Johnson Outdoors Reports Fiscal Second Quarter Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Johnson Outdoors (NASDAQ: JOUT) reported challenging Q2 FY2025 results with total net sales declining 4% to $168.3 million. The company saw declines across all segments: Fishing (-3%), Camping & Watercraft (-12%), and Diving (-7%). Despite challenges, operating profit improved to $4.9 million versus a loss of $(0.25) million in Q2 2024. Net income increased slightly to $2.3 million ($0.22 per share) from $2.2 million ($0.21 per share) year-over-year. Year-to-date results showed greater pressure, with net sales down 12.2% and a net loss of $(13.0) million. The company maintains a strong financial position with $94.0 million in cash and short-term investments, while facing upcoming challenges from tariffs despite being a U.S.-based manufacturer.

Positive

• Operating profit improved to $4.9 million in Q2 2025 from a loss in Q2 2024
• Strong cash position with $94.0 million in cash and short-term investments
• Successful inventory reduction efforts
• Positive results from new products in Humminbird and Jetboil lines
• Maintained stable gross margin at 35.0% in Q2
• Reduced operating expenses by $7.7 million from prior year

Negative

• Total net sales declined 4% to $168.3 million in Q2
• Year-to-date net loss of $13.0 million compared to $6.1 million profit last year
• Declines across all segments: Fishing (-3%), Camping & Watercraft (-12%), and Diving (-7%)
• Expected negative impact from upcoming tariffs
• Year-to-date gross margin decreased to 33.0% from 36.3%
• Higher effective tax rate of 44.6% in Q2 compared to 28.4% last year

Insights

Financial Analyst

Johnson Outdoors reported declining sales but improved quarterly profitability amid market challenges, while year-to-date losses remain concerning.

Johnson Outdoors delivered mixed financial results for fiscal Q2 2025, with revenue declining 4% to $168.3 million while achieving an operating profit of $4.9 million versus a loss of $(0.25) million in the prior year period. This profitability improvement came despite revenue challenges, primarily through significant operating expense reductions of $7.7 million, attributed to lower sales volumes, reduced promotions, and decreased deferred compensation expenses.

The company maintained gross margin stability at 35.0% compared to 34.9% last year. However, the effective tax rate jumped substantially to 44.6% from 28.4%, limiting net income growth to just $2.3 million ($0.22 per share) versus $2.2 million ($0.21 per share) in Q2 2024.

Year-to-date results paint a more concerning picture, with a substantial operating loss of $(15.3) million compared to $(0.2) million in the prior year period, and a net loss of $(13.0) million versus net income of $6.1 million last year. This deterioration reflects both revenue challenges (down 12.2% year-to-date) and gross margin compression to 33.0% from 36.3%.

All segments showed revenue declines: Fishing (down 3%), Camping & Watercraft Recreation (down 12%), and Diving (down 7%). However, the Fishing segment delivered improved operating profit of $9.5 million versus $7.4 million last year, indicating effective cost management.

The balance sheet remains solid with $94.0 million in cash and short-term investments, no debt, and reduced inventory levels ($180.1 million versus $249.2 million last year). Capital spending has been curtailed to $7.4 million year-to-date versus $10.2 million in the prior year period, likely reflecting more cautious investment amid market uncertainty. The company maintained its dividend, signaling confidence in its financial foundation despite operational challenges.

Outdoor Recreation Industry Expert

Johnson Outdoors faces persistent industry headwinds across segments while innovation in fishing electronics and compact cooking systems shows resilience.

Johnson Outdoors' Q2 results reflect ongoing challenges across the outdoor recreation market with management specifically citing a "cautious retail and trade environment." This consumer hesitancy toward discretionary outdoor equipment purchases continues to pressure all segments, though with varying intensity.

The Fishing segment's relatively modest 3% decline indicates more stability in fishing electronics compared to other outdoor categories. Management highlighted positive performance from new Humminbird products, demonstrating that innovation remains a critical driver even amid market headwinds. The segment's improved operating profit ($9.5 million versus $7.4 million) suggests effective margin management for fishing electronics despite volume pressures.

