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1. Company Snapshot

1.a. Company Description

Designer Brands Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and retails footwear and accessories for women, men, and kids primarily in North America.The company operates through three segments: U.S. Retail, Canada Retail, and Brand Portfolio.It provides dress, casual, and athletic footwear; and handbags.


The company offers its products under the Vince Camuto, Louise et Cie, Jessica Simpson, Lucky, JLO Jenifer Lopez, and other brands.It also operates vincecamuto.com e-commerce site, as well as www.dsw.com, www.dsw.ca, and www.theshoecompany.ca websites; and a portfolio of banners, including DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, The Shoe Company, and Shoe Warehouse.As of January 29, 2022, it operated 648 stores.


Designer Brands Inc.was founded in 1991 and is based in Columbus, Ohio.

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1.b. Last Insights on DBI

Designer Brands Inc.'s recent performance was negatively driven by weaker-than-expected Q3 earnings and revenue, with the company missing estimates. The US retail segment's 2.8% decline and owned brands' 7.5% drop contributed to the topline challenges. Additionally, the company's decision to repurchase shares using expensive debt increased financial risk, raising concerns about covering interest expenses. The high leverage risk and the need for a 10% sales increase to achieve a 3.2% operating margin further exacerbate the challenges.

1.c. Company Highlights

2. Designer Brands Inc. Posts Mixed Q2 2025 Results Amid Macroeconomic Pressures

Designer Brands Inc. reported a 4% year-over-year sales decline in Q2 2025, with comparable sales down 5%, an improvement from Q1’s 8% drop. Earnings per share (EPS) came in at $0.34, beating estimates of $0.22. Gross margin dipped 30 basis points to 43.7%. Net income was $16.7M, down slightly from the previous year. Inventory dropped 5%, and debt was reduced to $476.1M.

Publication Date: Sep -13

📋 Highlights
  • Revenue Decline Mitigated by Sequential Improvement: Q2 sales fell 4% (-5% comp), a 300-basis-point improvement from Q1’s 8% drop, driven by better store traffic and women’s dress performance (+5% comp).
  • Cost Discipline Drives Margin Resilience: Adjusted operating expenses fell $14M YoY (-6%), achieving 350-basis-point leverage, despite a 30-basis-point gross margin contraction to 43.7%.
  • Inventory and Debt Reduction: Inventory dropped 5% YoY, and debt was reduced by $110M to $476.1M, with $14M in cash from operations.
  • Brand Portfolio Struggles Offset by Wholesale Gains: Brand portfolio sales fell 24% (-100 bps margin impact), but wholesale grew 7%, led by Topo Athletic’s 45% sales increase.

Operational Highlights

The company saw improvements in store traffic and conversion rates, with women's dresses and top eight brands outperforming. The "Let Us Surprise You" marketing campaign aimed to reinforce store differentiation. Strategic initiatives included brand repositioning, a new Framingham store with advanced tech features, and digital fulfillment optimization. Partnerships like DoorDash boosted new customer acquisition.

Financial Performance and Valuation

Adjusted operating expenses decreased $14M year-over-year, driving 350-basis-point expense leverage. With a current P/E Ratio of -6.96 and P/S Ratio of 0.08, the market reflects the challenges faced by the company. The Free Cash Flow Yield stands at 19.44%, indicating potential for investors. The company’s ROE is -11.1%, and ROIC is 0.77%, highlighting the need for operational improvement.

Outlook and Guidance

Tariff uncertainties and consumer caution prompted the company to withhold 2025 guidance. Despite this, executives remain cautiously optimistic about the remainder of 2025, citing sequential progress and cost discipline. The brand portfolio segment saw a 24% decline due to lower internal sales but recorded 7% wholesale growth, led by Topo Athletic’s 45% sales increase.

3. NewsRoom

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Designer Brands Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Release Date

Nov -18

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DBI Investor News: If You Have Suffered Losses in Designer Brands Inc. (NYSE: DBI), You Are Encouraged to Contact The Rosen Law Firm About Your Rights

Oct -27

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Rosen Law Firm Encourages Designer Brands Inc. Investors to Inquire About Securities Class Action Investigation - DBI

Oct -26

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DBI Investor News: If You Have Suffered Losses in Designer Brands Inc. (NYSE: DBI), You Are Encouraged to Contact The Rosen Law Firm About Your Rights

Oct -24

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DBI Investor News: If You Have Suffered Losses in Designer Brands Inc. (NYSE: DBI), You Are Encouraged to Contact The Rosen Law Firm About Your Rights

Oct -21

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Rosen Law Firm Encourages Designer Brands Inc. Investors to Inquire About Securities Class Action Investigation - DBI

Oct -21

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DBI Investor News: If You Have Suffered Losses in Designer Brands Inc. (NYSE: DBI), You Are Encouraged to Contact The Rosen Law Firm About Your Rights

Oct -18

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Designer Brands Inc. Announces CFO Transition Process

Oct -08

4. Business Breakdown

4.a. Revenues by Country

4.b. Revenues by Segment

5. Expected revenues mid-term growth (2.00%)

6. Segments

United States Retail

Expected Growth: 2%

The 2% growth in United States Retail from Designer Brands Inc. is driven by increasing demand for affordable luxury footwear, successful brand revamps, and strategic store remodels. Additionally, the company's focus on omnichannel retailing and loyalty programs has enhanced customer engagement, contributing to the segment's growth.

