VF Corporation, a leading apparel and footwear company listed on the NYSE under ticker VFC, announced its financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 on Wednesday. The company reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 56 cents, comfortably exceeding the consensus estimate from analysts, which stood at 45 cents.
The quarter's net sales reached $2.876 billion, surpassing the Street's projection of $2.768 billion. This notable improvement was mainly attributed to a stronger-than-anticipated holiday selling season. Key contributors to this solid performance included high demand for products from The North Face and Timberland brands, significant growth within the Americas region, and sustained momentum in VF's direct-to-consumer sales channel.
Chief Executive Officer Bracken Darrell highlighted the brand-specific growth rates, noting that The North Face posted an 8% increase on a constant dollar basis, while Timberland experienced a 5% rise. Vans, another important brand in VF’s portfolio, delivered results that aligned with management’s expectations.
During the quarter, VF Corporation finalized a strategic divestment by selling its Dickies brand business to Bluestar Alliance LLC. The initial definitive agreement was made on September 15, 2025, with the sale completed on November 12, 2025. Excluding the discontinued Dickies segment, adjusted sales for the quarter totaled $2.820 billion.
Specifically, The North Face showed an 8% increase compared to the previous year, or 5% growth on a constant-currency basis, underlining the brand's strong performance during its peak selling season.
On the profitability front, VF's adjusted operating income rose to $341 million, an improvement from $318 million earned a year prior. The adjusted operating margin expanded by 30 basis points, reaching 12.1% — signaling enhanced operational efficiency and cost management.
Liquidity remained robust as the company ended the quarter with $1.466 billion in cash and cash equivalents, providing it with financial flexibility for ongoing operations and strategic initiatives.
In terms of shareholder returns, VF's Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of 9 cents per share. This dividend is scheduled for payment on March 19, 2026, to shareholders recorded as of the close of business on March 10, 2026.
Looking ahead, VF Corporation projects fourth-quarter revenue in the range of $2.140 billion to $2.183 billion. This anticipated figure exceeds Wall Street analysts' consensus estimate, which is approximately $2.095 billion. The company also reaffirmed its leverage guidance for the full fiscal year 2026, expecting to maintain a leverage ratio at or below 3.5x. This outlook underscores VF's focus on financial discipline and stable long-term capital structure.
CEO Bracken Darrell expressed confidence, stating, "We remain on track to deliver our medium-term financial targets and are excited about the future of the business." This suggests that VF anticipates continued momentum and operational improvements as the company targets sustainable growth.
Despite the upbeat results and outlook, VF's stock price experienced a modest decrease of 1.87% in premarket trading on Wednesday, closing at $19.89 according to Benzinga Pro. The market reaction may reflect broader investor considerations beyond the company’s immediate financial results.