• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Adidas Has Surprisingly Strong Second Quarter After Months of Controversy

  • Adidas’s decision to move on from Kanye West proved to be an expensive one.
  • The company has benefited from a year of international sporting events.
Jeff Le-USA TODAY Sports

Adidas finally got some good news. 

After 2023 marked its first annual loss in decades, the sportswear giant rebounded with a net profit of $205.5 million for the second quarter, the company announced. 

Footwear revenue has led the company’s revival and apparel sales have been boosted by the international soccer tournaments, as both the Euro winner (Spain) and Copa América champion (Argentina) are outfitted by the company. 

“We now look forward to see this continue with [a] great Olympics in Paris. The start has been sensational,” chief executive Bjørn Gulden said on an earnings call. 

Unusually high backlogs in inventory, particularly from the fallout of its breakup with the rapper Ye, had been hurting the company’s bottom line. Adidas said on the call that it had reduced inventory by 18%, which “represents a healthy foundation to support future top-line growth.”

Adidas had cut ties with Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, in 2022, but has continued unloading his Yeezy sneakers in the years since, which has impacted revenue. Adidas said second-quarter revenues in North America were up, excluding the remaining inventory of the Yeezy brand. “The [sales] decline was solely related to the significantly smaller Yeezy business,” the company said in a statement, without specifying numbers. 

Adidas is still dealing with a whistleblower who claimed there was corruption within company leadership in China months ago, and just last week, a controversial ad involving model Bella Hadid. The ad commemorated the 1972 Munich Olympics, where 11 Israeli athletes and coaches were killed during a terrorist attack carried out by Palestinian militant group Black September. Hadid is Palestinian and said “Adidas should have known” about the connection before the ad ran. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Sep 16, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; Sacramento State Hornets running back Elijah Tau-Tolliver (25) celebrates after a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium.

Sacramento State ‘Full Steam Ahead’ for FBS Despite Not Receiving NCAA Waiver

The Hornets launched a public campaign to join the FBS last fall.
Jun 20, 2024; Eugene, OR, USA; Detailed view of Nike Alphafly 3 racing flat at the Nike by Eugene store.

Investors Hunt for Signs Nike Has Regained Its Footing

Nike’s fundamentals are “still challenged.”
Wimbledon

Players Suing Tennis Begin Negotiations With Grand Slams

They may add the Slams as defendants if talks fail in 90 days.
May 29, 2025; Dublin, Ohio, USA; The TaylorMade club cover of Tommy Fleetwood is seen during the first round of the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday golf tournament.

Golf Equipment Maker TaylorMade Caught Up in Fight Over Who Owns It

There is a dispute over which Korean entity controls the company.

Featured Today

Mar 15, 2025; Fort Worth, TX, USA; UAB Blazers forward Yaxel Lendeborg (3) dribbles the ball upcourt against the North Texas Mean Green during the first half at Dickies Arena

NIL Is Shrinking the Pool of NBA Draft Entrants

Agents are now advising many players to stay in school.
Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter on the red carpet before the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field
June 21, 2025

‘More Is More’: The Elite Luxury Jewelers Decking Out Athletes

Meet the elite group of luxury designers crafting the biggest statement pieces.
Dec 5, 2024; Miami, FL, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino presents the FIFA Club World Cup trophy during the Club Word Cup draw at Telemundo Studios.
June 15, 2025

Revamped Club World Cup Is FIFA’s Billion-Dollar Gamble

The revamped soccer event debuts amid controversy.
Jun 10, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino stands during the anthem against the Switzerland during the first at Geodis Park
June 14, 2025

Gold Cup Is Complicated for USMNT—but U.S. Soccer Has Its Eyes on..

Uncertain tournament success isn’t fazing forward-looking U.S. soccer.
Jun 15, 2025; Oakmont, Pennsylvania, USA; JJ Spaun putts on the 18th green to win during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament.

‘Pandemonium’: Putter Maker Sees Sales Surge After JJ Spaun’s U.S. Open Win

The company behind Spaun’s putter is already in talks with his people.
Tom's Watch Bar
June 12, 2025

How the Pacers and Caitlin Clark Boosted One Bar’s Bottom Line

Tom’s Watch Bar hosted John Haliburton for at least five games.
June 13, 2025

U.S. Open Merch Pops Thanks to Oakmont’s Squirrel, Viral TikToks

There are more than 400,000 pieces of merchandise available at Oakmont.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
June 12, 2025

U.S. Open Cashing In on Signature Cocktail Trend With Lemon Wedge

Last year, the whiskey cocktail was served more than 50,000 times.
Nike store
June 5, 2025

Which Sportswear Retailers Are Best Positioned to Raise Prices?

Why On can more easily raise prices than Nike.
Mar 23, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Sneakers worn by New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) during warmups prior to the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Madison Square Garden.
May 21, 2025

Nike to Raise Prices on Sneakers Above $100

Kids products and Air Force 1s won’t be affected.
Arc'teryx
May 20, 2025

Expensive Outdoor Gear Is Bright Spot Amid Tariff Turmoil

Amer Sports says tariffs will have a “negligible” impact on its results.