Amer Sports' dual engines are in full swing: Arc'teryx "reduces noise" for steady growth, Salomon crosses the $2 billion threshold

Under the dual pressure test of public opinion turmoil and global consumption fluctuations, Amer Sports still delivered an excellent report card.

Data released on February 24, Eastern Time, showed that in the fourth quarter, Amer Sports' revenue grew by 28% year-on-year to $2.1 billion, and annual revenue increased by 27% to $6.566 billion.

The market had previously worried that external public opinion fluctuations and weak consumer power might impact the high-end outdoor market, but in terms of actual performance, the turmoil such as the "Himalayan Fireworks Show" did not fundamentally shake the growth foundation of Arc'teryx.

The outdoor functional apparel segment, centered around it, saw a significant revenue increase of 34% in the fourth quarter to $1 billion.

This may once again confirm that the brand's core customer base is no longer limited to professional outdoor players but is a broader middle-class consumer group.

In the fourth quarter, the female category of Arc'teryx grew by over 40% year-on-year, becoming the fastest-growing segment; at the same time, the footwear business also achieved nearly 40% growth driven by popular products such as the Norvan LD 4 trail running shoes and Kopec hiking shoes.

By 2025, Arc'teryx plans to add 24 new stores globally, and in 2026, it plans to continue adding 25 to 30 new stores in the North American and Chinese markets, maintaining a stable expansion pace.

While Arc'teryx firmly holds its position as a "stabilizing force," another core brand under Amer Sports, Salomon, is reaching a milestone.

In 2025, Salomon's annual sales will exceed $2 billion for the first time. In the fourth quarter, the "mountain outdoor apparel and equipment" segment, where Salomon is located, saw revenue grow by 29% year-on-year to $764 million.

Amer Sports is attempting to replicate the successful DTC model validated on Arc'teryx to Salomon.

In the Greater China region, the highly efficient "compact shop" model has helped Salomon net add 33 stores in the fourth quarter, with nearly 100 new stores added throughout the year.

The large-scale store expansion, product line investment, and brand building have caused the adjusted operating profit margin of the "mountain outdoor apparel and equipment" segment to decline by 490 basis points to 6.2% in the fourth quarter; however, management has characterized this as "proactive strategic investment."

Salomon's reach is extending from professional trail running to mainstream fashion and professional running tracks.

By densely arranging in global core cities (Epicenters) such as Williamsburg in New York, London, and Milan, Salomon is capturing young consumers who pursue outdoor fashion.

In 2026, Salomon plans to continue opening 7 to 10 new stores in key markets such as the United States, further strengthening its presence in the global mainstream mindset.

Wilson is also undergoing a similar transformation.

In 2025, Wilson's footwear and apparel business achieved year-on-year growth of 100%, with its revenue share increasing to 15%. Amer Sports' expectations for Wilson extend beyond sports equipment to a leap into high-margin soft consumer goods.

To support this transformation, Carrie Ask, an executive with a background in Nike and Levi's, will take over as President and CEO of Wilson starting March 1, with high hopes placed on her extensive experience in footwear and apparel operations.

This is complemented by an "elite" adjustment of Amer Sports' overall management team The appointment of Avery Baker as the first Chief Brand Officer of Arc'teryx and Heikki Salonen as the first Creative Director of Salomon signals the company's commitment to strengthening brand creativity and global coordination.

From a regional perspective, the Greater China region and the Asia-Pacific region remain the core growth engines for Amer Sports. In the fourth quarter, revenue in the Greater China region grew by 41.8%, while the Asia-Pacific region saw an even higher growth rate of 53.1%.

Amer Sports' global CEO Zheng Jie emphasized the "platform effect" of the Greater China region during the earnings call, noting that this differentiated platform advantage allows multiple brands under its umbrella to achieve exceptional performance.

Some analysts believe that at the current stage, the unique channel premium and profit pool built by the DTC model in the Greater China region may enable the high-end Arc'teryx and Salomon to effectively hedge against the rising short-term marketing expenditures.

Looking ahead to 2026, Amer Sports has provided a revenue growth guidance of 16%–18%, with gross margin expected to increase from the current 57.7% to around 59%. First-quarter revenue is expected to grow by 22% to 24%.

Salomon, which focuses on "investing for growth," is expected to have an operating profit margin of 14.5%–14.8% in its mountain outdoor segment, lower than the 22% in the outdoor functional apparel segment.

However, relying on Arc'teryx's strong cash flow to support the expansion of other brands is the core logic of Amer Sports' group operations.

In the high-end outdoor segment, whether Amer Sports can create more "Arc'teryx" brands remains a long-term focus