Here's How Saucony and Merrell Lead Wolverine's International Momentum

Wolverine World Wide, Inc.’s WWW international business remains a cornerstone of the growth strategy, reflecting its strong global presence and brand momentum. With products sold in nearly 170 countries, international operations represent a major competitive advantage. 

In the second quarter of fiscal 2025, international revenues grew 15.7% year over year to $250 million, surpassing U.S. market growth. This increase was driven by robust performance in the Asia-Pacific (“APAC”) and Europe, Middle East, and Africa (“EMEA”) regions, highlighting solid global demand and operational strength.

Saucony led international gains with a remarkable 41.5% year-over-year revenue increase, fueled by flagship store openings and high consumer engagement through city activations. Stores in Tokyo’s Harajuku and London’s Covent Garden delivered standout results, while a planned Paris flagship underscores further retail expansion. Strategic sponsorships of major running events, including the London 10K and Eiffel Tower 10K, strengthened brand visibility and consumer connections.

WWW Stock Past Three-Month Performance

Merrell, Wolverine’s largest brand, also delivered strong growth, particularly in APAC and Europe, where its athletic “trail” products gained traction. Its Tokyo and Paris stores became key engagement hubs and Merrell maintained leadership in France’s outdoor performance footwear market.

Sweaty Betty enhanced Wolverine’s European footprint through its U.K.-based operations, focusing on premium positioning and selective expansion. The brand’s entry into China via Wolverine’s distributor network and a top-rated U.K. app further extended its reach.

Looking ahead, Wolverine expects its international segment to remain a key growth driver, supported by flagship store expansions, regional marketing initiatives and a focus on premiumization. Revenues in the fiscal third quarter are projected to grow 2.1-4.4% from ongoing business activities. With Saucony, Merrell and Sweaty Betty leading the way, the company is well-positioned for sustainable, profitable global growth.

WWW’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates

In the past three months, WWW stock has surged 27.5% against the Zacks Shoes and Retail Apparel industry’s 8.9% decline.

From a valuation standpoint, the company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 1.02X, slightly below the industry’s average of 1.76X. It has a Value Score of C. 

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WWW’s current and next financial years’ earnings implies year-over-year growth of 46.2% and 8.8%, respectively. Earnings estimates for fiscal 2025 and 2026 have been upbound by 2 cents and 4 cents per share, respectively, in the past 60 days.

Wolverine currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Other Key Picks

Some other top-ranked stocks are Genesco Inc. GCO, Deckers Outdoor Corporation DECK and The TJX Companies, Inc. TJX.

Genesco is a Nashville-based specialty retail and branded company that sells footwear and accessories in retail stores. It currently flaunts a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GCO’s fiscal 2026 earnings and sales implies growth of 71.3% and 3.7%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. Genesco delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 28.1%.

Deckers Outdoor is a leading designer, producer and brand manager of innovative, niche footwear and accessories. It sports a Zacks Rank of 1 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Deckers Outdoor’s current fiscal-year earnings and sales indicates growth of 0.3% and 9%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. DECK delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 39.5%.

The TJX Companies is a leading off-price retailer of apparel and home fashions. It carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for The TJX Companies’ current fiscal-year earnings and sales indicates growth of 8.9% and 6.5%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. TJX delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 5.4%.

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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

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