Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

In the latest trading session, Crocs (CROX - Free Report) closed at $134.66, marking a +1.65% move from the previous day. The stock outperformed the S&P 500, which registered a daily gain of 0.05%. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.46%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 0.64%.

The footwear company's shares have seen an increase of 11.43% over the last month, surpassing the Consumer Discretionary sector's loss of 2.45% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.61%.

Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of Crocs in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company's earnings report is set to be unveiled on July 30, 2026. On that day, Crocs is projected to report earnings of $4.32 per share, which would represent year-over-year growth of 2.13%. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $1.15 billion, down 0.16% from the year-ago period.

For the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $13.66 per share and a revenue of $4.08 billion, representing changes of +9.19% and +0.87%, respectively, from the prior year.

Additionally, investors should keep an eye on any recent revisions to analyst forecasts for Crocs. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.

Our research suggests that these changes in estimates have a direct relationship with upcoming stock price performance. To exploit this, we've formed the Zacks Rank, a quantitative model that includes these estimate changes and presents a viable rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), possesses a remarkable history of outdoing, externally audited, with #1 stocks returning an average annual gain of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.06% lower. Crocs presently features a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell).

In terms of valuation, Crocs is currently trading at a Forward P/E ratio of 9.7. This indicates a discount in contrast to its industry's Forward P/E of 15.71.

Meanwhile, CROX's PEG ratio is currently 1.37. This popular metric is similar to the widely-known P/E ratio, with the difference being that the PEG ratio also takes into account the company's expected earnings growth rate. CROX's industry had an average PEG ratio of 2.18 as of yesterday's close.

The Textile - Apparel industry is part of the Consumer Discretionary sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 182, which puts it in the bottom 27% of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the strength of our separate industry groups by calculating the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks contained within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Keep in mind to rely on Zacks.com to watch all these stock-impacting metrics, and more, in the succeeding trading sessions.

Key Takeaways CROX has outperformed peers recently but faces tariff, margin and HEYDUDE-related growth challenges.Crocs is investing in international expansion, marketing and inventory discipline to support long-term growth.CROX trades below the industry P/E but above its historical median valuation despite recent share gains. Crocs, Inc. (CROX - Free Report) has seen its shares rally 28.1% in the past three months, outperforming the industry’s growth of 5.6%. The stock has also outperformed the broader sector’s 4.7% decline and the S&P 500 Index’s 4% increase over the same period.

CROX Stock’s 3-Month Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

In the past three months, CROX has trailed the performance of Vince Holding Corp. (VNCE - Free Report) while outperforming G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. (GIII - Free Report) and Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM - Free Report) . In the same period, shares of VNCE, GIII and COLM have increased 31.5%, 8.8% and 1%, respectively.

CROX’s Share Price Performance VS Peers
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Closing at $132.47 in the last trading session, CROX stock stands 5.7% below its 52-week high of $140.42 reached on July 17, 2026. CROX is trading above its 50-day simple moving average of $120.99 and its 200-day simple moving average of $95.95, indicating a strong technical setup.

CROX Trades Above 50 & 200-Day SMA
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Crocs Drives Growth Through Global ExpansionCrocs remains optimistic about its international business, expecting strong growth across its international markets for the remainder of the year and seeing a multiyear runway for expansion in key markets. Management highlighted particularly robust performance in Japan and China, noting that both continue to deliver very strong growth and reinforce the company's long-term global opportunity.

To support future growth, the company is also investing in marketing across both brands to drive demand for new product launches. At the same time, Crocs is maintaining a disciplined approach to inventory and supply chain management, using lean inventory levels to improve productivity and enhance financial flexibility.

Crocs Reports Margin Pressure and Weak Brand PerformanceDespite these long-term growth opportunities, the company is facing the impact of the Middle East conflict and expects these impacts to create several challenges for the Crocs brand. Management identified three potential areas of impact: lower revenue from its Middle East distributor business, which has already been incorporated into its annual guidance; higher raw material and transportation costs associated with elevated oil prices; and the possibility of broader macroeconomic disruptions, the extent of which remains uncertain. These factors could create additional headwinds for the business going forward.

The company faced margin pressure in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, with enterprise adjusted gross margin declining 90 basis points year over year to 56.9%. The decrease was primarily driven by a 100-basis-point impact from incremental tariffs, along with an unfavorable product mix. These headwinds were only partially offset by a favorable brand mix, resulting in an overall decline in gross margin in the first quarter.