Brand Portfolio

Expected Growth: 3%

Designer Brands Inc.'s 3% brand portfolio growth is driven by strategic acquisitions, expanding e-commerce presence, and effective marketing campaigns. The company's focus on omnichannel retailing, product innovation, and strong relationships with suppliers also contribute to its growth. Additionally, the increasing demand for affordable luxury and athleisure products benefits the company's portfolio of brands, including Vince Camuto and DSW.

Canada Retail

Expected Growth: 1%

Canada Retail segment of Designer Brands Inc. growth driven by increasing demand for affordable luxury footwear, successful marketing campaigns, and strategic store expansions in high-traffic locations, resulting in a 1% growth rate.

7. Detailed Products

DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse)

A leading footwear retailer offering a wide selection of brand-name and designer shoes for men, women, and kids.

The Shoe Company

A Canadian footwear retailer offering a wide selection of brand-name shoes for men, women, and kids.

Shoe Warehouse

A footwear retailer offering a wide selection of brand-name shoes for men, women, and kids, with a focus on value and convenience.

Abilities

A footwear brand offering comfortable and stylish shoes for people with disabilities or special needs.

Private Brands

A portfolio of private footwear brands, including Audrey Brooke, Kelly & Katie, and others.

Camuto Group

A leading footwear design, development, and sourcing company, offering private label and branded footwear solutions.

8. Designer Brands Inc.'s Porter Forces

Forces Ranking

Threat Of Substitutes

Designer Brands Inc. faces moderate threat from substitutes as customers have limited alternatives for branded footwear and accessories. However, the rise of online shopping and changing consumer preferences may lead to increased competition from new entrants.

Bargaining Power Of Customers

Designer Brands Inc. has a high bargaining power of customers due to the presence of online retailers and changing consumer preferences, which gives customers more options and bargaining power.

Bargaining Power Of Suppliers

Designer Brands Inc. has a low bargaining power of suppliers due to its large scale of operations and diversified supplier base, which gives it more negotiating power.

Threat Of New Entrants

Designer Brands Inc. faces a moderate threat from new entrants due to the presence of online platforms and changing consumer preferences, which makes it easier for new entrants to enter the market.

Intensity Of Rivalry

Designer Brands Inc. operates in a highly competitive industry with many established players, leading to a high intensity of rivalry among competitors.

9. SWOT Analysis

10. Capital Structure

10.a. Balance Sheet

10.b. Weighted Average Cost of capital

Value
Debt Weight 62.30%
Debt Cost 3.95%
Equity Weight 37.70%
Equity Cost 14.39%
WACC 7.88%
Leverage 165.25%

11. Quality Control: Designer Brands Inc. passed 2 out of 9 key points

12.a Historical Valuation

12.b Price/Earnings Ratio

12.c Margin Valuation

12.d Peers Valuation

Peers Group Analysis

Stock-Card
J.Jill

A-Score: 4.2/10

Value: 8.7

Growth: 4.0

Quality: 6.3

Yield: 2.0

Momentum: 0.5

Volatility: 4.0

1-Year Total Return ->

Stock-Card
Designer Brands

A-Score: 4.2/10

Value: 9.8

Growth: 2.8

Quality: 3.8

Yield: 6.0

Momentum: 1.5

Volatility: 1.3

1-Year Total Return ->

Stock-Card
Citi Trends

A-Score: 3.6/10

Value: 6.8

Growth: 1.7

Quality: 1.8

Yield: 0.0

Momentum: 8.5

Volatility: 2.7

1-Year Total Return ->

Stock-Card
Genesco

A-Score: 3.5/10

Value: 7.2

Growth: 3.0

Quality: 2.7

Yield: 0.0

Momentum: 6.0

Volatility: 2.3

1-Year Total Return ->

Stock-Card
Destination XL

A-Score: 3.3/10

Value: 9.6

Growth: 3.9

Quality: 4.0

Yield: 0.0

Momentum: 0.0

Volatility: 2.3

1-Year Total Return ->

Stock-Card
Hibbett

A-Score: 2.8/10

Value: 1.9

Growth: 2.1

Quality: 5.1

Yield: 1.0

Momentum: 5.0

Volatility: 2.0

1-Year Total Return ->

Peers Metrics

12.e Scoring Insights

12.f DCF BETA

Parameters

Short Term Growth

Short term Time

Long-Term Growth

WACC

Target Price

4.86$

Current Price

4.86$

Potential

-0.00%

Expected Cash-Flows