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V F Corp.: Q1 FY2027 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2027, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 1 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue down 5%, flat ex Dickies in C$: Revenue was $1,669.4 million against $1,760.7 million, down 5%, or down 7% in constant currency. Excluding Dickies, revenue rose 1%, or was flat in constant currency. Source
  • Operating loss near last year's level: Operating loss was $83.1 million against $86.6 million, an operating margin of (5.0%). Adjusted operating loss excluding Dickies was $95 million, with a margin of (5.7%), down 210 basis points. Source
  • The North Face up 6%: The North Face revenue was $590.9 million, up 6% (4% constant currency), led by the Americas and DTC. The Altamesa V2 launched globally, and transitional outerwear grew across regions. Source
  • Vans down 8%; EMEA and APAC down more: Vans revenue was $459.8 million, down 8% (9% constant currency). On a reported basis, Americas fell 3%, EMEA 15% and APAC 14%. Source
  • Gross margin up 100 basis points: Gross margin was 54.9%, up 100 basis points, with gross profit of $917.0 million. Adjusted gross margin excluding Dickies was also 54.9%, up 10 basis points. Source
  • Net debt down $1.1 billion: Net debt was $4.3 billion, down $1.1 billion or 20% from a year earlier. Excluding lease liabilities, net debt was $2.8 billion, down 27%. Source

“The North Face®, Timberland® and Altra® delivered another quarter of growth; and Vans® Americas DTC continued to grow but was more than offset by declines in global Wholesale.”

Bracken Darrell President & CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue growth (constant currency) SourceFY'27+2% or betterRaised from +1% to +2%
Vans revenue, second half SourceH2 FY'27-2% or better vs. LYNew
Adjusted operating margin SourceFY'27Approximately 8%Kept
Free cash flow SourceFY'27Flat to up vs. LY (FY'26: $405M)Kept
Leverage ratio SourceFYE'272.6x to 2.9xKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: FY'27 revenue growth guidance raised to +2% or better in constant currency, from +1% to +2%. Source
  • New guidance: A specific figure was given for second-half FY'27 Vans revenue, -2% or better versus last year. The prior guidance had no figure. Source
  • New: Chief Financial Officer transition announced. Abhishek is to step into an expanded role as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue down 5%, flat ex Dickies in C$: Revenue was $1,669.4 million against $1,760.7 million, down 5%, or down 7% in constant currency. Excluding Dickies, revenue rose 1%, or was flat in constant currency. Source
  • Operating loss near last year's level: Operating loss was $83.1 million against $86.6 million, an operating margin of (5.0%). Adjusted operating loss excluding Dickies was $95 million, with a margin of (5.7%), down 210 basis points. Source
  • Diluted loss of $0.25 per share: Net loss was $97.2 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, against $0.30 a year earlier. Excluding Reinvent, adjusted diluted loss per share was $0.27. Source

Segments and regions

  • Outdoor up 5%, Active down 5%: Outdoor segment revenue was $857.0 million, up 5% (4% constant currency), with a segment loss of $41.6 million against $42.3 million. Active segment revenue was $667.3 million, down 5%, with segment profit of $47.4 million against $56.8 million. Source
  • Americas grew; EMEA and APAC fell: Americas revenue was $895.5 million, down 4% reported but up 4% in constant currency excluding Dickies. EMEA fell 7% and APAC 3% reported, or 7% and 1% excluding Dickies in constant currency. Source
  • Greater China and International: International revenue was $890.7 million, down 4%, and flat excluding Dickies. Greater China rose 2%, or 1% in constant currency excluding Dickies. Source
  • All Other down on Dickies sale: All Other revenue was $145.1 million, down 42%, and includes Dickies only through the sale date. The category also includes Altra, Smartwool, Napapijri and icebreaker, with a loss of $15.4 million against a $4.5 million profit. Source

“Regarding our CFO transition announced today, I would like to thank Paul for his partnership, leadership and contributions to VF.”

