up 1.0%; excluding Kurt Geiger, it had declined 8.2%.
  • Direct-to-consumer grew 83.8% in first quarter: First-quarter direct-to-consumer revenue was $206.0 million, up 83.8%; excluding Kurt Geiger, it rose 8.0%.
  • Q1 tariff recovery added $55.1 million: The first-quarter adjustments included a $55.1 million benefit for expected tariff recovery, excluded from adjusted results. No comparable second-quarter item was listed.
  • Adjusted operating income, first versus second quarter: Adjusted income from operations was $46.3 million, or 7.1% of revenue, in the first quarter, against $44.5 million, or 6.7%, in the second quarter.

Coming up, as management said on 30 July 2026

  • Dividend payable September 24: The $0.21 dividend is payable September 24, 2026 to holders of record at the close of business on September 11, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Company-operated brick-and-mortar retail stores Source382, including 92 outlets
Company-operated concessions in international markets Source164
E-commerce websites Source8

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Management recorded legal settlements and related fees in operating expenses, which the company excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • External: Tariffs still weighed on direct-to-consumer margin, though management described the impact as smaller than a year earlier. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: The first-quarter release expected a return to earnings growth in the second quarter; the second-quarter release says growth was delivered.
  • Not stated: The first-quarter release said the brands and team position the company to deliver sustainable growth for years to come.

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.