“We have not disclosed our targets publicly, but India is prioritized as a Top 6 market for us globally,” Anne Mehlman, executive vice-president and brand president for Crocs Inc., told Mint in an interview. “India may not be a Top 6 market for us by revenue today, but we believe it will be a Top 6 market for us long-term. It has…all of the factors for an outsize revenue opportunity.” ...

Group 1: Consumer Confidence and Economic Indicators - Consumer confidence rose by 2.2 points to 91.2 in February, surpassing analysts' expectations of 87 [4][10] - The unemployment rate decreased to 4.3% in January from 4.4% in December, with 130,000 new jobs added [6] - Short-term inflation expectations fell to a 13-month low of 3.5% in February from 4% in January, indicating a potential easing of inflation [7] Group 2: Recommended Consumer Discretionary Stocks - Rush Street Interactive, Inc. (RSI) has an expected earnings growth rate of 43.2% for the current year, with a Zacks Rank of 2 [8] - Crocs, Inc. (CROX) is projected to have a 5.7% earnings growth rate, also holding a Zacks Rank of 2 [11] - Callaway Golf Company (CALY) expects a significant earnings growth rate of 61.9%, with a Zacks Rank of 1 [12] - Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (DLB) anticipates a 1.7% earnings growth rate, currently rated as 2 [14] - MasterCraft Boat Holdings, Inc. (MCFT) has an expected earnings growth rate of 64.1%, holding a Zacks Rank of 1 [15] Group 3: Earnings Estimate Revisions - The earnings estimates for RSI, CROX, CALY, DLB, and MCFT have all improved over the past 60 days, indicating positive market sentiment [3][10]

Core Insights - The article discusses the importance of understanding past performance as it relates to future investment decisions, emphasizing that historical data should not be solely relied upon for predicting future results [2][3] Group 1 - The article highlights that no specific investment recommendations or advice are provided, indicating a focus on educational content rather than direct financial guidance [2][3] - It mentions that the information presented is believed to be factual and up-to-date, but does not guarantee accuracy, suggesting a need for investors to conduct their own research [2][3] - The article clarifies that the views expressed may not reflect the opinions of the platform as a whole, indicating a diversity of perspectives among contributors [3]

Core Viewpoint - Crocs (CROX) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook based on rising earnings estimates, which significantly influence stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Crocs indicates expected earnings of $13.22 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2026, showing no year-over-year change [8]. - Over the past three months, analysts have raised their earnings estimates for Crocs by 6.6% [8]. Zacks Rating System - The Zacks rating system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell), and has a strong track record of performance [7]. - The system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings across over 4,000 stocks, ensuring that only the top 20% receive a "Strong Buy" or "Buy" rating [9][10]. Market Implications - The upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places Crocs in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting potential for higher stock prices due to improved earnings outlook [10]. - Rising earnings estimates are expected to create buying pressure, leading to an increase in Crocs' stock price [5][6].

Core Insights - Investors in the Textile - Apparel sector should consider Crocs (CROX) and Lululemon (LULU) for potential value opportunities [1] Valuation Metrics - Crocs has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a more favorable earnings estimate revision trend compared to Lululemon, which has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3] - The forward P/E ratio for Crocs is 7.56, while Lululemon's forward P/E is 13.88, suggesting Crocs may be undervalued [5] - Crocs has a PEG ratio of 1.22, significantly lower than Lululemon's PEG ratio of 11.19, indicating better value relative to expected earnings growth [5] - Crocs has a P/B ratio of 4.01 compared to Lululemon's P/B of 4.65, further supporting Crocs' valuation advantage [6] - Based on these metrics, Crocs earns a Value grade of A, while Lululemon receives a Value grade of C [6] Earnings Outlook - Crocs is currently experiencing an improving earnings outlook, which enhances its attractiveness in the Zacks Rank model [7]

Upgrades - TD Cowen upgraded Medpace (MEDP) to Hold from Sell with a price target of $419, down from $462, indicating that shares now reflect fair value [2] - Citizens upgraded Rush Street Interactive (RSI) to Outperform from Market Perform with a price target of $24, highlighting the company's durable business model in the online gaming space [2] - Baird upgraded Itron (ITRI) to Outperform from Neutral with a price target of $128, up from $118, following a positive Q4 report [3] - Rosenblatt upgraded Cadence Design (CDNS) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $360, up from $335, citing solid Q4 results [3] - Mizuho upgraded Palantir (PLTR) to Outperform from Neutral with an unchanged price target of $195, noting significant revenue growth and margin expansion [3] Downgrades - Citizens downgraded Workday (WDAY) to Market Perform from Outperform without a price target, due to the return of founder Aneel Bhusri as CEO and the need for time and investments for AI innovation [4] - Williams Trading downgraded Crocs (CROX) to Sell from Hold with a price target of $84, up from $75, citing eroding demand in the U.S. [4] - Citizens downgraded Similarweb (SMWB) to Market Perform from Outperform without a price target, following a significant revenue miss in Q4 and disappointing guidance [4] - Truist downgraded Genuine Parts (GPC) to Hold from Buy with a price target of $127, down from $162, noting ongoing disappointments in the auto business despite positive business separation [4] - BTIG downgraded Masimo (MASI) to Neutral from Buy after Danaher (DHR) announced an acquisition agreement for $180/share in cash [4]