Crocs reported weaker performance across both of its key brands in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 while continuing to execute initiatives to return both brands to growth. Sales at the Crocs brand declined 2%, while the HEYDUDE brand recorded a steeper 13% decrease. Both brands reported lower adjusted gross margins in the quarter. Adjusted gross margin for the Crocs brand declined 120 basis points to 59.5%, while the HEYDUDE brand experienced a steeper contraction of 210 basis points, bringing its adjusted gross margin to 44.5%.

Crocs issued a cautious outlook, expecting second-quarter revenues to decline slightly at prevailing currency rates, with continued weakness at the HEYDUDE brand and margin pressure from tariffs. For 2026, the company projects muted enterprise revenue growth between down 1% and up 1%, while HEYDUDE is still expected to post a 5% to 7% sales decline despite an improved outlook.

How Estimates Are Shaped Up for CROX?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CROX’s current quarter earnings per share has been revised up by 2 cents to $4.32 in the past seven days. The consensus mark for the current year earnings per share has been revised down by a penny to $13.66, reflecting a challenging outlook for the year.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

CROX is currently trading at a forward 12-month P/E multiple of 9.29X, lower than the industry average of 15.70X and well below the S&P 500 multiple of 20.80X. However, the stock is trading above its 12-month median P/E of 7.11X, suggesting potential overvaluation relative to its historical valuations.

Crocs’ Valuation Picture
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

How to Play CROX Stock?Although Crocs continues to see attractive long-term opportunities in international markets, the business is facing mounting near-term challenges that could weigh on financial performance and investor sentiment. Weakening brand momentum and pressure on profitability reduce visibility into the pace of any meaningful recovery, while ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties create additional pressures. Given these risks, existing investors may consider reducing exposure, while prospective investors may prefer to remain on the sidelines until there is clearer evidence of sustained improvement in operating performance and a more favorable business environment. At present, CROX carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Crocs, Inc. (NASDAQ:CROX) has received a higher price target from Bank of America ahead of its second-quarter earnings report, with the firm reiterating its ‘Buy’ rating and raising its target to $160 from $145 on expectations that sustained direct-to-consumer (DTC) growth in North America could support further valuation expansion.

The firm increased its valuation multiple to 11 times its 2027 earnings estimate from 10 times previously, writing that additional evidence of durable North American DTC growth could drive further multiple expansion.

This price target implies upside from current levels of about $132.

Bank of America forecasts Q2 earnings per share of $4.24, broadly in line with Visible Alpha consensus estimates.

The firm sees the potential for upside in the quarter, supported by continued DTC momentum and an improving setup for the second half of the year as the company laps strategic actions taken last year that weighed on sales.

The analysts expect total second-quarter sales to decline 1% year over year, with growth in the Crocs brand's DTC business offset by weaker wholesale sales and continued declines at Heydude. They forecast North American DTC sales to rise 1%, below the Street's expectation of 2%, but noted that demand for newer products, including sandals, could support stronger results.

Bank of America highlighted continued consumer interest in new product launches, pointing to popular sandal styles such as the Miami Flip, where it has observed products selling out even after restocking.

On margins, the firm expects gross margin to decline 150 basis points year over year, in line with company guidance that incorporates tariff-related headwinds. While lower tariff rates and the potential for refunds could provide some relief, the analysts wrote that a greater contribution from newer products and sales channels with lower gross margins could offset those benefits.

Looking beyond the second quarter, Bank of America expects a more favorable operating environment in the second half of the year, supported by upcoming product launches, including the Echo 2 and Mellow 2 collections, and easier comparisons following last year's reductions in promotional activity and wholesale shipments.

The firm also sees the possibility that improving demand for new products could eventually benefit North American wholesale sales, although its current forecasts continue to assume negative wholesale trends through the remainder of 2026.

The market expects Crocs (CROX - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 30. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis footwear company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $4.32 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +2.1%.

