Look at Skechers Run! How This Forgotten Brand Is Making a Comeback
On Friday Foot Locker reported third quarter earnings results that were as clean as a new pair of all-white Jordans. The company handily beat Wall Street's expectations despite several company-specific overhangs, proving that the athletic footwear cycle is far from over. Worried you missed the run in footwear? Don't be! Skechers is the new name to own. Only two years ago, many were writing Skechers off as a tarnished brand after the FTC sanctioned the company for overly aggressive marketing about the health benefits of its shoes. Fast forward to today, and this is among the fastest growing footwear brands out there. In fact, just this past quarter the company grew YoY revenue 30% and earnings by over 80%. I think this high-octane growth will continue for the years to come. The company's edge is that it offers a compelling price-value proposition, with affordable, branded footwear options for the whole family. Its average retail price is a mere $40 – but don't assume that's because the product is cheap – if that's the case you wouldn't see this year's Boston Marathon winner rocking them. It's because the company runs a lean business and recognizes the power of value in a global economy that has decelerated in recent years. So with Skechers growing like weeds internationally and taking market share domestically, I think this is a great stock to put on your shopping list ahead of the holidays.
