en.Wedoany.com Reported - Wolverine Worldwide achieved operating revenue of $457.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, an 11% increase year-over-year, exceeding company expectations. For the three months ended April 4, 2026, the company's operating profit rose to $33.9 million from $21.0 million in the prior-year period, a 61.4% increase; net profit attributable to the company was $20.2 million, up 67.0% from $12.1 million in the first quarter of last year, with diluted earnings per share rising to $0.24 from $0.15.

Gross margin was flat compared to the prior-year period at 47.6%. The company stated that a higher proportion of full-price sales and price increases contributed to a favorable sales mix, though increased US tariffs partially offset this advantage. At quarter-end, inventory edged up 0.4% to $280 million, while net debt decreased 14.1% to $519 million from $604 million at the end of the first quarter of 2025.

President and CEO Chris Hufnagel commented that the team delivered a solid start to 2026, with first-quarter revenue, gross margin, and earnings per share all exceeding expectations; the Merrell and Saucony brands are leading the company in becoming a better brand builder, and encouraging progress is evident across the overall product portfolio. The company is accelerating the execution of its strategy, navigating the dynamic operating environment by creating premium products and telling brand stories.

For the full fiscal year 2026, Wolverine Worldwide maintained its revenue outlook, expecting between $1.96 billion and $1.99 billion, corresponding to year-over-year growth of 4.6% to 5.9%. The gross margin forecast was raised to approximately 46.4% from the previous 46.0%, though still 90 basis points lower than 2025. Operating margin is expected to be 9.2%, an improvement of 120 basis points over the prior year and higher than the previous expectation of 8.8%. The forecast range for diluted earnings per share was raised to $1.39 to $1.54 from the previous $1.31 to $1.46.

Shortly before this, the company reported its fourth-quarter 2025 results, which also exceeded expectations, capping off a "solid year."

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