Finnish sporting goods company Amer Sports has reported strong financial results for the fiscal 2025 (FY25) ended December 31, with revenue growth of 27 per cent year-over-year (YoY) to $6,566 million. Technical Apparel revenue increased 30 per cent to $2,856 million, Outdoor Performance rose 31 per cent to $2,404 million, and Ball & Racquet Sports advanced 13 per cent to $1,307 million.

The annual gross margin improved by 220 basis points to 57.6 per cent, while operating profit jumped 49 per cent to $702 million. Operating margin expanded 160 basis points to 10.7 per cent, reflecting strong profitability gains across segments. Net income attributable to equity holders increased 489 per cent to $427 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, with adjusted net income rising 131 per cent to $545 million, or $0.97 per diluted share.

Amer Sports has reported FY25 revenue growth of 27 per cent to $6,566 million with margin expansion and strong profitability across segments.
Q4 revenue rose 28 per cent to $2,101 million, driven by Technical Apparel and Outdoor Performance.
Despite higher growth investments, earnings surged and outlook remains positive, with the company projecting double-digit growth momentum into 2026.

Meanwhile, in the fourth quarter (Q4), the company recorded revenue of $2,101 million, up 28 per cent YoY, exceeding guidance and reflecting continued momentum across its portfolio. Segment-wise, Technical Apparel revenue rose 34 per cent to $1 billion, Outdoor Performance increased 29 per cent to $764 million, and Ball & Racquet Sports grew 14 per cent to $337 million, Amer Sports said in a press release.

The gross margin improved by 160 basis points to 57.7 per cent in Q4, while adjusted gross margin reached 57.8 per cent. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 35 per cent to $988 million amid accelerated investments, particularly to support Salomon Softgoods growth initiatives. Operating profit climbed 18 per cent to $228 million, although operating margin declined around 90 basis points to 10.9 per cent due to higher growth investments.

Net income attributable to equity holders surged 752 per cent to $132 million in the quarter, translating to diluted earnings per share of $0.23, while adjusted net income rose 94 per cent to $176 million, or $0.31 per diluted share.

James Zheng, chief executive officer (CEO) of Amer Sports said, “Fourth quarter was a great finish to a breakout year for Amer Sports led by our flagship Arc’teryx brand and rising star Salomon, which surpassed the $2 billion sales mark. In 2025 we delivered 27 per cent revenue growth and more than 150 basis points of operating margin expansion, with double-digit growth across all segments, regions, and channels.”

Zheng added that he was pleased to announce Carrie Ask as the next Wilson President and CEO, describing her as a proven brand leader and C-suite executive with strong prior experience at Helly Hansen, Levi’s and Nike.

“Looking forward, we believe our unique portfolio of technical sports and outdoor brands is very well positioned for strong and profitable growth within the premium sports and outdoor market, which continues to be one of the healthiest segments across the global consumer landscape,” added Zheng.

Andrew Page, chief financial officer of the company, highlighted the group’s financial strength and investment strategy, stating: “We had another strong performance in Q4 with healthy sales growth, gross margin expansion and EPS despite our decision to accelerate investment behind Salomon. The strong sales and profitability profile of the broader Amer portfolio gives us the flexibility to accelerate resources behind the large Salomon Softgoods opportunity while still delivering great results at the Group level.”

He added, “Ending 2025 with only 0.3x net leverage and more than $700 million operating cash flow, we believe our financial foundation has never been stronger. Looking ahead, given the continued momentum from our highest-margin Arc’teryx franchise, accelerating Salomon footwear growth, plus the solid foundation of our equipment franchises, we are confident in our ability to deliver another strong financial performance in 2026.”

Looking ahead, Amer Sports expects FY26 reported revenue growth of 16-18 per cent, supported by favourable foreign exchange conditions, with gross margin projected at around 59.0 per cent and operating margin between 13.1 and 13.3 per cent. The company also anticipates continued segment growth, led by Technical Apparel and Outdoor Performance, alongside steady expansion in Ball & Racquet Sports.

For the first quarter (Q1) of 2026, Amer Sports forecasts reported revenue growth of 22-24 per cent, with operating margin expected between 14 and 14.5 per cent, underscoring sustained momentum as the company advances its growth strategy across premium sports and outdoor categories.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)

American shoe manufacturer Rocky Brands Inc has reported net sales of $139.7 million in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2025 ended December 31, an increase of 9.1 per cent year on year (YoY). The growth was primarily supported by strong retail channel momentum, with retail sales surging 30.8 per cent to $57.0 million, while wholesale sales declined 2.1 per cent to $79.6 million and contract manufacturing sales slipped 1.6 per cent to $3.2 million.

The gross margin for the quarter stood at 41.3 per cent of net sales, slightly below 41.5 per cent a year earlier. The marginal decline reflected tariff-driven pressure on wholesale margins, partially offset by improved retail profitability and a higher retail sales mix. Operating expenses increased to $48.1 million, or 34.5 per cent of net sales, mainly due to higher logistics costs linked to retail growth as well as increased incentive compensation and discretionary spending.

Rocky Brands has posted net sales of $139.7 million in Q4 2025, up 9.1 per cent YoY, driven by a 30.8 per cent surge in retail sales, while wholesale and contract manufacturing declined.
Net income rose 35.7 per cent to $6.5 million.
Full-year sales grew 6.2 per cent to $482 million with improved margins and profitability, supported by strong DTC demand despite tariff pressures.