Core Concept - The campaign "Let Them Talk" by Crocs emphasizes self-expression and individuality through its Echo range, featuring Bollywood actor Siddhant Chaturvedi as the face of the campaign [1][4]. Campaign Overview - The Echo campaign is centered around the idea of embodying confidence in everyday moments, celebrating individuality through street style and personal expression [2][4]. - The campaign film showcases Siddhant Chaturvedi navigating various urban settings, highlighting the adaptability and bold design of the Echo footwear [3][4]. Creative Approach - The campaign was conceptualized by Homegrown, focusing on cultural relevance and individuality, with Siddhant's authentic presence enhancing the narrative [3][4]. - The film captures everyday moments of being oneself, reinforcing the message of confidence without seeking external validation [4][5]. Product Details - The Echo range features a bold, street-forward design, starting with the Echo RO Gum Clog, available in Black and Chalk, with plans for multiple product drops [4][5]. - The campaign launched on February 17, 2026, with a comprehensive rollout across digital, social, retail, and e-commerce platforms [5]. Company Background - Crocs, Inc. is a leader in innovative casual footwear, known for combining comfort and style, with products sold in over 85 countries [6].

Core Insights - Crocs' shares increased following a strong Q4 earnings report, with international sales driving growth and a positive outlook for the HeyDude brand in 2026 [1][5]. Financial Performance - Crocs brand sales rose by 1% to $768 million in constant currencies, with direct-to-consumer (DTC) revenue increasing by 5% to $475 million, while wholesale revenue decreased by 7% to $294 million [6]. - International sales grew by 14% to $332 million, contrasting with a 7% decline in North American revenue, which totaled $436 million [6]. - Overall revenue fell by approximately 3%, or 4% in constant currencies, to $958 million, outperforming earlier guidance of an 8% decrease [7]. - DTC revenue increased by about 5%, while wholesale revenue declined by nearly 15% [7]. - Gross margin contracted by 320 basis points to 54.7%, and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) decreased by 9% to $2.29, exceeding the EPS guidance of $1.82 to $1.92 [7]. Segment Performance - For the Crocs brand, DTC revenue grew by 6.1%, while wholesale revenue fell by 6.7%, leading to a total revenue growth of 0.8% [8]. - HeyDude's revenue dropped by 17% to $189 million, with DTC revenue remaining flat at $133 million and wholesale revenue plunging by 41% to $56 million due to inventory clean-up efforts [6]. - Total revenue for HeyDude declined by 16.9%, with wholesale revenue down by 40.5% [8]. Future Guidance - For 2026, Crocs anticipates a 1% increase in sales, with Crocs brand revenue expected to be flat to up 2%, while HeyDude revenue is projected to decline by 7% to 9% [8]. - The company is forecasting adjusted EPS between $12.88 and $13.35, compared to $12.51 in 2025 [8]. - For Q1, revenue is expected to decrease by 5.5% to 3.5%, with Crocs brand revenue projected to decline in the low single digits and HeyDude sales expected to drop by 18% to 16% [9].

Company Overview - Crocs designs and markets casual footwear and accessories, including clogs, sandals, slides, boots, and shoe charms, targeting a global customer base across approximately 85 countries [5][9] - The company utilizes a multi-channel distribution strategy, including wholesale distribution, company-operated retail stores, and e-commerce channels [5][9] Financial Performance - As of February 12, 2026, Crocs had a market capitalization of $5.27 billion and revenue for the trailing twelve months (TTM) was $4.04 billion, with a net income of -$81.20 million [3] - The company ended 2025 with strong holiday sales and reported earnings and revenue that exceeded expectations in Q4, resulting in a nearly 20% increase in stock price on February 12 [6][7] Investment Insights - Blueshift Asset Management sold 34,281 shares of Crocs for an estimated value of $2.87 million during Q4 2025, leaving them with 14,596 shares valued at $1.25 million [2] - The anticipated adjusted earnings per share for 2026 range from $12.88 to $13.55, significantly above the analysts' forecast of $11.89 per share, indicating strong momentum [10] - The company has made shareholder-friendly moves, including retiring $128 million in debt and repurchasing 10% of outstanding shares [7]

Performance Overview - In Q4 2025, the company reported revenue of $958 million, a 3.2% year-over-year decline, but above market expectations of $917 million; adjusted EPS was $2.29, significantly exceeding the market forecast of $1.91, driven by new product launches [1] - For the full year, total revenue reached $4.041 billion, with the main brand Crocs generating $3.326 billion (up 1.5% year-over-year), while Heydude brand revenue was $715 million (down 13.3%) [1] Financial Condition - Q4 gross margin was 54.68%, and operating margin was 15.29%; full-year operating cash flow was $710 million, with free cash flow at $659 million, indicating a robust cash flow position [2] - The company implemented cost-saving measures to partially offset tariff pressures, with tariffs impacting approximately $90 million in 2025 [2] - Due to the acquisition of the Heydude brand, the company recorded an impairment charge of about $700 million (including $300 million goodwill and $400 million intangible assets), resulting in a net loss of $812 million for the year; as of the end of 2025, the debt-to-asset ratio was 69.02%, with long-term borrowings of $1.528 billion [4] Operational Highlights - Strong growth in international markets: full-year international revenue increased by 9.8%, with China showing exceptional performance (over 60% growth in 2024), becoming the second-largest market globally [3] - Direct-to-consumer (DTC) channel revenue surpassed wholesale for the first time, accounting for 52.1% of total revenue ($2.104 billion), a 3.3% year-over-year increase [3] Company Guidance - The company provided a positive outlook for Q1 2026, expecting revenue decline to narrow to 3.5%-5.5% year-over-year, with adjusted EPS projected between $2.67 and $2.77, both exceeding market expectations [5]