Revenues are expected to be $1.15 billion, down 0.2% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.34% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Crocs?For Crocs, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.12%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #4.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Crocs will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Crocs would post earnings of $2.78 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.99, delivering a surprise of +7.55%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Crocs doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

Key Takeaways Crocs' LEGO Brick Clog drove strong social engagement and digital traffic.LoveShackFancy sold out globally, while Disney boosted accessories and premium Jibbitz charms.TikTok Shop expansion and Gen Z campaigns helped Crocs attract younger consumers and support DTC momentum. Strategic partnerships have been Crocs Inc.'s (CROX - Free Report) most effective tools for reinforcing brand relevance and expanding its appeal beyond its traditional customer base. In the first quarter of 2026, management highlighted collaborations as a key component of its consumer engagement strategy, using limited-edition launches, entertainment franchises and digital campaigns to create excitement around the brand. The company's multi-year global partnership with LEGO debuted with the LEGO Brick Clog, which management described as one of Crocs' best-performing partnerships on social media, generating significant consumer engagement and digital traffic.

Crocs also complemented this initiative with collaborations that directly supported product innovation. The LoveShackFancy collection sold out globally, reinforcing the demand for newer silhouettes such as the Classic Ballet Flat. At the same time, the Disney collaboration featuring Mickey Mouse helped drive strong growth in bags, accessories and premium Jibbitz charms, demonstrating that partnerships can extend spending beyond footwear into higher-margin personalization categories.

Management indicated that these initiatives contributed to strong consumer response across multiple product categories, including clogs, sandals and accessories, supporting the company's broader diversification strategy.

Beyond products, Crocs is using partnerships to deepen digital engagement. The company expanded its presence on TikTok Shop globally and was recognized as the platform's Top Seller of the Year for 2025. It also introduced innovative marketing campaigns, including a Gen Z-focused micro-drama series and experiential launches tied to events such as NBA All-Star Week.

Management believes that these collaborations and marketing activations are helping attract younger consumers while strengthening direct-to-consumer momentum. As Crocs broadens its product portfolio and global reach, strategic partnerships appear to be doing more than creating short-term buzz. They are reinforcing brand visibility, supporting product innovation and helping the company differentiate itself in an increasingly competitive casual footwear market.

Zacks Rundown for CROXCrocs’ shares have jumped 26.8% in the past three months against the industry’s decline of 3.2%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, CROX trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 8.94X, lower than the industry’s average 14.65X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CROX’s 2026 and 2027 EPS estimates imply year-over-year growth of 9.3% and 7.7%, respectively. The consensus mark for 2026 and 2027 EPS has been unchanged in the past 30 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

CROX stock presently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Stocks to Consider in the Consumer Discretionary SpaceDuluth Holdings Inc. (DLTH - Free Report) is a specialty apparel retailer known for its durable, workwear-inspired clothing and accessories, serving men and women through its Duluth Trading brand across direct-to-consumer channels and retail stores. At present, the company sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DLTH’s current fiscal-year earnings implies growth of 39.5% from the year-ago reported figure. Duluth Holdings has delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 107.5%, on average.

Steven Madden Ltd. (SHOO - Free Report) designs, sources, markets and sells fashion-forward branded and private-label footwear, accessories, handbags and apparel for women, men and children across the world. SHOO currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Steven Madden’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 11.7% and 22.9%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures. SHOO delivered a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of 1.9%, on average.

Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM - Free Report) engages in the design, development, marketing and distribution of outdoor, active and lifestyle products in the United States, Latin America, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Canada. At present, COLM has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for COLM’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 2.6% and 4.6% from the year-ago reported numbers. COLM delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 44.1%, on average.

In the latest close session, Crocs (CROX - Free Report) was down 1.69% at $122.44. The stock's performance was behind the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.28%. Meanwhile, the Dow lost 1.09%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, added 0.2%.

The footwear company's shares have seen a decrease of 2.52% over the last month, not keeping up with the Consumer Discretionary sector's gain of 1.44% and the S&P 500's gain of 1.64%.

Analysts and investors alike will be keeping a close eye on the performance of Crocs in its upcoming earnings disclosure. The company is forecasted to report an EPS of $4.3, showcasing a 1.65% upward movement from the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Meanwhile, our latest consensus estimate is calling for revenue of $1.15 billion, down 0.26% from the prior-year quarter.

Looking at the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates suggest analysts are expecting earnings of $13.67 per share and revenue of $4.08 billion. These totals would mark changes of +9.27% and +0.88%, respectively, from last year.

It's also important for investors to be aware of any recent modifications to analyst estimates for Crocs. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the business outlook.

Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. To take advantage of this, we've established the Zacks Rank, an exclusive model that considers these estimated changes and delivers an operational rating system.

The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, there's been no change in the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. Crocs presently features a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell).

In terms of valuation, Crocs is presently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 9.11. This valuation marks a discount compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 15.89.

