Columbia Sportswear Company is the business behind the famous outerwear brand Columbia. The company is a well-known manufacturer of sports gear, footwear, camping equipment, and other outdoor apparel. One of the pandemic’s longer-term effects of the pandemic would be more people making trips to outdoor locations and places with lesser crowds. This, in turn, could increase the demand for products of companies like Columbia Sportswear. Therefore, investors looking for the best apparel stocks to buy now should consider Columbia.
More Info About The Company
Columbia Sportswear was founded in 1938 and began operations as a hat company in Portland, Oregon. Issues with suppliers prompted the company to manufacture its own products, and in 1960, the company changed its name from Columbia Hat Company to Columbia Sportswear Company. The company went public in 1998 and has since acquired important businesses in the footwear, mountaineering, and other outdoor sports markets. In 2021, Columbia distributes its products in over 72 countries through 13,000 retailers. Columbia also operates its chain of retail stores. The four main brands of the company are Columbia, prAna, Sorel, and Mountain Hardwear.
Columbia divides its global sales into four geographies, USA, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, and Canada. The majority of the company’s sales come from the US. Columbia uses contract manufacturers in Asia for a significant portion of its products. The company’s wide presence and long history make it one of the top apparel stocks to buy now.
Best Apparel Stocks To Buy Now
Columbia’s stock has almost doubled in the last five years. The stock fell 40% from its January peak during the March 2020 market crash. Since then, it has risen by close to 75%. The stock closed at $105 on 1st March 2021. At the time, it was trading at a 1% dividend yield with a market cap of $6.98 billion.