Will 2017 Be Under Armour’s Worst Year Yet?

Under Armour has shown some surprising signs of fatigue lately. The one-time stock market darling had its first losing year since the recession in 2016 as the stock fell 28%. It came under valuation pressure in 2015, then plummeted when management scaled back 2018 guidance last October. At its 2015 Investor Day conference, the company announced goals of $7.5 billion in revenue and $800 million in operating income by 2018. But on its latest earnings call in October, management slashed that operating income guidance, saying it would reach just about $600 million in 2018 as the company invested to “get big, fast.” Under Armour’s revenue growth has been superb over the years. The company posted its 26th consecutive quarter of 20% or greater growth, though it was a given that maintaining that growth rate would get more difficult, which is why the company had to sacrifice on the bottom line. Although it sees revenue growth in the low 20% range over the next two years, it expects operating income to grow by just the mid-teens. Read more at The Motley Fool.