We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Can Wolverine World Wide Sustain Its Brand-Led Momentum Through 2025?
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
WWW posted 11.5% y/y revenue growth in 2Q25 to $474.2M on broad brand momentum.
Saucony hit record sales with 41.5% growth, a 560-bps margin gain, and expanded global presence.
Merrell climbed 10.7%, driven by new trail models, lifestyle appeal and strength in France.
Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (WWW - Free Report) posted a strong second quarter in 2025, with revenues rising 11.5% year over year to $474.2 million. The performance reflected momentum across its brand portfolio, particularly Saucony and Merrell, which delivered double-digit growth and margin expansion. The results underscored the success of the company’s strategy focused on innovation, lifestyle relevance and disciplined execution.
Saucony led the way with record second-quarter revenues, up 41.5% year over year and delivered 560 basis points of gross margin expansion. The brand strengthened its position in both performance and lifestyle running, driven by launches such as the Endorphin Speed 5 and Triumph 23, while its core running franchises posted double-digit gains. Lifestyle distribution expanded to nearly 1,300 specialty retail doors, complemented by new flagship stores in London and plans for Paris. Visibility was further enhanced through global activations, including sponsorships of the London and Eiffel Tower 10Ks.
Merrell also delivered strong results, growing 10.7% while achieving nearly 600 basis points of margin expansion. Its modernized trail offerings, including the Moab Speed 2, SpeedARC Matis and Agility Peak 5, continued to drive category share gains. The brand extended its reach in lifestyle footwear with casual franchises such as Jungle Moc, resonating with younger consumers. International momentum was notable, with Tokyo and Paris at the center of its key city strategy and market leadership achieved in France.
Sweaty Betty demonstrated progress, narrowing revenue declines to 6.1% while improving margins by more than 500 basis points. Efforts to restore its premium positioning were supported by campaigns like Wear the Damn Shorts and the launch of a new U.K. app, setting the stage for disciplined growth in core markets and digital channels.
The Wolverine brand also advanced, highlighted by premium product introductions such as the Workshop Wedge and Infinity System work boot line, which quickly sold through. With Saucony and Merrell driving growth, and Sweaty Betty and Wolverine showing encouraging signs of stabilization, the company enters the second half of 2025 positioned for sustained momentum and continued brand-led expansion.
How DECK, TPR & URBN Stack Up Against WWW
Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK - Free Report) , Tapestry, Inc. (TPR - Free Report) and Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN - Free Report) are the key footwear companies competing with Deckers in brand innovation.
Deckers’ flagship brands, HOKA and UGG, powered strong first-quarter fiscal 2026 results. HOKA rose 19.8% year over year to $653.1 million on innovation, wholesale expansion and global reach, while UGG grew 18.9% to $265.1 million with lifestyle resonance and product momentum. Deckers delivered record net sales of $964.5 million, up 16.9% year over year, leveraging operational excellence and disciplined execution to strengthen premium footwear leadership.
Tapestry’s brand portfolio delivered solid performance in the fourth quarter fiscal 2025, with net sales reflecting an 8.3% year-over-year increase. Coach led with a 14% sales increase to $1.43 billion, reflecting strong global demand and brand strength. Kate Spade posted a 13% decline to $252.6 million, while Stuart Weitzman slipped 10% to $45.5 million. Overall, growth was anchored by Coach, underscoring its role as Tapestry’s primary growth driver.
URBN’s brand portfolio, comprising Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Free People, FP Movement and Nuuly, showcased strong performance in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, with all brands delivering positive comps. Urban Outfitters marked its first positive comp in some time, while Nuuly saw a 59.5% jump in net sales due to a 52.9% rise in average active subscribers from the prior-year quarter.
Shares of Wolverine have gained 29.3% year to date against the industry’s decline of 1.5%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, WWW trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 19.78X, well below the industry’s average of 30.45X. It has a Value Score of D.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WWW’s financial 2025 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 44%, whereas the same for 2026 indicates an uptick of 17.2%. Estimates for financial year 2025 and 2026 have been upward by 24 cents and 22 cents, respectively, in the past 30 days.