One should further note that CROX currently holds a PEG ratio of 1.29. Comparable to the widely accepted P/E ratio, the PEG ratio also accounts for the company's projected earnings growth. As of the close of trade yesterday, the Textile - Apparel industry held an average PEG ratio of 2.18.

The Textile - Apparel industry is part of the Consumer Discretionary sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 198, which puts it in the bottom 20% of all 250+ industries.

The strength of our individual industry groups is measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, which is calculated based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within these groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

To follow CROX in the coming trading sessions, be sure to utilize Zacks.com.

Description

"Microdramas are new, and we're so excited to be one of the first movers as a brand in this space," said Carly Gomez, chief marketing officer at Crocs.

Gomez spoke to CMO Insider during the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. She said they started producing microdramas inspired by one of the brand's employees.

"Microdramas are new, and we're so excited to be one of the first movers as a brand in this space," said Carly Gomez, chief marketing officer at Crocs.

Gomez spoke to CMO Insider during the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. She said they started producing microdramas inspired by one of the brand's employees.

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U.S. stocks were slightly lower, with the Dow Jones index falling around 0.1% on Friday.

Shares of Apogee Enterprises Inc (NASDAQ:APOG) rose sharply after the company reported better-than-expected first-quarter financial results.

Adjusted diluted earnings came in at 57 cents per share, topping the analyst consensus estimate of 45 cents. Net sales totaled $342.7 million, ahead of the $333.8 million estimate.

Apogee Enterprises shares jumped 13.2% to $48.07 on Friday.

Here are some other big stocks recording gins in today’s session.

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Crocs has been expanding into sandals. (Photo Illustration by Alex Tai/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

For decades, Crocs was defined by a single product: the brightly colored clog that became one of retail’s most unlikely success stories. Now the company is betting that its next phase of growth lies beyond the iconic clog.

After spending years transforming its flagship silhouette from functional footwear into a fashion and cultural phenomenon, Crocs has been expanding into sandals, a category that has quickly become one of the brand’s fastest-growing businesses and an increasingly important growth driver in the U.S. and internationally.

"We’re a global brand and our DNA is really based on the classic clog," Anne Mehlman, president of the Crocs brand, told Forbes. "When you ask people around the world, everybody knows Crocs."

That association has helped fuel global growth but, with the clog firmly established, Crocs has begun looking for ways to broaden its appeal and attract new consumers and the answer, it believes, is in sandals.

While Crocs first introduced sandals in 2010, the category has become a major strategic priority only over the past several years. The shift came after extensive consumer research revealed that shoppers already viewed the company as having what Mehlman describes as “permission to compete” in the category.

"When we were listening to consumers and how they use the clog and how they think about it, a lot think about the summer, the beach, water and those kinds of occasions, very similar to how people think about sandals," Mehlman said. "Our consumers thought we had a really high right to play from a sandals perspective and when we started looking, it's highly fragmented. And we thought this is a market where we can really provide some innovation and give consumers a compelling proposition."

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Crocs Sandals March ForwardsThat strategy is beginning to pay off. Crocs’ sandal business generated around $450 million in revenue last year, making it one of the larger players in the category. The company is now targeting breaking through $500 million. Despite that growth, sandals still account for only around 13% of Crocs’ overall revenue, while its stock price has risen strongly this year.

"Clogs are still a huge piece of our DNA and by no means are we walking away from that," Mehlman stressed.

Instead, the company sees sandals as complementary, encouraging repeat purchases among existing customers while attracting new shoppers to the brand.

"What we see with sandals is it brings a lot of new consumers into the brand," she said. "They'll come in on a sandals purchase and then buy something else."

The U.S. remains central to that strategy. Crocs began by targeting female consumers, who tend to purchase multiple pairs across different occasions and styles. The company built its assortment around four key occasions: everyday wear, fashion, adventure and sport. From that framework emerged three major sandal franchises: Getaway, Miami and Brooklyn.

The Miami collection, in particular, has become a breakout success among younger shoppers and social media users and the brand's digital-first marketing approach has helped accelerate adoption. Crocs was an early adopter of TikTok and continues to use the platform as a key customer acquisition tool.

"We started to see that a lot of our sandals went viral on TikTok, especially our Miami franchise," Mehlman said. "That consumer is definitely younger than our overall consumer and we over-index there with new consumers. I think about half of all of our TikTok consumers in the U.S. are new to the brand.”