The 12% decline in Camping & Watercraft Recreation contains important nuance, with Jetboil showing growth while watercraft sales declined. This divergence indicates continued consumer interest in compact, innovative cooking systems, which typically represent lower price point purchases, while higher-ticket watercraft items face greater resistance. The company's strategic exit from the Eureka! business also contributed to the revenue decline but appears to support margin improvement, with the segment posting a slight operating profit increase.

The Diving segment's 7% sales decrease reflects "softening market demand and economic uncertainty across all geographic regions," suggesting global rather than regional challenges for underwater equipment. The segment reported increased operating losses, indicating particular difficulty managing margins in this category.

Management's emphasis on tariff concerns signals specific challenges for the outdoor equipment industry despite domestic manufacturing presence. This highlights how global supply chains for components and materials impact even American manufacturers, as tariffs affect raw materials and purchased components that flow into U.S. production. The company is actively developing "short- and long-term strategies" to mitigate these tariff impacts, reflecting the industry-wide supply chain complexities facing outdoor equipment manufacturers.

RACINE, Wis., May 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Johnson Outdoors Inc. (Nasdaq:JOUT), a leading global innovator of outdoor recreation equipment and technology, today announced operating results for the Company’s second fiscal quarter ending March 28, 2025.

“Our second quarter results reflect continued market challenges and a cautious retail and trade environment. However, we saw positive results from new products in Humminbird and Jetboil, underscoring the critical importance of our ongoing investment in innovation,” said Helen Johnson-Leipold, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Looking ahead, tariffs will impact our business, despite the fact that we are an American company with U.S.-based manufacturing and operations. We are working on multiple paths to mitigate as much of the tariff impact as possible. Our sustained focus on our strategic priorities, as well as leveraging our strong debt-free balance sheet and cash position, will help us as we navigate the uncertain economic environment ahead.”

SECOND QUARTER RESULTS
Total Company net sales in the second quarter declined 4 percent to $168.3 million compared to $175.9 million in the prior year second fiscal quarter.

• Fishing revenue decreased 3 percent due to continued market and macroeconomic dynamics affecting consumers
• Camping & Watercraft Recreation sales were down 12 percent, with growth in Jetboil partially offsetting the declines in watercraft and the exit of the Eureka! business
• Diving sales decreased 7 percent, primarily due to softening market demand and economic uncertainty across all geographic regions
  
  

Total Company operating profit was $4.9 million for the second fiscal quarter versus operating loss of $(0.25) million in the prior year second quarter. Gross margin was relatively flat at 35.0 percent, compared to 34.9 percent in the prior year quarter. Operating expenses of $54.0 million decreased $7.7 million from the prior year period, due primarily to lower sales volumes between quarters, as well as lower promotions expense, and decreased expense on the Company’s deferred compensation plan.

Profit before income taxes was $4.2 million in the current year quarter, compared to $3.0 million in the prior year second quarter. The improvement in operating profit noted above was partially offset by an increase in Other expense of approximately $3.4 million due primarily to a decline in earnings on the Company’s deferred compensation plan. Net income was $2.3 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, versus $2.2 million, or $0.21 per diluted share in the previous year’s second quarter. The effective tax rate was 44.6 percent compared to 28.4 percent in the prior year second quarter.

YEAR-TO-DATE RESULTS
Fiscal 2025 year-to-date net sales were $276.0 million, a 12.2 percent decrease over last year’s first fiscal six-month period. Total Company operating loss declined to $(15.3) million, compared to $(0.2) million in the prior fiscal year-to-date period. Gross margin decreased slightly to 33.0 percent, compared to 36.3 percent in the prior year-to-date period. Operating expenses were $106.4 million in the six-month period ending March 28, 2025, a decrease of $8.1 million from the first half of the prior year due to the same factors noted above for the quarter.