Bracken Darrell President & CEO

Brands and products

  • The North Face up 6%: The North Face revenue was $590.9 million, up 6% (4% constant currency), led by the Americas and DTC. The Altamesa V2 launched globally, and transitional outerwear grew across regions. Source
  • Vans down 8%; EMEA and APAC down more: Vans revenue was $459.8 million, down 8% (9% constant currency). On a reported basis, Americas fell 3%, EMEA 15% and APAC 14%. Source
  • Timberland up 4%, Americas up 11%: Timberland revenue was $266.1 million, up 4% (3% constant currency). Americas revenue rose 11%, or 10% in constant currency, with global growth across both DTC and Wholesale. Source
  • Altra and Smartwool up double digits: Altra rose double digits across regions and channels. icebreaker grew on DTC, Smartwool rose double digits in DTC and Wholesale, and Packs grew on JanSport and Kipling. Source

Channels and demand

  • DTC up 2%; digital up 4%: DTC revenue was $738.4 million, up 2% (1% constant currency), or up 6% excluding Dickies. Digital revenue rose 4%, or 13% excluding Dickies. Source
  • Wholesale down 10%: Wholesale revenue was $931.0 million, down 10% (12% constant currency), or down 2% excluding Dickies. Royalty revenue is included in the wholesale channel. Source

Gross margin and SG&A

  • Gross margin up 100 basis points: Gross margin was 54.9%, up 100 basis points, with gross profit of $917.0 million. Adjusted gross margin excluding Dickies was also 54.9%, up 10 basis points. Source
  • SG&A dollars lower, rate higher: SG&A expenses were $1,000.1 million, against $1,035.6 million, or 59.9% of revenue versus 58.8% a year earlier. Adjusted SG&A was 60.6% of revenue, after excluding Reinvent. Source
  • Distribution center gain and impairment: Reinvent included a $17.6 million gain on the sale of a distribution center and a $6.4 million impairment on a leased distribution center. Reinvent costs were a net benefit of $11.5 million. Source

Transformation program (Reinvent)

  • Restructuring largely complete: Total Reinvent restructuring charges were $193.8 million. Substantially all restructuring actions were completed at the end of the first quarter of Fiscal 2026. Source
  • Consulting fees tied to share price: Consulting fees could total up to $146.0 million, with $75.0 million contingent on VF's stock price rising through June 2027. Services under the contract were substantially completed in Q3 FY26. Source
  • Net tax expense from Reinvent: Reinvent resulted in a net tax expense of $3.1 million in the quarter. Contract expense was ($0.3) million, reflecting changes in the fair value of contingent fees. Source

Cash, debt and shareholder returns

  • Net debt down $1.1 billion: Net debt was $4.3 billion, down $1.1 billion or 20% from a year earlier. Excluding lease liabilities, net debt was $2.8 billion, down 27%. Source
  • Operating cash outflow narrowed: Cash used by operating activities was $62.5 million, against $145.5 million a year earlier. Capital expenditures were $39.6 million, against $28.2 million. Source
  • Inventories down 11%: Inventories were $1.90 billion, down 11% from a year earlier, or down 4% in constant currency excluding Dickies. Cash and cash equivalents were $670.1 million at quarter end. Source
  • Interest expense, net fell to $24.6 million: Interest expense, net was $24.6 million, against $41.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Dividend held at $0.09: Cash dividends of $35 million were paid in the quarter, at $0.09 per share, the same as a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 July 2026

  • Vans Wholesale expected to improve: Management expects Vans Wholesale to improve significantly in the second half of fiscal 2027. Source
  • Napapijri reset and America's Cup: The Napapijri reset is underway, with the brand capitalizing on the road to the 2027 America's Cup in Naples. Source
  • Fourth quarter has an extra week: Fiscal 2027 has 53 weeks, with the extra week in the fourth quarter. Revenue guidance includes the 53rd week. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
VF-operated stores Source1,068 as of June 2026, against 1,113 a year earlier
Timberland full-price stores open in the Americas Source14 (as of Q1E'27)

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Vans Wholesale declines in the quarter more than offset continued Americas DTC growth. Source
  • Regulatory: The free cash flow comparison excludes any net impact from tariff refunds in FY'27. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Revenue excluding Dickies was ahead of guidance for the quarter, which had been down low-single digits in C$. Source
  • Ahead: Adjusted operating loss excluding Dickies was slightly ahead of its ($100M) guidance. Source
  • On track: Management said the Napapijri reset is proceeding as planned. 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.