KB
Kontoor Brands, Inc. (KTB)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q2 2025 was a beat on both revenue and adjusted EPS versus consensus; revenue was $658.3M (+8% y/y; +4% organic) vs $633.7M consensus, and adjusted EPS was $1.21 vs $0.83 consensus; management raised FY revenue/EPS and cash flow guidance . Consensus values marked with an asterisk; Values retrieved from S&P Global.
- Wrangler delivered 7% y/y growth (U.S. +9%, digital +18%), while Lee declined 6% y/y but showed sequential improvement; Helly Hansen contributed $29M in June and outperformed internal expectations .
- FY 2025 outlook raised: revenue $3.09–$3.12B (prior $3.06–$3.09B), adjusted gross margin ~46.1%, adjusted operating income ~$443M, adjusted EPS ~$5.45, and cash from operations >$375M; Q3 revenue guided to ~$855M and adjusted EPS ~$1.35 .
- Tariffs: Outlook now includes net impacts (approx. 50 bps GM headwind; ~$15M OP hit), with mitigation actions underway; Mexico imports remain exempt under USMCA; management remains confident of substantial offset within 12–18 months .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Wrangler momentum: Global revenue +7% y/y, U.S. up 9%, direct-to-consumer +16% (digital +18%); management cited “thirteenth consecutive quarter of market share gains” and strong Western and women’s categories .
- Margin expansion: Adjusted gross margin 46.4% (+120 bps y/y; +20 bps accretive from Helly Hansen), adjusted operating margin 15.2% (+210 bps y/y) driven by Project Jeanius, lower product costs, and DTC mix .
- FY guidance raised and Q3 outlook constructive: FY revenue/EPS/cash flow raised; Q3 revenue ~$855M and adjusted EPS ~$1.35, with Helly breakeven net of acquisition-related interest .
What Went Wrong
- Lee weakness: Global revenue -6% y/y (U.S. -5%, international -6%); wholesale pressured, APAC actions to reset distribution will weigh near-term .
- SG&A stepped up: Adjusted SG&A +24% y/y guidance (prior ~20%) reflecting Helly consolidation and incremental demand creation ($15M) .
- Tariff headwinds: FY includes ~50 bps adjusted GM impact, ~$15M net OP impact; management highlighted dynamic policy and mitigation timing lag into late 2025/early 2026 .
Financial Results
Consolidated P&L (GAAP and Adjusted)
Segment Revenues and Profit
Disaggregation (Q2 2025 Highlights)
- Channel: U.S. Wholesale $477.9M, International Wholesale $93.3M, DTC $87.1M .
- Geography: U.S. $529.4M, International $128.9M .
KPIs and Balance Sheet
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “Our strong second quarter results were driven by better-than-expected organic revenue growth, gross margin expansion, operating efficiency and cash generation, as well as a stronger-than-expected contribution from Helly Hansen.” — Scott Baxter, CEO .
- “Adjusted gross margin expanded 120 basis points to 46.4%, driven by the benefits of Project Jeanius, lower input costs and mix. Helly Hansen was accretive by about 20 basis points.” — Joe Alkire, CFO .
- “We now have line of sight to greater than $20 million of synergies… not included in our outlook at this point.” — Joe Alkire, CFO .
- “Wrangler drove its thirteenth consecutive quarter of market share gains… we gained 70 basis points of market share.” — Scott Baxter, CEO .
Q&A Highlights
- Helly Hansen accretion and run-rate: H2 implied ~$0.32 accretion despite acquisition interest drag; long-term margin doubling target reiterated .
- Tariff impact quantification: FY net OP impact ~$15M after mitigation; prior unmitigated $50M adjusted to reflect Mexico exemption and higher reciprocal rates .
- Lee distribution/APAC actions: Re-establishing China foundation; U.S. mid-tier repositioning; brand equity campaign in September to support turnaround .
- Q3 Helly revenue contribution: ~$175M implied; seasonality weighted to Q4; timing shift to July noted .
- Pricing and retailer inventory: Pricing actions accepted; POS improved into May/June/July; continued cautious retail inventory assumptions .
Estimates Context
Consensus values marked with an asterisk. Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Forward consensus snapshots:
- Q3 2025: Revenue $871.8M*, EPS $1.40*; Actuals: revenue $853.2M, EPS $1.44 (post quarter) [GetEstimates] (Values retrieved from S&P Global).
- Q4 2025: Revenue $975.1M*, EPS $1.65* [GetEstimates] (Values retrieved from S&P Global).
Key Takeaways for Investors
- FY guidance raised despite tariff headwinds; higher revenue and cash flow (> $375M) with adjusted EPS ~$5.45 and GM ~46.1% indicate resilient fundamentals and effective mitigation .
- Wrangler’s sustained momentum (women, Western, digital) continues to drive organic growth and market share, a key underpin to H2 performance and 2026 trajectory .
- Helly Hansen is outperforming early, with stronger June, breakeven in Q3 net of interest, and synergy visibility >$20M not yet in guidance—upside lever as integration scales .
- Lee remains a transition story in 2025; watch for September brand campaign and APAC/U.S. distribution resets to translate into improved mix and DTC growth .
- Project Jeanius is contributing earlier-than-planned margin benefits; additional savings ramp into late 2025 and 2026 support both investment and profit expansion .
- Balance sheet and liquidity healthy post-acquisition; plan to ~2x net leverage by year-end, maintaining dividend and preserving buyback optionality as leverage normalizes .
- Near-term trading: Positive setup around Q3 guide ($855M, $1.35 EPS) and integration updates; sensitivity to tariff headlines persists but mitigation breadth (pricing, sourcing shifts) reduces downside risk .
Notes:
- All per-share amounts are diluted.
- Adjusted/non-GAAP definitions and reconciliations are provided in company supplemental materials.
Citations: Press release and 8-K Q2 2025: . Earnings call Q2 2025: . Prior quarter materials (Q1 2025): . Q4 2024 reference: . Dividend PR: .