Crocs Gets PersonalPersonalization, already a defining feature of the clog through its Jibbitz charms, is increasingly becoming part of the sandal strategy as well. This year Crocs launched the Saturday sandal franchise, featuring customizable Jibbitz holes and fashion-oriented buckle details. The company has also introduced dedicated sandal charms that allow customers to customize styles from collections such as Miami.

"We started testing those online and in some of our top retail stores and have had amazing success," Mehlman said. "We're planning on expanding that."

The company maintains a roughly even split between direct-to-consumer sales and wholesale distribution, while investing heavily in physical stores that showcase customization opportunities.

International markets, especially those warm year-round, have become key growth regions. (Photo by Sheldon Cooper/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

“Physical retail is really important for us because it is the best place for the consumer to experience Crocs. If you go into one of our stores and watch the personalization bar, consumers love it. People come in looking for shoes specifically so they can add charms or Jibbitz to them,” Mehlman said.

Crocs recently opened a new full-price store in Westfield Stratford, London, designed to highlight the brand’s evolving identity and international markets are becoming increasingly important. Outside the U.S., Crocs identifies Western Europe — particularly the U.K., France and Germany — alongside China, Japan, South Korea and India as priority growth markets.

Weather naturally influences demand and year-round warm-weather markets offer particularly attractive opportunities, with India standing out.

"India is a really key market for us because sandals are a natural silhouette for consumers there," she said. "They're used to living in sandals. It's hot there year-round and our brand is strong there."

The company is preparing new product launches including the Rio sandal, a customizable flip-flop designed around Jibbitz personalization, as well as additional extensions of its fast-growing Saturday and Miami collections. It is also launching a sport-focused slide targeting consumers before and after workouts.

And as those consumers increasingly seek products that combine comfort, self-expression and social-media appeal, Crocs believes sandals can become a powerful gateway for its brand.

From a technical perspective, Crocs (CROX - Free Report) is looking like an interesting pick, as it just reached a key level of support. CROX recently overtook the 20-day moving average, and this suggests a short-term bullish trend.

The 20-day simple moving average is a well-liked trading tool because it provides a look back at a stock's price over a 20-day period. Additionally, short-term traders find this SMA very beneficial, as it smooths out short-term price trends and shows more trend reversal signals than longer-term moving averages.

The 20-day moving average can show signals that are similar to other SMAs as well. If a stock's price is moving above the 20-day, the trend is considered positive. When the price falls below the moving average, it can signal a downward trend.

Shares of CROX have been moving higher over the past four weeks, up 13.8%. Plus, the company is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock, suggesting that CROX could be poised for a continued surge.

The bullish case solidifies once investors consider CROX's positive earnings estimate revisions. No estimate has gone lower in the past two months for the current fiscal year, compared to 5 higher, while the consensus estimate has increased too.

Investors should think about putting CROX on their watchlist given the ultra-important technical indicator and positive move in earnings estimate revisions.

© chaylek / Shutterstock.com

With the broad market starting to get just a bit more expensive, while the retail crowd digests a less-than-bullish report issued by Apollo, which suggests that the S&P 500 could be looking at 0% returns for the next decade, it certainly seems like it’s time to think differently about how to put new money to work, especially as the AI revolution looks to enter more of a monetization phase.

While I do think that the transformative technology could prove any sort of “lost decade” kinds of projections wrong, especially as mega AI IPOs like SpaceX, OpenAI, Anthropic, and more look to touch down on the public markets at some point over the next year or so, investors should always be mindful of the price of admission into the market as well as certain types of stocks.

Any way you look at it, there’s more than one big institution that’s taming its return appetite for the decade ahead. And while I certainly wouldn’t take drastic action on a prediction that may very well be underpricing the capabilities of AI and its ability to drive corporate earnings through the roof, I do think that staying the course and ensuring diversification are as important as ever, even though an investor in DRAM or NAND would probably want to go all-in on that red-hot corner of tech at the moment!

Some big investors win big by doing less While hedge funds and big names tend to make headlines for the buys, sells, or options trades they’ve made in a prior quarter, I find it also remarkable when a respected value investor does less.

The great Li Lu, who was a friend of the late Charlie Munger, runs a concentrated portfolio over at Himalaya. The man only made one buy in the fourth quarter, and that was buying shares of footwear firm Crocs (NASDAQ:CROX | CROX Price Prediction), a deep-value play that proved quite well-timed. The other move was a sell. But it is worth noting that Li Lu’s fund didn’t do anything in the quarter prior (Q3).

