Columbia Sportswear Company is one of the largest active lifestyle and outdoor apparel and footwear companies in the world. It has well-known brands like Columbia, prAna, and Sorel under its management. With a greater emphasis on healthy living and the growth in outdoor activities, companies like Columbia are poised to benefit. Recently, while the pandemic was raging globally, there was a boom in demand for sportswear apparel as people worked out indoors or took trips to outdoor locations. Once the results from vaccination drives kick in and retail footfalls return to pre-pandemic levels, the growth for outdoor apparel and sportswear businesses could increase significantly. Investors looking for apparel stocks to invest in may, therefore, want to consider stocks like Columbia.
Columbia Reports Q42020 Earnings Results
On 4th February 2021, Columbia Sportswear reported its fourth-quarter 2020 earnings. Sales came in at $915 million for the quarter as compared to $954 million in Q42019. Diluted earnings per share also dropped from $1.67 per share in Q42019 to $1.44 per share in Q42020. Company CEO Tim Boyle said, “While consolidated net sales and earnings remain below — remained below prior-year levels, trends sequentially improved compared to the third quarter, and we remain poised for continued recovery in 2021. 2020 was an unprecedented year of adversity by almost any measure.” He further added, “Looking at the first half of the year, we believe high teens percent to low 20% year-over-year net sales growth in the first half of 2021 is achievable. Looking at the later timing of spring 2021 receipts and deliveries, we expect net sales growth to be heavily weighted into the second quarter.” The future outlook for Columbia looks positive, and it is among the best apparel stocks to buy.
Apparel Stocks To Invest In
Columbia’s stock has risen by 70% in the last five years. It was trading at a 1.02% dividend yield at the close of day on 3rd March 2021. Columbia’s peer, VF Corp, has risen 24% during the last five years and was trading at a 2.4% dividend yield at the close of day on 3rd March 2021.
