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Wolverine World Wide Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 26 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 8 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full-year revenue up 6.8%: Full-year revenue was $1,874.3 million, up 6.8% reported and 6.0% in constant currency from $1,755.0 million. On the ongoing-business basis, revenue rose 7.1%. Source
  • Active Group revenue up 12.4%: Active Group revenue rose 12.4% in the fourth quarter to $372.7 million, with constant currency growth of 10.2%. For the year, Active Group revenue was $1,407.8 million, up 13.0%. Source
  • International revenue up 13.5%: International revenue was $978.1 million for the year, up 13.5% reported and 11.9% in constant currency. Fourth-quarter International revenue was $277.4 million, up 9.8%. Source
  • Saucony revenue up 31.1%: Saucony revenue was $533.1 million for the year, up 31.1% reported and 30.1% in constant currency. Fourth-quarter Saucony revenue was $125.9 million, up 26.4%. Source
  • Full-year gross margin 47.3%: Full-year gross margin was 47.3%, against 44.3%. Fourth-quarter gross margin was 47.0%, against 43.6%. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin 9.0%: Full-year adjusted operating margin was 9.0%, against 7.3%. Adjusted operating expenses were $717.6 million, up 10.3%. Fourth-quarter adjusted operating margin was 11.0%, against 9.9%. Source
  • Operating cash flow $140.0 million: Net cash provided by operating activities was $140.0 million for the year, against $180.1 million. Additions to property, plant and equipment were $14.5 million. Source

“We exceeded our expectations across all key metrics in the fourth quarter, finishing a solid year for the Company.”

Chris Hufnagel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wolverine Worldwide

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefiscal 2026 full year$1.960 billion to $1.985 billionNew
Constant currency revenue growth Sourcefiscal 2026 full year3.8% to 5.1%; 4.5% to 5.8% excluding the 53rd week in 2025New
Gross margin Sourcefiscal 2026 full yearapproximately 46.0%New
Operating margin, reported and adjusted Sourcefiscal 2026 full year8.8% reported; 9.1% adjustedNew
Effective tax rate Sourcefiscal 2026 full yearapproximately 18.0%New
Diluted EPS, reported and adjusted Sourcefiscal 2026 full year$1.31 to $1.46 reported; $1.35 to $1.50 adjustedNew
Diluted weighted average shares Sourcefiscal 2026 full yearapproximately 81.5 millionNew
Net earnings, reported and adjusted Sourcefiscal 2026 full year$110 to $122 million reported; $114 to $126 million adjustedNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: The release gives first full-year guidance for fiscal 2026, which it says is a 52-week year against a 53-week 2025. Source
  • New: Adjusted results now also exclude other costs not related to the ongoing business. The prior release's list of adjustments did not include this item. Source

Full-year and fourth-quarter results

  • Full-year revenue up 6.8%: Full-year revenue was $1,874.3 million, up 6.8% reported and 6.0% in constant currency from $1,755.0 million. On the ongoing-business basis, revenue rose 7.1%. Source
  • Fourth-quarter revenue up 4.6%: Fourth-quarter revenue was $517.5 million, up 4.6% reported and 3.1% in constant currency. Merrell contributed $173.1 million of the quarter's revenue. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS $1.35: Full-year adjusted diluted EPS was $1.35, against $0.88 in 2024, up 53.4%. Reported diluted EPS was $1.14, against $0.55. Source
  • Fourth-quarter adjusted EPS $0.45: Fourth-quarter adjusted diluted EPS was $0.45, against $0.40, up 12.5%. Reported diluted EPS was $0.38, against $0.28, up 35.7%. Source

Segments and regions

  • Active Group revenue up 12.4%: Active Group revenue rose 12.4% in the fourth quarter to $372.7 million, with constant currency growth of 10.2%. For the year, Active Group revenue was $1,407.8 million, up 13.0%. Source
  • Work Group and Other declined: Work Group revenue fell 11.3% in the fourth quarter to $134.0 million and 7.3% for the year to $422.2 million. The Other segment fell 9.2% in the quarter and 17.4% for the year. Source
  • International revenue up 13.5%: International revenue was $978.1 million for the year, up 13.5% reported and 11.9% in constant currency. Fourth-quarter International revenue was $277.4 million, up 9.8%. Source

