Finish Line Inc (FINL) Looks to Rebound With Full-Year Results: Foot Locker, Inc. (FL), NIKE, Inc. (NKE)

Running shoes remain hot

Despite the fact that Americans have been reducing discretionary spending in the midst of economic uncertainty, athletic shoe makers continue to see a surge in demand. Whereas overall apparel sales have remained relatively flat in the last twelve months, according to NPD Group data, athletic shoe and apparel sales are increasing in the high single digits. In the last few quarters, Finish Line Inc (NASDAQ:FINL) continues to reiterate brisk sales of lightweight running shoes, such as the NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) “Free” and Nike’s new “Flyknit Lunar1+”—along with double-digit growth in traditional running shoes. In addition to its own click and mortar stores, Finish Line also operates 25 specialty running shops (known as “The Running Company”) across seven states through a joint venture with Gart Capital Partners, a Denver private equity partnership.

With an expected strong earnings report from Nike on Mar. 21, an undervalued business, and ample opportunity to ride a running shoe trend, Finish Line should be able to meet or beat full-year guidance and lift its share price out of its third-quarter trough.

The article Finish Line Looks to Rebound With Full-Year Results originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Julian Willis.

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