Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE: FL) Stock Overview – All You Need to Know About Foot Locker, Inc.

Foot Locker, Inc. is a well-known footwear and apparel retailer based in New York. With around 2,700 retail stores across 29 countries in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as having franchised stores in the Middle East and Asia, Foot Locker has made a name for itself as a powerhouse in the sneaker industry. 

Foot Locker Inc. boasts a handful of brands, including Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, WSS, and atmos. In this article, we will dive into Foot Locker as a company, as well as its shares listed on the NYSE.

History of Foot Locker, Inc. ^[1]

Foot Locker’s origins date back to 1879 despite being officially established in 1974. It all started in 1963 when F.W. Woolworth purchased the Kinney Shoe Corporation and operated it as a subsidiary. During the 1960s, Kinney expanded its business into niche shoe stores, such as Stylco in 1967 and Susie Casuals in 1968. 

On 12 September 1974, Foot Locker was officially launched. In 1988, the F.W. Woolworth Company established an independent company known as the Woolworth Corporation in New York, which took charge of various specialty chains under Woolworth’s management, including Foot locker stores. 

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the company’s flagship department store chain faced a host of challenges. In 1998, the Woolworth Corporation underwent a name change, becoming Venator Group, Inc. As Foot Locker had become Venator Group’s top performing line, on 2 November 2001, the company underwent another name change, adopting the name Foot Locker, Inc. which has been kept the same till this day ^[2]. 

Foot Locker first made its public stock offering and was listed in 1971 on the New York Stock Exchange at an average price of $5.33. 

Foot Locker, Inc. Financial Insights ^[3]

The company’s reported net income for first quarter 2023 was $36 million compared to $133 million in the first quarter of 2022, with its EPS dropping from $1.37 to $0.38. Sales dropped to $1,927 million, down 11.4% from $2,175 million in the first quarter of 2022. Revenue was $1,931 million compared to $2,178 million a year ago.

Here’s how Foot Locker has been performing on the stock market for the year 2023: 

Figure 1: Foot Locker 2023 price chart. Image obtained from TradingView.

Foot Locker’s stock price has seen its fair share peaks and troughs this year. Most notably, the stock price dropped a significant 39.7% in May this year after an underwhelming consumer slowdown led to a sales drop ^[4]. 

Stock Splits & Dividend ^[5]

Foot Locker underwent a total of 3 stock splits since it was listed on the NYSE: 

Date	Stock Split
June 1986	2 for 1
June 1990	2 for 1
June 1993	2 for 1

Table 1: Foot Locker stock split

Foot Locker pays dividends four times a year, with the last dividend declared in May 2023, payout in July 2023. Payment months are January, April, July, and October.

Stock Trading Information

Here are key details regarding the Foot Locker stock that may prove useful for traders: 

• Primary exchange: NYSE
• Ticker: FL
• Country: U.S.
• Currency: USD
• Trading hours:
  •  Main: 9:30am to 4:00pm ET, Monday to Friday
  •  Pre-market: 4:00am to 9:30am
  •  After-market: 4:00pm to 8:00pm

To start trading Foot Locker (NYSE: FL) shares via Contracts for Difference (CFDs), you can open a live account with Vantage and enjoy $0 commissions trading for all US shares today.

Why Trade Foot Locker, Inc.?

Thinking about trading FL stock? Here are several factors that might give you more reason to trade the stock: 

1. Revolutionary footwear and apparel innovator

Foot Locker has been in the business since 1974 and is the leading global retailer of athletically inspired shoes and apparel, offering a vast selection of athletic footwear, apparel, and accessories both in-store and online. Its success can be attributed to its commitment to quality products, strong brand partnerships, and its ability to adapt to changing consumer demands. 

This year, Foot Locker Kids has teamed up with Ground Up International to bring a touch of magic to young feet with a captivating Little Mermaid sneaker series in conjunction with the live action Little Mermaid movie. This partnership merges the enchanting world of Ariel with stylish and comfortable footwear that kids will love ^[6].

Foot Locker has approximately 2,700 stores in 29 countries, with the vast majority located in the United States ^[7]. Its accessibility and credibility has the potential to drive higher revenue for Foot Locker, which could also increase demand for the stock on the NYSE.

2. Ever growing demand for footwear & apparel

Footwear is not just seen as a practical necessity, but also as a fashion statement. 

Changing fashion trends and consumer preferences for different styles of shoes contribute to the growing demand. The ease of online shopping has also made it easier for consumers to access a wide variety of footwear products, enabling them to explore and purchase from a broader range of options. 

The increased desire for newer and up-to-date footwear and apparel could also contribute to Foot Locker’s higher earnings, and support interest in FL’s stock. 

3. Robust and sustainable long-term strategy

With the aim of achieving its objectives, Foot Locker has introduced the “Lace up” Plan, which focuses on expanding the sneaker culture, encouraging greater diversity among banners, such as relaunching the Foot Locker brand, strengthening customer relationships, and the enhancement of omnichannel experience. 

Foot Locker anticipates a total sales increase of 5% to 6%, comparable sales growth ranging between 3% to 4%, and adjusted EPS growth in the low-to-mid-twenties for the fiscal years 2024 through 2026 ^[8].

Furthermore, Foot Locker has plans to expand the number of “new concept” stores to focus on its best-performing stores by 2026, while simultaneously discontinuing smaller In-Mall stores. By 2026, Foot Locker expects 50% of its revenue to come from outside of malls, up from 35% today, and expects growth in its annual revenue by $1 billion to $9.5 billion ^[9]. 

Technical Analysis of Foot Locker, Inc.

Figure 2: Foot Locker 1996 – 2023 price chart. Image obtained from TradingView.

Between 1996 and 2006, FL stock price consistently faced resistance at the $30 mark and did not manage to break through it. However, in the year 2013, a significant breakthrough occurred, and the price surged upward since then. $30 has now become a strong support region instead, with the stock price demonstrating a tendency to rebound strongly whenever it hits the $30 level. 

Foot Locker, Inc. Supply Chain ^[10]

Foot Locker is focusing on refining its product varieties within the procurement aspect of the supply chain. This effort is taking place in the midst of a challenging situation, where its main brand supplier, Nike, is aiming to increase its direct-to-consumer (DTC) shoe sales and sell less through retailers like Foot Locker. 

However, the current CEO of Foot Locker, Mary Dillion, added that Foot Locker and Nike have strengthened their partnership and reestablished their collaborative planning. She noted that their “renewed commitment” to one another will bring in more sales especially during the holiday season this year as they build increasing momentum to 2024 and the 50th anniversary of Foot Locker ^[11]. 

At the end of the day, Nike still dominates Foot Locker in terms of its sales. Chief Merchandising Officer of Foot Locker, Chris Santaella, announced that the footwear giant will maintain its position as the leading brand partner in Nike’s portfolio. Nike has come to realise the significance of Foot Locker as much as Foot Locker needs Nike. 

In the recent year, Nike has effectively dealt with its own glut of inventory, similar to how store chains have handled their inventory challenges. Retail stores play an important role in clearing excess stocks, while also offering data, revelations, and cross-selling possibilities that are absent in DTC channels ^[12]. 

Trade Foot Locker with Vantage

If you are bullish (or bearish), on Foot Locker (NYSE:FL), you can consider trading FL shares via Contracts for Differences (CFDs). CFDs allow you to go long or short on stocks like FL, seizing trading opportunities on the rise or fall in prices without having to own the actual FL shares. 

To help you get started with trading FL shares and other US shares, Vantage offers commission-free trading for all US shares. Sign up for a live account and start trading with Vantage Markets today!

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