Loss before income taxes for the year-to-date period was $(14.8) million, versus profit before income taxes of $8.9 million in the first six months of the prior year. In addition to the decline in operating profit, Other expense increased by $8.1 million, primarily due to a decrease in earnings on the Company’s deferred compensation plan of approximately $5.9 million. In addition, the prior year-to-date period included a gain on the sale of a building of approximately $1.9 million. Net loss during the first fiscal six months was $(13.0) million, or $(1.26) per diluted share, versus net income of $6.1 million, or $0.59 per diluted share, in the prior fiscal year-to-date period. The Company’s effective tax rate decreased to 12.1 percent in the current year versus 31.4 percent in the prior year six-month period.

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The Company reported cash and short-term investments of $94.0 million as of March 28, 2025. Depreciation and amortization were $10.0 million in the six months ending March 28, 2025, compared to $9.9 million in the prior six-month period. Capital spending totaled $7.4 million in the current six-month period compared with $10.2 million in the prior year period. In February 2025, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend to shareholders of record as of April 10, 2025, which was payable April 24, 2025.

“We continued to drive our inventory levels lower, and our cash balance remains healthy. Although we’ve been focused on strategically managing costs while also making investments to strengthen the business, the evolving macroeconomic situation brings additional challenges. We’re working through short- and long-term strategies to mitigate the tariff-related impact of potential increases in the costs of our raw materials and purchased components,” said David W. Johnson, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

WEBCAST
The Company will host a conference call and audio web cast at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, May 2, 2025. A live listen-only web cast of the conference call may be accessed at Johnson Outdoors’ home page or here. A replay of the call will be available for 30 days on the Internet.

About Johnson Outdoors Inc.

JOHNSON OUTDOORS is a leading global innovator of outdoor recreation equipment and technologies that inspire more people to experience the awe of the great outdoors. The company designs, manufactures and markets a portfolio of winning, consumer-preferred brands across four categories: Watercraft Recreation, Fishing, Diving and Camping. Johnson Outdoors' iconic brands include: Old Town^® canoes and kayaks; Carlisle^® paddles; Minn Kota^® trolling motors, shallow water anchors and battery chargers; Cannon^® downriggers; Humminbird^® marine electronics and charts; SCUBAPRO^® dive equipment; and Jetboil^® outdoor cooking systems.

