Altra brand's 40% growth may offset Vans' decline at VF Corp

VF Corp's Altra footwear brand saw a 40% revenue increase in the second quarter, positioning it to offset declines at the company's Vans brand, Retail Dive reported.

Vans experienced its second consecutive quarter of disappointing results, with analysts describing the turnaround as slow and frustrating, though some improvement is expected in the latter half of the fiscal year.

VF Corp CEO Bracken Darrell noted that retailers were clearing Vans inventory in Q2, with orders for upcoming quarters increasing and new styles being prepared, including expansions in apparel and women's footwear.

Overall net inventories at VF Corp rose 7% year-over-year to meet anticipated demand in the second half of the year, and gross margin improved by 290 basis points to 55.4%, excluding Dickies.

Analysts highlighted Altra's strong growth despite a challenging market, with the brand generating $300 million in revenue last year and expected to fully offset Vans' footwear declines this year.