Another brilliant billionaire legend who isn’t making that many moves is Monhish Pabrai of Dalal Street Holdings. He’s a well-respected value investor who probably deserves more of the spotlight than his more active (and more diversified) peers in the smart money scene. Why? The man is a value investor at heart and puts into practice the philosophies of the greats. 

As of the fourth quarter, Pabrai made just four moves, adding to two core holdings while trimming one name and selling out of another. Mohnish Pabrai’s long-time friend, fellow value investor Guy Spier, is also known for not making too many moves in any given quarter with his concentrated fund.

While keeping the trades and holdings to a minimum might be a brilliant way to invest like Buffett and Munger, few actually have what it takes to concentrate on the best ideas while saying “no” to the non-stop pitches thrown one’s way by the market.

Don’t be afraid to do nothing if your portfolio is already on track Indeed, a lack of moves suggests there may be no need to chase, liquidate, or rotate. In fact, doing nothing has been proven over time to get results compared to more active portfolios. As the saying goes, don’t just do something, stand there!

Smart investors understand that investing is a game with no called strikes. That’s an invaluable piece of wisdom from none other than the great Warren Buffett. And while it’s hard to put into practice (do you know when the last time you didn’t buy or sell stocks for a whole quarter or even a full year?), I still think it’s a move that makes sense when nothing quite striking warrants your swing of the bat, while a lot of noisy events entice some investors to make big, wild swings on speculative trades or just gamble with short-dated options.

At the same time, getting into a panic over modest returns expected ahead or higher valuations also is not a great way to go. You can read all the “lost decade” calls you want, but at the end of the day, nobody knows what the next decade will hold.

AI could power market-beating growth, rather than a low-single-digit or even negative return. Only time will tell. And if you’re neither feeling bullish nor bearish and view your portfolio as in the spot that’s “just right,” don’t be afraid to hold steady and leave the buy and sell button alone.

Crocs: The HEYDUDE Turnaround Is Finally Taking Shape

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.

The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.

It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.

It's highly successful, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.7% average annual return since 1988. That's more than double the S&P 500. But because of the large number of stocks we rate, there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.

For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Crocs (CROX - Free Report) Founded in 1999 and based in Broomfield, CO, Crocs, Inc. is one of the leading footwear brands with its focus on comfort and style. Famous for its iconic clog material, Crocs’ simple design and great comfort was an instant hit among consumers. The company offers a wide variety of footwear products including sandals, wedges, flips and slide that cater to people of all age.

CROX is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

Momentum investors should take note of this Consumer Discretionary stock. CROX has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 13.2% over the past four weeks.

Five analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2026, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.28 to $13.67 per share. CROX also boasts an average earnings surprise of +13.6%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, CROX should be on investors' short list.

Crocs, Inc. to Present at Baird's 2026 Global Consumer, Technology & Services Conference PR Newswire

BROOMFIELD, Colo., June 1, 2026

, /PRNewswire/ -- Crocs, Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX), a world leader in innovative casual footwear for all, today announced that it will present at Baird's 2026 Global Consumer, Technology & Services Conference on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 9:40 AM ET.

A live broadcast of the Company's presentation may be found on the Investor Relations section of the Crocs website, investors.crocs.com. A replay of the webcast will remain available on the website following the completion of the conference.

About Crocs, Inc.:

Crocs, Inc. (Nasdaq: CROX), headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, is a world leader in innovative casual footwear for all, combining comfort and style with a value that consumers know and love. The Company's brands include Crocs and HEYDUDE, and its products are sold in more than 85 countries through wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels. For more information on Crocs, Inc. visit investors.crocs.com. To learn more about our brands, visit www.crocs.com or www.heydude.com. Individuals can also visit https://investors.crocs.com/news-and-events/ and follow both Crocs and HEYDUDE on their social platforms.

Investor Contact:

Abigail Ritter, Crocs, Inc.

(302) 265-0922

[email protected]

PR Contact:

Melissa Layton, Crocs, Inc.

(303) 848-7885

[email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/crocs-inc-to-present-at-bairds-2026-global-consumer-technology--services-conference-302787266.html

SOURCE Crocs, Inc.

