Genesco stock reports stronger earnings and higher guidance

Published on 10/04/2026 at 19:25 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Genesco stock closed at USD 34.77 on October 2, 2026, as fiscal 2027 second-quarter revenue reached USD 529.86 million. Adjusted EPS guidance moved to the high end of USD 2.00-2.40.

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Genesco stock closed at USD 34.77 on the NYSE on October 2, 2026, while the footwear retailer's fiscal 2027 second-quarter results delivered a sharper earnings improvement than the revenue line. FDRA reported that Genesco raised adjusted earnings guidance to the high end of USD 2.00-2.40 after the September 3 release.

Guidance rises as margins improve

Fiscal 2027 second-quarter net sales were USD 529.86 million, down 3 percent from USD 545.97 million in the year-earlier quarter, according to FDRA. The comparison shows the central tension in the report: sales weakened, but diluted GAAP EPS improved to USD 0.32 from a loss of USD 1.79.

Adjusted gross margin reached 47.2 percent in the quarter, up from 45.8 percent a year earlier, while adjusted operating losses narrowed to USD 8.3 million from USD 14.3 million. The company also received USD 22.5 million in tariff refunds, which were excluded from adjusted earnings, making the adjusted figures the cleaner measure of operating progress.

Journeys offsets pressure at Schuh

The brand mix explains why Genesco can raise profit guidance while lowering its sales outlook. Journeys comparable sales increased 2 percent and Johnston and Murphy comparable sales rose 4 percent, while Schuh sales fell 10 percent and Genesco Brands sales declined 21 percent in the fiscal 2027 second quarter, FDRA reported.

Genesco's comparable e-commerce sales decreased 6 percent, and the company ended the quarter with 1,186 stores versus 1,253 a year earlier. That 5 percent store reduction highlights the tradeoff behind the margin recovery: management is prioritizing full-price selling, cost control and store productivity over near-term sales volume.

Analysts see limited upside

According to MarketBeat on October 4, 2026, five analysts assign Genesco a Moderate Buy consensus, with three Hold ratings and two Strong Buy ratings. Their average 12-month price target is USD 36.00, with a USD 32.00 low and USD 38.00 high, placing the average target 3.54 percent above the October 2 close.

The market is therefore pricing a recovery that depends on margin gains continuing after the tariff refund effect fades. Genesco's fiscal 2027 guidance and the performance gap between Journeys and Schuh make execution, rather than sales growth alone, the key variable for the next report.

Genesco stock stays below its yearly high

Genesco stock closed at USD 34.77 on October 2, 2026, down USD 0.04 or 0.11 percent for the session on the NYSE. The 52-week range was USD 21.93-43.60, daily volume was 126,041 shares, and market capitalization was USD 386.5 million.