Columbia Sportswear Q3 2026 Sales Rise 2% to $962.6m

Columbia Sportswear’s third-quarter sales climb 2% to $962.6 million

Columbia Sportswear Company has reported a 2% increase in net sales for the third quarter ended 30 September 2026, reaching $962.6 million compared with $943.4 million in the same period last year. On a constant-currency basis, sales also rose 2%. The result exceeded management’s projections, as gains in direct-to-consumer (D2C) channels and international momentum offset shifts in domestic wholesale shipments.

International markets drove the top-line growth, counterbalancing lower net sales in the United States, where shipments of autumn/winter 2026 (AW26) wholesale orders were delayed. The company noted that challenging global macroeconomic conditions persisted throughout the quarter.

Direct-to-consumer and international momentum

Chairman and chief executive officer Tim Boyle attributed the performance to “improved trends in our U.S. DTC business, and the continued momentum of our international business, despite challenging global macroeconomic conditions.” The D2C expansion provided operational support during the quarter, helping to offset the wholesale timing shifts.

Operating income reached $109.6 million, or 11.4% of net sales, up from $67.4 million, or 7.1% of net sales, in the third quarter of 2025. The prior-year period included a $29.0 million impairment charge related to prAna and Mountain Hardwear. Gross margin contracted 20 basis points to 49.8% of net sales, impacted by partner factory accommodations.

Net income climbed to $84.7 million, resulting in diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.66, compared with $52.0 million, or $0.95 per share, in the third quarter of 2025.

Boyle highlighted early milestones in the company’s multi-year turnaround programme: “Our third quarter performance provides continued tangible signs of progress with our ACCELERATE Growth Strategy. We are particularly encouraged by the momentum building in our Columbia brand U.S. DTC E-Commerce business.”

For the first nine months of 2026, group net sales advanced 1% to $2.36 billion. Operating profit climbed to $182.5 million, while net income totalled $145.6 million.

Dividend and raised outlook

The board approved a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.30 per share, scheduled for distribution on 3 December 2026.

Encouraged by execution and order timing, Columbia Sportswear lifted the lower boundary of its annual projections. Full-year net sales are now forecast between $3.46 billion and $3.50 billion, representing growth of 2% to 3%. Diluted EPS is expected to range from $4.65 to $4.90, up from prior guidance of $4.45 to $4.90. Operating margin is guided between 8.7% and 9.1% of net sales.

Fourth-quarter net sales are projected to reach between $1.11 billion and $1.15 billion, bolstered by delayed AW26 wholesale order shipments falling into the final quarter. In early commentary for the first half of 2027, wholesale net sales are anticipated to expand in the mid-single-digit percentage range based on spring/summer 2027 (SS27) order intake.

The results reflect a company navigating a mixed retail environment, with international growth and D2C strength compensating for domestic wholesale volatility.