Inside Deckers’ Growth Engine as HOKA and UGG Push Sales to New Records
Deckers stock moved higher after the company reported record annual revenue and earnings, with strong demand for HOKA running shoes and UGG products helping drive guidance above Wall Street expectations.
HOKA Momentum Continues to Shape Deckers’ Growth Story
Deckers Outdoor (DECK) delivered another quarter of double-digit growth as its HOKA and UGG brands continued gaining market share in athletic and lifestyle footwear categories.
The footwear company topped Wall Street expectations for both earnings and revenue while issuing fiscal 2027 guidance ahead of analyst forecasts, reinforcing investor focus on the company’s brand momentum and international expansion efforts.
Key Points
- Deckers reported quarterly revenue of $1.12 billion and adjusted earnings of $0.96 per share, both above analyst expectations.
- HOKA sales increased 14.5% year over year while UGG revenue rose 9.2%.
- The company forecast fiscal 2027 sales and earnings above Wall Street estimates and expanded its stock repurchase authorization.
What Drove Deckers’ Earnings Beat?
Deckers reported fiscal fourth-quarter revenue of $1.12 billion, up roughly 10% from a year earlier and ahead of analyst estimates.
Adjusted earnings came in at $0.96 per share, also exceeding Wall Street expectations.
For the full fiscal year 2026, the company generated record revenue of $5.47 billion, up 10% year over year, while adjusted earnings per share increased 11% to $7.02.
Management credited growth to continued strength across both wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels, supported by product innovation, international demand, and strong full-price selling trends.
Chief Executive Officer Stefano Caroti said the company continued seeing momentum from “brand building, product innovation and category leadership.”
Deckers also generated more than $1 billion in free cash flow during fiscal 2026 and repurchased over $1 billion worth of shares during the year.
Why Is HOKA Becoming a Bigger Competitive Force?
HOKA remained the company’s largest growth driver during the quarter.
Quarterly HOKA revenue climbed 14.5% to approximately $671 million, marking the brand’s largest quarter on record. Full-year HOKA sales rose nearly 16% to $2.59 billion.
Management highlighted strong demand across road-running and trail categories, expanding international adoption, and improving lifestyle positioning for the brand.
Executives also pointed to increased marketing investments and stronger direct-to-consumer execution as helping broaden HOKA’s customer base globally.
Compared with competitors such as Nike (NKE) and On Holding (ONON), HOKA continues posting some of the strongest revenue growth rates in the athletic footwear industry.
Nike has recently faced slowing revenue growth and margin pressure, while ONON remains focused on premium running and performance footwear expansion. Deckers’ results showed HOKA continuing to gain traction within the broader athletic footwear market.
UGG also remained a meaningful contributor. Quarterly UGG revenue rose 9.2% to roughly $409 million as the brand expanded beyond traditional winter boots into sneakers, sandals, clogs, and apparel categories.
What Are Investors Watching Going Forward?
Despite the earnings beat and stronger guidance, shares traded near flat following the report as some investors appeared focused on moderating growth expectations.
Deckers forecast fiscal 2027 revenue between $5.86 billion and $5.91 billion, ahead of Wall Street estimates. The company projected earnings per share between $7.30 and $7.45.
Management expects HOKA sales growth to remain in the low-double-digit range during fiscal 2027, while UGG is projected to grow at a mid-single-digit pace.
Some analysts noted the guidance implied slower growth than the outsized gains investors have become accustomed to from HOKA in recent years.
The company also acknowledged ongoing pressure from tariffs, inflation, and higher freight costs, which are expected to weigh on gross margins during fiscal 2027.
Still, Deckers emphasized its focus on maintaining disciplined pricing, protecting brand positioning, and supporting long-term growth rather than maximizing near-term sales volume.
What It Means for Investors
Deckers’ latest earnings report reinforced the company’s position as one of the stronger-performing names in footwear and apparel as HOKA continues gaining share globally.
The company’s combination of double-digit revenue growth, strong profitability, international expansion, and significant free cash flow generation continues separating it from many traditional footwear peers.
At the same time, investors are increasingly focused on how long HOKA can sustain elevated growth rates as the brand scales further and comparisons become more difficult.
Competitive dynamics within athletic footwear also remain important, particularly as Nike works through slowing sales trends and ONON continues expanding within premium running categories.
Conclusion
Deckers delivered another record year as HOKA and UGG continued driving strong consumer demand across athletic and lifestyle footwear categories.
The company exceeded Wall Street expectations, raised its fiscal outlook, and expanded its share repurchase authorization while continuing to generate strong profitability and cash flow.
Although some investors appeared cautious about moderating growth rates, the results reinforced Deckers’ standing as one of the stronger growth stories within the footwear sector.
FAQs
Why did Deckers stock move higher?
Deckers stock gained after the company reported quarterly revenue and earnings above Wall Street expectations and issued stronger fiscal 2027 guidance.
How much did HOKA sales grow?
HOKA sales increased 14.5% during the quarter and nearly 16% for the full fiscal year.
What guidance did Deckers provide?
Deckers forecast fiscal 2027 revenue between $5.86 billion and $5.91 billion and earnings per share between $7.30 and $7.45.
How did UGG perform during the quarter?
UGG revenue rose 9.2% year over year during the quarter as the brand expanded beyond winter footwear into additional product categories.
How does Deckers compare with Nike and On Holding?
Deckers continues delivering faster revenue growth than Nike while HOKA remains one of the stronger-performing brands within the athletic footwear market alongside ONON.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by an editor. For details, please refer to our Terms of Use.
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