“Our biggest brands are growing around the world, direct-to-consumer continues to improve, earnings per share increased meaningfully year-over-year, and I believe we're finding our footing where we've underperformed,”

Chris Hufnagel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wolverine Worldwide

Brands and direct-to-consumer

  • Saucony revenue up 31.1%: Saucony revenue was $533.1 million for the year, up 31.1% reported and 30.1% in constant currency. Fourth-quarter Saucony revenue was $125.9 million, up 26.4%. Source
  • Merrell revenue up 8.4%: Merrell revenue was $648.9 million for the year, up 8.4%, and $173.1 million in the fourth quarter, up 5.9%. Source
  • Sweaty Betty and Wolverine declined: Sweaty Betty revenue was $192.8 million for the year, down 3.1% reported and 6.1% in constant currency. The Wolverine brand's revenue was $175.7 million, down 9.0%. Source
  • Direct-to-consumer revenue up in quarter: Direct-to-consumer revenue was $475.5 million for the year, down 1.7% reported and 3.1% in constant currency. Fourth-quarter direct-to-consumer revenue was $160.7 million, up 5.9%. Source
  • Brand-building model as the focus: Management described its focus as executing the brand-building model with pace and distinction, through products, storytelling and daily execution. Source

Margins, costs and adjustments

  • Full-year gross margin 47.3%: Full-year gross margin was 47.3%, against 44.3%. Fourth-quarter gross margin was 47.0%, against 43.6%. Source
  • Gross margin drivers and tariffs: Management attributed the gain to product cost savings, a mix shift toward full-price sales and recent price increases, partly offset by higher U.S. tariffs. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin 9.0%: Full-year adjusted operating margin was 9.0%, against 7.3%. Adjusted operating expenses were $717.6 million, up 10.3%. Fourth-quarter adjusted operating margin was 11.0%, against 9.9%. Source
  • Reported operating expenses up 8.2%: Reported operating expenses were $736.5 million for the year, up 8.2%. Fourth-quarter operating expenses were $194.5 million, up 9.3%, with operating margin at 9.4%. Source
  • Reorganization costs excluded from adjustments: Adjustments excluded reorganization costs, environmental costs net of recoveries and other costs. The fourth quarter carried $5.8 million of reorganization costs. Source

“I'm pleased with our progress in transforming the Company and encouraged by the momentum we've carried into 2026.”

Chris Hufnagel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wolverine Worldwide

Cash, balance sheet and buybacks

  • Operating cash flow $140.0 million: Net cash provided by operating activities was $140.0 million for the year, against $180.1 million. Additions to property, plant and equipment were $14.5 million. Source
  • Cash up, net debt down: Net debt was $415 million at year-end, down 16.2% from the prior year-end. Source
  • Inventory up 10.7%: Inventory was $274 million at year-end, an increase of $26 million from the prior year-end. Source
  • Fourth-quarter buybacks about $15 million: About $135 million remained under the stock repurchase authorization at year-end. Source
  • Dividends and treasury purchases: Full-year cash dividends were $33.3 million and treasury stock purchases were $14.5 million. Employee taxes under stock-based compensation plans were $10.7 million. Source

Reporting basis and comparisons

  • Sperry excluded from ongoing business: The ongoing business excludes Sperry, which was sold in January 2024, so 2024 comparisons are on the same basis. Source
  • Fiscal 2025 had 53 weeks: Fiscal 2025 contained 53 weeks against 52 in fiscal 2024, which the release says affects annual comparisons. Source
  • Currency effect on adjusted EPS: Constant currency adjusted EPS was $1.34 for the year, against $1.35 reported. In the fourth quarter, the currency effect on adjusted EPS was nil. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Fiscal 2026 adjusted results exclude estimated environmental and other related costs, which reduce reported EPS relative to adjusted EPS by $0.04. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said key metrics for the fourth quarter ran ahead of its expectations. 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.