Crocs, Inc. (CROX) Presents at 2026 Baird Global Consumer, Technology & Services Conference Transcript

The seven-episode series launches Tuesday, June 16 on TikTok

, /PRNewswire/ -- SuperOrdinary and Crocs, a world leader in innovative casual footwear, today announced the launch of Déjà Shoe, a new seven-episode TikTok microdrama series produced by SuperOrdinary Studios, SuperOrdinary's production and vertical entertainment arm. Crocs is the first footwear brand in the U.S. to integrate TikTok Shop product tagging into a microdrama series, letting viewers shop featured styles directly within the episodes.

Déjà Shoe, a comedy series following Ella (Paige Gallagher), an aspiring stylist trapped reliving her disastrous first day at a chaotic fashion company in an endless Monday loop, premieres Tuesday, June 16 on TikTok. Built around serialized storytelling and in-feed product discovery on TikTok Shop, the series reflects how microdramas are evolving into commerce engines. The campaign will also include localized distribution across seven additional TikTok Shop regions where Crocs is active.

"Microdramas are already reshaping digital entertainment, and we saw an opportunity as a brand to move early as the format evolves in the U.S.," says Carly Gomez, Chief Marketing Officer, Crocs. "What excited us about Déjà Shoe was the ability to deepen our storytelling in this category and connect viewers with our products more directly."

Developed, produced, and delivered in under four weeks, Déjà Shoe follows Ella as she cycles through different identities and fashion aesthetics in an attempt to fit in. The series explores self-expression, internet culture, and the pressure to become the "right" version of yourself online.

"TikTok audiences are incredibly fluent in internet humor and fast-paced storytelling," says Grace Swanson, Head of Production and Development at SuperOrdinary. "We wanted the shopping experience inside Déjà Shoe to feel as natural as the content itself."

SuperOrdinary works with more than 300 brands across TikTok Shop and other social platforms and operates one of the world's largest creator ecosystems. Through SuperOrdinary Studios, the company is transforming microdramas into creator-led digital storefronts.

"Over the next few years, brands are going to build audiences the same way entertainment companies do — through recurring characters, content, and communities people actively choose to follow," says Julian Reis, CEO and Founder of SuperOrdinary. "That shift is already happening on TikTok, and Crocs is ahead of the curve."

About Crocs, Inc.:
Crocs, Inc. (Nasdaq: CROX), headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, is a world leader in innovative casual footwear for all, combining comfort and style with a value that consumers know and love. The Company's brands include Crocs and HEYDUDE, and its products are sold in more than 85 countries through wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels. For more information on Crocs, Inc. visit investors.crocs.com. To learn more about our brands, visit www.crocs.com or www.heydude.com. Individuals can also visit https://investors.crocs.com/news-and-events/ and follow both Crocs and HEYDUDE on their social platforms.

About SuperOrdinary
SuperOrdinary connects brands, creators, and consumers globally, working with innovators like Farmacy, OLAPLEX, Disney, Touchland, Amore Pacific, H&M, and more, on platforms like TikTok Shop and Tmall. Founded by CEO Julian Reis, SuperOrdinary has built the infrastructure around creators to accelerate brands. With over three million creators and affiliates around the world, SuperOrdinary is the platform converting attention into revenue to power the creator-led commerce engine. For more information, please visit our website or LinkedIn.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/superordinary-and-crocs-launch-tiktok-microdrama-series-built-for-conversion-302796853.html

SOURCE SuperOrdinary

One of the quieter stock winners this year has been Crocs (CROX 1.02%), the maker of clog shoes. The footwear stock is up nearly 50% on the year and recently received an analyst upgrade from Baird.

Baird analyst Jonathan Komp took his rating of Crocs from "neutral" to "outperform," while raising his price target from $115 to $150. Komp noted that he has more confidence that the Crocs brand is starting to recover in North America, and that its HeyDude brand is making progress.

The analyst believes that the actions the company took to clean up Croc inventory and cut promotions last year, along with product innovation, are starting to result in improved sales. Meanwhile, he thinks that HeyDude is finally starting to get past the inventory issues that have plagued the brand.

Komp forecasts that Crocs could generate adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $13.55 this year, with it reaching $14.90 in 2027. However, if sales can accelerate and it buys back more shares, adjusted EPS could climb closer to $17 in 2027.

Image source: Getty Images.

The Crocs brand has generally held up pretty well over the past few years, even if growth has slowed. Meanwhile, it is seeing some pockets of strength.

