Discounted Balls: Sports Retailers Getting Crushed

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We had previously warned that the pain trickling through the sporting goods retail space - combined with Nike's new efforts to go B2C via Amazon and otherwise - will hurt the Foot Lockers ($FL), Dick's Sporting Goods ($DKS), and Hibbett Sports ($HIBB) of the world. Well, we should have put our money where our mouth is: Hibbett Sports Inc. reported that it was going to miss its Q2 numbers BADLY with same store sales tumbling 10%. But, at least they've got a fancy new e-comm site up (with a lot of sale action going on).

Welcome to the Party, Hibbett Sports Inc. $HIBB

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6/26/17 Post: The past few years haven't been kind to the sporting goods and outdoor retailers with The Sports Authority, Eastern Mountain Sports (twice), City Sports, Golfsmith, Gander Mountain, MC Sporting Goods and JackRabbit Sports going bankrupt or being sold for parts. Now word is via Goldman Sachs that large brands like Nike ($NKE) will use Amazon's distribution channel directly and for exclusive products in an attempt to capture more of the millennial market. The news sent Foot Locker ($FL) and Dick's Sporting Goods ($DKS) stock reeling. This also doesn't bode well for the likes of Hibbett Sports Inc. ($HIBB). 

7/24/17 Update: "This also doesn't bode well for the likes of Hibbett Sports Inc. ($HIBB)." Well, we sure nailed that one on the head. This morning, HIBB is down over 29% on the news that it expects its Q2 same store sales to plummet approximately 10%. This, combined with gross margin pressures, will push the company to a Q2 loss - versus an expected consensus call of roughly 15 cents per share. The company also announced that it is launching an e-commerce site. Better late than never, we guess. 

Sporting Goods (Amazon Can Derelict Our Balls)

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The past few years haven't been kind to the sporting goods and outdoor retailers with The Sports Authority, Eastern Mountain Sports (twice), City Sports, Golfsmith, Gander Mountain, MC Sporting Goods and JackRabbit Sports going bankrupt or being sold for parts. Now word is via Goldman Sachs that large brands like Nike ($NKE) will use Amazon's distribution channel directly and for exclusive products in an attempt to capture more of the millennial market. The news sent Foot Locker ($FL) and Dick's Sporting Goods ($DKS) stock reeling. This also doesn't bode well for the likes of Hibbett Sports Inc. ($HIBB).