G-III Apparel Q2 EPS beats but Q3 guidance misses estimates
- G-III Apparel Q2 adjusted EPS beat at $0.26 vs $0.19 estimate
- Sales fell 9.65% YoY to $554 million, missing $568.4 million estimate
- Q3 guidance misses estimates with EPS of $1.35-$1.45 vs $1.75 estimate
- Gross margin expanded 440 bps to 45.2% driven by owned brands
- Marc Jacobs acquisition expected to generate $360 million in sales this year

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
G-III Apparel Group (NASDAQ: GIII) reported second-quarter fiscal 2027 adjusted earnings per share of $0.26, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of $0.19. Despite the earnings beat, shares fell 9.79% after the company issued a weaker-than-expected third-quarter outlook, projecting sales and earnings below estimates due to the exit from Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger licenses.
Top-line growth remained under pressure as quarterly sales of $554 million missed the analyst consensus estimate of $568.413 million by 2.52%. This figure marks a 9.65% decline compared to sales of $613.266 million in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. The revenue miss primarily reflected the continued exit from Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger licenses, which have cost the company nearly $1.2 billion in revenue since PVH Corp. announced the return of those licenses in fiscal 2023.
What the Numbers Show
The divergence between the significant earnings beat and the substantial revenue miss highlights favorable mix effects that insulated profitability despite lower volume. While sales contracted nearly 10%, net profit per share expanded slightly, suggesting operational efficiencies offset the top-line headwinds. Gross margin expanded by 440 basis points year-over-year to 45.2%, driven by pricing strategies, more full-price sales, and a shift towards higher-margin owned brands. Wholesale gross margin improved to 43.3% from 38.9%, while retail gross margin fell to 50.6% from 52.4% due to increased promotional activity.
| Metric | Current Quarter | Prior Year Quarter | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjusted EPS | $0.26 | $0.25 | +4% |
| Sales | $554 million | $613.266 million | -9.65% |
| Analyst EPS Estimate | $0.19 | N/A | Beat by 36.84% |
| Analyst Sales Estimate | $568.413 million | N/A | Miss by 2.52% |
| Gross Margin | 45.2% | 40.8% | +440 bps |
Strategic Updates and Guidance
G-III Apparel Group completed the acquisition of Marc Jacobs, expected to generate about $360 million in global sales this year, excluding licensing revenue. The brand could eventually reach $1 billion in annual revenue. The acquisition is expected to be slightly dilutive in fiscal 2027 but accretive after the first 12 months. G-III plans to include Marc Jacobs in its formal outlook when it reports third-quarter results in December.
Management reaffirmed fiscal 2027 net sales guidance of approximately $2.71 billion, excluding Marc Jacobs' impact. However, the company raised its non-GAAP earnings per diluted share guidance to $2.20 to $2.30, reflecting upside in second-quarter earnings. For fiscal 2027, G-III also raised its GAAP earnings outlook to $4.10 to $4.20 per share from $3.85 to $3.95.
The balance sheet remains strong with $529 million in cash and approximately $1 billion in available liquidity. This position was supported by the receipt of roughly $134 million in tariff refunds and interest during the quarter. Inventories are down approximately 13% compared to the prior year. The company also returned more than $12 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends.
Brand Performance
Owned brands showed significant growth momentum. Donna Karan sales increased more than 45% in the second quarter, driven by healthy full-price selling and digital performance. DKNY built momentum with mid-20% growth on DKNY.com and solid comp store sales. Karl Lagerfeld and Vilebrequin also delivered growth despite difficult conditions in Europe.
Challenges persisted in the European market due to macroeconomic softness and reduced traffic. Results from Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger licenses were lower than planned as the company exits these agreements. Excluding these licenses, the go-forward portfolio grew at a high single-digit rate. Wholesale sales in full-price channels for the go-forward portfolio were up more than 20%. G-III expects its go-forward portfolio to replace about $700 million of the lost license sales by the end of fiscal 2027.
Third-Quarter Outlook
For the third quarter, G-III expects adjusted earnings of $1.35 to $1.45 per share, below the $1.75 estimate. The company projected sales of about $870 million, also below the $899.40 million estimate. The exit from Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger licenses will eliminate about $460 million in fiscal 2027 sales, weighing most heavily on third-quarter revenue.
How will the integration of Marc Jacobs impact G-III's gross margins and operational costs in the first year, given the expected initial dilution?
Can G-III's owned brands like Donna Karan and DKNY realistically replace the $700 million in lost license revenue by the end of fiscal 2027 without significant marketing spend increases?
What specific strategies is G-III employing to mitigate the headwinds from European macroeconomic softness and reduced retail traffic?





