International sales jumped 7% last quarter to $421 million, while direct-to-consumer (DTC) revenue rose 13% to $322 million. If it is starting to see better traction in North America, as Komp suggests, that is a big positive for the stock.

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Crocs' biggest issue, though, has been its HeyDude brand. The 2022 acquisition has been a disaster almost from the start, as unbeknownst to the company, the brand had flooded the market with product before the deal. Crocs has spent the past several years trying to aggressively clean up inventory and reset the brand. It even hired actress Sydney Sweeney to be the face of the brand.

While it's made progress and seen some success with new products, HeyDude has remained a drag. Last quarter, the brand's revenue sank 12% to $154 million, as wholesale revenue plunged 25% to $83 million. It is looking for HeyDude revenue to drop by 14% to 12% for the fiscal second quarter and be down by 7% to 5% for the year.

Even after the jump in its share price this year, the stock still trades at an attractive valuation. It currently has a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) of just around 9 times this fiscal year's estimates. If Crocs can finally start to see revenue growth pick up a bit, its stock should still have plenty of upside from here.

Key Takeaways Crocs brand international revenues increased 7% in Q1, led by double-digit growth in China, Japan and India.CROX expects international sales growth to approach 10% and surpass North America revenues in 2026.Crocs expanded its Southeast Asia presence by adding 21 Malaysian stores through a direct model shift. Crocs, Inc. (CROX - Free Report) continues to see international markets emerge as a key growth engine, helping offset softness in certain domestic channels and supporting its long-term expansion strategy. The company’s global brand appeal, growing digital presence and localized marketing initiatives have enabled it to gain market share across several high-priority regions. Management remains particularly optimistic about opportunities in Asia, where consumer engagement and demand for new products continue to trend higher.

In first-quarter 2026, Crocs brand international revenues increased 7% year over year despite some disruption from the Middle East conflict. The company reported double-digit growth in key Tier 1 markets, including China, Japan and India. Overall enterprise revenues totaled $921 million, while Crocs brand revenues reached $767 million. Management noted that international sales are expected to grow at a high-single-digit rate this year, approaching the roughly 10% growth outlook discussed previously. Notably, Crocs expects international revenues to surpass North America revenues in 2026, marking a significant milestone in its global expansion journey.

China remains one of the company’s most promising growth markets. During the quarter, Crocs hosted its first-ever Super Brand Day on Douyin, generating stronger-than-expected results and driving consumer engagement through celebrity livestreaming events. The company also benefited from robust direct-to-consumer demand and strong digital traffic, reinforcing the effectiveness of its localized marketing strategy. Beyond China, growth in Japan was fueled by strong personalization trends, while India benefited from successful digital campaigns and celebrity partnerships.

Looking ahead, Crocs appears well positioned to sustain international momentum through product innovation, digital commerce expansion and strategic market investments. The company recently converted its Malaysia distributor business into a directly operated model, adding 21 productive retail stores and strengthening its presence in Southeast Asia. With strong consumer response across major international markets and significant white-space opportunities still available, China and the broader Asia-Pacific region could remain critical drivers of Crocs’ future growth trajectory.

The Zacks Rundown for CROXCrocs’ shares have surged 61.5% in the past three months against the industry’s dip of 2.5%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, CROX trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 8.90X, lower than the industry’s average 17.76X.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CROX’s 2026 and 2027 EPS estimates imply year-over-year growth of 9.3% and 7.7%, respectively. The consensus mark for 2026 and 2027 EPS has remained stable in the past seven days.

CROX stock presently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Key Picks in the Consumer Discretionary SpaceVince Holding Corp. (VNCE - Free Report) provides luxury apparel and accessories in the United States and internationally. It operates through Vince Wholesale and Vince Direct-to-Consumer segments. At present, the company sports a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for VNCE’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 4.5% and 25% from the year-ago reported figures. VNCE has delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 647.2%, on average.

Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM - Free Report) engages in the design, development, marketing and distribution of outdoor, active and lifestyle products in the United States, Latin America, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Canada. At present, COLM flaunts a Zacks Rank of 1.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for COLM’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 2.6% and 4.6% from the year-ago reported numbers. COLM delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 44.1%, on average.

Superior Group of Companies, Inc. (SGC - Free Report) produces, manufactures and sells promotional products and branded uniforms, and healthcare apparel and accessories in the United States and internationally. At present, SGC carries a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy).

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SGC’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings implies growth of 2% and 28.3%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures. SGC delivered a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of 81.9%, on average.