Income from operations increased 12.8 per cent to $9.6 million, representing 6.9 per cent of net sales, compared with $8.5 million in the prior-year quarter. Net income rose sharply by 35.7 per cent to $6.5 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, versus $4.8 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, a year earlier, Rocky Brands said in a press release.

Adjusted net income for the quarter was $7.2 million, or $0.94 per diluted share, compared with $8.9 million, or $1.19 per diluted share in the corresponding period of 2024. Interest expense declined to $2.5 million from $3 million due to lower debt levels and easing interest rates.

For the full year 2025, Rocky Brands recorded net sales of $482 million, up 6.2 per cent from $453.8 million in 2024. Wholesale sales grew modestly by 1 per cent to $316.6 million, while retail sales climbed 20.5 per cent to $152.9 million, highlighting the continued shift towards direct-to-consumer (DTC) channels. Contract manufacturing revenue declined 7.7 per cent to $12.5 million.

Annual gross margin improved significantly by 150 basis points to 40.9 per cent, driven by stronger wholesale profitability and favourable channel mix. Operating expenses totalled $160.1 million, or 33.2 per cent of net sales, reflecting investments to support growth initiatives. Income from operations increased 19.7 per cent to $37.2 million, representing 7.7 per cent of net sales.

Net income for 2025 nearly doubled to $22.3 million, or $2.96 per diluted share, compared with $11.4 million, or $1.52 per diluted share in 2024. Adjusted net income reached $24.5 million, or $3.26 per diluted share, up from $19.0 million, or $2.54 per diluted share the previous year. Interest expense declined to $10.0 million following debt refinancing in April 2024 and continued deleveraging, with total debt falling to $122.6 million at year-end from $128.7 million in 2024.

“We concluded 2025 with our highest quarterly net sales growth rate for the year in the fourth quarter, reflecting the momentum that has been building in our business,” said Jason Brooks, chairman, president and CEO at Rocky Brands. “Our performance during the key holiday selling season was highlighted by strong demand in our direct-to-consumer channel led by XTRATUF, which delivered nearly triple digit sales growth online. These results contributed to a very good year for our Company, especially considering the industry headwinds caused by higher tariffs and deteriorating US consumer sentiment.”

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)

Switzerland’s textile machinery manufacturer Rieter has reported order intake of CHF 703.4 million (~$907.4 million) in 2025, compared with CHF 725.5 million in 2024, remaining broadly stable on a currency-adjusted basis. The Machines and Systems division posted orders of CHF 346.3 million, marginally lower year on year (YoY) as tariff uncertainty delayed project finalisation.

The components division generated CHF 193.5 million (~$249.6 million) in orders amid cautious investment in new machinery, while the After Sales division posted a 6 per cent increase to CHF 163.6 million, supported by expanded service networks and stronger activity in Central Asia and China.

Rieter has reported stable 2025 order intake of CHF 703.4 million (~$907.4 million) despite market uncertainty, while sales fell 20 per cent to CHF 685.1 million (~$883.8 million).
Cost controls delivered positive operating EBIT, but Barmag-related charges led to a net loss.
The Barmag acquisition expands fibre capabilities.
For 2026, Rieter projects CHF 1.3-1.5 billion ($1.68-1.94 billion) sales.

Group sales declined 20 per cent YoY to CHF 685.1 million (~$883.8 million) from CHF 859.1 million, reflecting subdued market demand. Sales in Machines and Systems dropped 23 per cent to CHF 329.1 million, Components fell 19 per cent to CHF 200.8 million, and After Sales decreased 17 per cent to CHF 155.2 million. Order backlog stood at around CHF 510 million at the end of 2025, Rieter said in a press release.

Despite weaker sales, Rieter achieved a positive operating EBIT of CHF 2.5 million through cost control measures. However, restructuring expenses and transaction costs related to the Barmag acquisition, totalling CHF 54.2 million, resulted in a net loss of CHF 63.4 million for the year compared with a net profit of CHF 10.4 million in 2024. Free cash flow turned negative at CHF 40.6 million, although net liquidity improved to CHF 184.3 million following a capital increase completed in October 2025.

Given the negative earnings, the board has proposed no dividend distribution while reaffirming its long-term policy of paying at least 40 per cent of net profit. The equity ratio strengthened to 53.3 per cent at the end of 2025, reflecting the capital raise linked to the acquisition.

Rieter completed the acquisition of Barmag on February 2, 2026, integrating the business as its new Man-Made Fiber Division. The move expands the company’s capabilities beyond short-staple fibre machinery, positioning it as a system supplier across natural and man-made fibre processing and strengthening technological capabilities in automation and digitisation.

The company expects at least CHF 20 million in synergies from the acquisition and has outlined new medium-term scenarios. Depending on market conditions, annual sales could range from CHF 1.4 billion with 2-5 per cent operating margins in a subdued environment to CHF 2.2 billion with margins of 8-11 per cent under strong demand.

For 2026, which Rieter described as a transition year, the group forecasts sales between CHF 1.3 billion and CHF 1.5 billion ($1.68-1.94 billion) and a positive operating EBIT margin of 0-3 per cent as integration and restructuring initiatives progress. Financing for the combined entity’s development is fully secured.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)