Image: Bigstock
Can Wolverine World Wide Sustain Its Brand-Led Momentum Through 2025?
Key Takeaways
Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (WWW - Free Report) posted a strong second quarter in 2025, with revenues rising 11.5% year over year to $474.2 million. The performance reflected momentum across its brand portfolio, particularly Saucony and Merrell, which delivered double-digit growth and margin expansion. The results underscored the success of the company’s strategy focused on innovation, lifestyle relevance and disciplined execution.
Saucony led the way with record second-quarter revenues, up 41.5% year over year and delivered 560 basis points of gross margin expansion. The brand strengthened its position in both performance and lifestyle running, driven by launches such as the Endorphin Speed 5 and Triumph 23, while its core running franchises posted double-digit gains. Lifestyle distribution expanded to nearly 1,300 specialty retail doors, complemented by new flagship stores in London and plans for Paris. Visibility was further enhanced through global activations, including sponsorships of the London and Eiffel Tower 10Ks.
Merrell also delivered strong results, growing 10.7% while achieving nearly 600 basis points of margin expansion. Its modernized trail offerings, including the Moab Speed 2, SpeedARC Matis and Agility Peak 5, continued to drive category share gains. The brand extended its reach in lifestyle footwear with casual franchises such as Jungle Moc, resonating with younger consumers. International momentum was notable, with Tokyo and Paris at the center of its key city strategy and market leadership achieved in France.
Sweaty Betty demonstrated progress, narrowing revenue declines to 6.1% while improving margins by more than 500 basis points. Efforts to restore its premium positioning were supported by campaigns like Wear the Damn Shorts and the launch of a new U.K. app, setting the stage for disciplined growth in core markets and digital channels.
The Wolverine brand also advanced, highlighted by premium product introductions such as the Workshop Wedge and Infinity System work boot line, which quickly sold through. With Saucony and Merrell driving growth, and Sweaty Betty and Wolverine showing encouraging signs of stabilization, the company enters the second half of 2025 positioned for sustained momentum and continued brand-led expansion.
How DECK, TPR & URBN Stack Up Against WWW
Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK - Free Report) , Tapestry, Inc. (TPR - Free Report) and Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN - Free Report) are the key footwear companies competing with Deckers in brand innovation.
Deckers’ flagship brands, HOKA and UGG, powered strong first-quarter fiscal 2026 results. HOKA rose 19.8% year over year to $653.1 million on innovation, wholesale expansion and global reach, while UGG grew 18.9% to $265.1 million with lifestyle resonance and product momentum. Deckers delivered record net sales of $964.5 million, up 16.9% year over year, leveraging operational excellence and disciplined execution to strengthen premium footwear leadership.
Tapestry’s brand portfolio delivered solid performance in the fourth quarter fiscal 2025, with net sales reflecting an 8.3% year-over-year increase. Coach led with a 14% sales increase to $1.43 billion, reflecting strong global demand and brand strength. Kate Spade posted a 13% decline to $252.6 million, while Stuart Weitzman slipped 10% to $45.5 million. Overall, growth was anchored by Coach, underscoring its role as Tapestry’s primary growth driver.
URBN’s brand portfolio, comprising Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Free People, FP Movement and Nuuly, showcased strong performance in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, with all brands delivering positive comps. Urban Outfitters marked its first positive comp in some time, while Nuuly saw a 59.5% jump in net sales due to a 52.9% rise in average active subscribers from the prior-year quarter.
Wolverine’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
Shares of Wolverine have gained 29.3% year to date against the industry’s decline of 1.5%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, WWW trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 19.78X, well below the industry’s average of 30.45X. It has a Value Score of D.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WWW’s financial 2025 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 44%, whereas the same for 2026 indicates an uptick of 17.2%. Estimates for financial year 2025 and 2026 have been upward by 24 cents and 22 cents, respectively, in the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
WWW currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.