Arc’teryx and Salomon Set for Long-Term Growth with Premium Tech Focus
Amer Sports is clearly showing that it’s still in the early stages of what could be a long and sustained growth journey. Recently, CEO James Zheng highlighted during a conference call that the company’s portfolio of premium technical brands is carving out significant opportunities in the global sports and outdoor markets. He pointed out that, despite challenges like higher tariffs and economic uncertainties, Amer Sports is confident in its ability to maintain momentum and develop each of its brands for long-lasting, high-quality growth.
The spotlight was particularly on Arc’teryx and Salomon, two brands that have been gaining serious traction. Arc’teryx, for example, recently launched an in-house footwear design division, building on the insights from Salomon. CFO Andrew Page explained that since the creation of this dedicated unit, growth in footwear has accelerated from 6 percent to 10 percent almost overnight. In fact, Arc’teryx footwear is currently growing even faster than the brand overall, and the company is still very much in the early stages of expansion.
Also Read:Salomon is experiencing its own momentum, especially in its hiking, trail, and sportstyle shoe categories. The brand has successfully tapped into the streetwear trend in Greater China, where its “sportstyle” line has been described as white-hot. Meanwhile, its running platform, which includes both gravel and road running shoes, has been well received across North America and Europe. Page emphasized that the technical performance focus shared across all Salomon and Arc’teryx footwear remains a defining differentiator from competitors.
Global expansion is also underway. Amer Sports plans to open 25 new Arc’teryx stores worldwide, with the majority in North America, while Salomon has been expanding aggressively in Asia, opening five stores in Korea, five in Japan, and its second flagship in Shanghai. In the U.S., the first Salomon store in SoHo, Manhattan, is performing well, and several more locations are planned for New York, Chicago, West Hollywood, and beyond over the next year or so.
Financially, the company is performing strongly. For the second quarter, Amer Sports posted $1.24 billion in revenue and net income of $18.2 million. For the third quarter, revenue is expected to grow 20 percent, with earnings per share projected between 20 and 22 cents. Full-year revenue growth is projected at 20–21 percent. Page noted that only about 26 percent of revenue comes from the U.S., which limits exposure to tariffs and strengthens the company’s pricing power.
Looking ahead, Amer Sports sees a broad runway for long-term growth. Page suggested that acquisitions are not off the table, but the company’s primary focus remains on expanding Arc’teryx, Salomon, and Wilson Tennis 360. He expressed excitement about the opportunities in front of the company, highlighting untapped growth potential across multiple markets and product categories. Essentially, Amer Sports is positioning itself as a premium innovation-focused player in sports and outdoor markets, with plenty of room to grow.
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