Visit Johnson Outdoors at http://www.johnsonoutdoors.com

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain matters discussed in this press release are “forward-looking statements,” intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements other than statements of historical fact are considered forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "anticipate,'' "believe,'' "confident," "could,'' "expect,'' "intend,'' "may,'' "planned,'' "potential,'' "should,'' "will,'' "would'' or the negative of those terms or other words of similar meaning. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those currently anticipated. Factors that could affect actual results or outcomes include the matters described under the caption “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 11, 2024, and the following: changes in economic conditions, consumer confidence levels and discretionary spending patterns in key markets; uncertainties stemming from political instability (and its impact on the economies in jurisdictions where the Company has operations), uncertainties stemming from changes in U.S. trade policies, tariffs, and the reaction of other countries to such changes; the global outbreaks of disease, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected, and may continue to affect, market and economic conditions, along with wide-ranging impacts on employees, customers and various aspects of our operations; the Company’s success in implementing its strategic plan, including its targeted sales growth platforms, innovation focus and its increasing digital presence; litigation costs related to actions of and disputes with third parties, including competitors; the Company’s continued success in its working capital management and cost-structure reductions; the Company’s success in integrating strategic acquisitions; the risk of future write-downs of goodwill or other long-lived assets; the ability of the Company’s customers to meet payment obligations; the impact of actions of the Company’s competitors with respect to product development or enhancement or the introduction of new products into the Company’s markets; movements in foreign currencies, interest rates or commodity costs; fluctuations in the prices of raw materials or the availability of raw materials or components used by the Company; any disruptions in the Company’s supply chain as a result of material fluctuations in the Company’s order volumes and requirements for raw materials and other components, or the demand for those same raw materials and components by third parties, necessary to manufacture and produce the Company’s products including related to shortages in procuring necessary raw materials and components to manufacture and produce such products; the success of the Company’s suppliers and customers and the impact of any consolidation in the industries of the Company’s suppliers and customers; the ability of the Company to deploy its capital successfully; unanticipated outcomes related to outsourcing certain manufacturing processes; unanticipated outcomes related to litigation matters; and adverse weather conditions. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included herein are only made as of the date of this filing. The Company assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC.
(thousands, except per share amounts)
	THREE MONTHS ENDED						SIX MONTHS ENDED
Operating results	March 28, 2025			March 29, 2024			March 28, 2025			March 29, 2024
Net sales	$	168,349		$	175,856		$	275,998		$	314,500
Cost of sales		109,483			114,425			184,949			200,215
Gross profit		58,866			61,431			91,049			114,285
Operating expenses		53,965			61,684			106,387			114,492
Operating profit (loss):		4,901			(253	)		(15,338	)		(207	)
Interest income, net		(557	)		(817	)		(1,543	)		(1,977	)
Other expense (income), net		1,300			(2,448	)		974			(7,141	)
Profit (loss) before income taxes		4,158			3,012			(14,769	)		8,911
Income tax expense (benefit)		1,854			856			(1,783	)		2,800
Net income (loss)	$	2,304		$	2,156		$	(12,986	)	$	6,111
Weighted average common shares outstanding - Dilutive		10,272			10,234			10,272			10,225
Net income (loss) per common share - Diluted	$	0.22		$	0.21		$	(1.26	)	$	0.59
Segment Results
Net sales:
Fishing	$	134,891		$	138,608		$	217,363		$	249,100
Camping & Watercraft Recreation		17,852			20,248			27,303			30,974
Diving		15,820			16,924			31,504			34,402
Other / Eliminations		(214	)		76			(172	)		24
Total	$	168,349		$	175,856		$	275,998		$	314,500
Operating profit (loss):
Fishing	$	9,469		$	7,427		$	1,208		$	18,956
Camping & Watercraft Recreation		1,246			1,223			600			(497	)
Diving		(413	)		(298	)		(1,321	)		(876	)
Other / Eliminations		(5,401	)		(8,605	)		(15,825	)		(17,790	)
Total	$	4,901		$	(253	)	$	(15,338	)	$	(207	)
Balance Sheet Information (End of Period)
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments							$	93,951		$	84,270
Accounts receivable, net								116,776			129,345
Inventories, net								180,057			249,201
Total current assets								407,079			477,329
Long-term investments								—			2,157
Total assets								624,474			691,678
Total current liabilities								104,833			108,532
Total liabilities								183,372			191,589
Shareholders’ equity								441,102			500,089

Johnson Outdoors Inc.
David Johnson
VP & Chief Financial Officer
262-631-6600

Patricia Penman
Chief Marketing Officer
262-631-6600

FAQ

What were Johnson Outdoors (JOUT) key financial results for Q2 2025?

In Q2 2025, Johnson Outdoors reported net sales of $168.3 million (down 4%), operating profit of $4.9 million, and net income of $2.3 million ($0.22 per share).

How did Johnson Outdoors (JOUT) different segments perform in Q2 2025?

All segments declined: Fishing revenue decreased 3%, Camping & Watercraft Recreation sales were down 12%, and Diving sales decreased 7%.

What is Johnson Outdoors (JOUT) current cash position as of Q2 2025?

The company reported $94.0 million in cash and short-term investments as of March 28, 2025.

How will tariffs impact Johnson Outdoors (JOUT) business?

Despite being a U.S.-based manufacturer, the company expects tariffs to impact their business through potential increases in raw materials and purchased components costs.

What was Johnson Outdoors (JOUT) year-to-date performance for 2025?

Year-to-date net sales were $276.0 million (down 12.2%), with a net loss of $13.0 million (-$1.26 per share) compared to net income of $6.1 million last year.