Caleres

Is Caleres publicly traded?
Yes, Caleres, Inc. is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CAL. Investors can purchase shares through any brokerage account that provides access to NYSE-listed stocks.

What is Caleres's old name?
Caleres was formerly known as the Brown Shoe Company, a name it used from 1913 until rebranding as Caleres in 2015. The company was originally founded in 1878 as Bryan, Brown and Company by George Warren Brown in St. Louis, Missouri.

When did Caleres acquire Stuart Weitzman?
Caleres completed the acquisition of Stuart Weitzman from Tapestry, Inc. on August 4, 2025, for $120.2 million, including $11.5 million in cash received at closing. The net purchase price was $108.7 million. Stuart Weitzman generated trailing 12-month sales of approximately $220 million at the time of acquisition and brought 73 retail locations, including 23 in North America and 50 in China.

What brands does Caleres own?
Caleres owns Famous Footwear (retail chain), Sam Edelman, Allen Edmonds, Naturalizer, Vionic, Dr. Scholl's, and Stuart Weitzman. These brands operate through two segments: Famous Footwear (retail) and Brand Portfolio (owned brands sold through wholesale, direct-to-consumer, and e-commerce).

What is Caleres's annual revenue?
Caleres reported net sales of $2.8 billion for fiscal 2025 (52 weeks ended January 31, 2026), an increase of 1.3% from fiscal 2024. The acquisition of Stuart Weitzman contributed $102.2 million in sales during the year. On an organic basis, excluding Stuart Weitzman, sales declined 2.5%. For Q1 2026, net sales were $667 million, up 8.5% from Q1 2025.

Who is the CEO of Caleres?
Jay Schmidt serves as President and CEO of Caleres. He has identified three strategic growth vectors: owned e-commerce, international expansion, and lead brand development. Schmidt described 2026 as a "build-back year" with modest organic sales growth and meaningful earnings recovery.

How is Caleres performing in 2026?
For Q1 2026, Caleres reported net sales of $667 million, up 8.5% from Q1 2025. Brand Portfolio sales increased 20.6% with organic sales up 5.8%. GAAP earnings per diluted share were $0.42 and adjusted earnings per diluted share were $0.38, both exceeding guidance. Gross margin improved 200 basis points to 47.3%. For full-year 2026, Caleres expects total sales to increase low to mid-single digits with GAAP EPS of $1.44 to $1.69.

Caleres traces its origins to 1878, when George Warren Brown established the Bryan, Brown and Company shoe factory in St. Louis, Missouri. The company was incorporated as the Brown Shoe Company in 1913 and grew to become one of the largest footwear companies in the United States. Brown Shoe operated manufacturing facilities, retail stores, and a portfolio of footwear brands throughout the 20th century.

In the early 2000s, Brown Shoe began acquiring contemporary footwear brands to diversify beyond its traditional manufacturing base. The company acquired Sam Edelman in 2010, Allen Edmonds in 2014, and Vionic in 2018. These acquisitions built the foundation of what would become the Brand Portfolio segment.

In 2002, Caleres acquired the Famous Footwear retail chain, which became the company's largest revenue contributor. In 2015, Brown Shoe Company rebranded as Caleres, adopting a name derived from the Latin word "calere," meaning "to warm" or "to glow." The rebranding reflected the company's evolution from a traditional shoe manufacturer into a diversified portfolio of footwear brands.

In August 2025, Caleres acquired the Stuart Weitzman brand from Tapestry, Inc. for $120.2 million, including $11.5 million in cash received at closing. The net purchase price was $108.7 million. Stuart Weitzman generated trailing 12-month sales of approximately $220 million and brought 73 retail locations into the Caleres portfolio, including 23 in North America and 50 in China. Caleres completed the Stuart Weitzman integration onto its platforms in Q4 FY2025, on time and on budget.

For fiscal 2025 (52 weeks ended January 31, 2026), Caleres reported net sales of $2.8 billion, up 1.3% from fiscal 2024. The acquisition of Stuart Weitzman added $102.2 million in sales during the year. On an organic basis, excluding Stuart Weitzman, sales declined 2.5%. The company reported a GAAP net loss of $6.7 million for FY2025, compared to GAAP net earnings of $107.3 million in FY2024, driven by Stuart Weitzman acquisition and integration costs, tariff impacts, and Famous Footwear sales declines.

For Q1 2026, Caleres reported net sales of $667 million, up 8.5% from Q1 2025. Brand Portfolio sales increased 20.6%, with organic sales up 5.8%. Famous Footwear sales declined 2.5% with comparable sales down 2.3%. GAAP earnings per diluted share were $0.42, and adjusted earnings per diluted share were $0.38. Gross margin improved 200 basis points to 47.3%.

Caleres has been included in Newsweek's America's Most Responsible Companies list for five consecutive years (2022 through 2026), presented in collaboration with Statista. CEO Jay Schmidt stated that the recognition reflects the company's commitment to "creating sustainable value for all our stakeholders" and its core value of "caring about people, ethics, integrity and our shared planet."

As of 2024, 95% of Caleres-owned products contain at least one environmentally preferred material. The company has set 2025 responsible business aspirations including: 100% of shoeboxes for owned brands using environmentally preferred materials (92% progress), 25% reduction in energy use in Caleres-owned retail stores and distribution centers (86% progress), 100% of strategic sourcing supplier base contributing to waste reduction (83% progress), and 100% of strategic factories complying with heightened labor standards including fair wage programs (87% progress).

Caleres measures its carbon footprint in partnership with Watershed, a CDP gold accredited software solutions provider, following GHG Protocol guidelines. The data covers approximately 95% of companywide facility energy and emissions. The company's strategic factories participating in the Footwear Factory Zero Waste Program have achieved a 64% reduction in waste.

The company's global sourcing network spans Italy, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, and Bangladesh. Quality is ensured through a Five-Star Program, while compliance is audited by LRQA. Caleres's Asia Sourcing Head Alexander Thomas has emphasized the company's commitment to sustainable leather, noting that leather is more sustainable than petroleum-based PU alternatives.

Caleres has not obtained B Corp certification. The company publishes a biennial Responsible Business Summary Report, with the most recent covering fiscal year 2024.

• Newsweek America's Most Responsible Companies 2026: Fifth consecutive year on the list, presented in collaboration with Statista (December 2025)
• Market Share Gains (Q4 FY2025 and Q1 2026): Brand Portfolio gained significant market share in both women's fashion footwear and total footwear, according to Circana data
• Stuart Weitzman Integration (Q4 FY2025): Completed on time and on budget with minimal business disruption
• Q4 FY2025 Earnings: Adjusted EPS exceeded company guidance
• Q1 2026 Earnings: Adjusted EPS of $0.38 exceeded guidance, with gross margin improvement of 200 basis points

Caleres faces tariff exposure on imported footwear, which significantly impacted gross margins in FY2025. The company's gross margin declined 190 basis points in FY2025 due to tariffs and Stuart Weitzman integration costs. CEO Jay Schmidt acknowledged that "the current geopolitical backdrop presents a level of risk and uncertainty." The company has implemented tariff mitigation strategies expected to improve gross margin in FY2026.

The Stuart Weitzman acquisition resulted in a GAAP net loss of $6.7 million for FY2025, compared to GAAP net earnings of $107.3 million in FY2024. Stuart Weitzman acquisition and integration costs totaled $13.2 million in Q4 FY2025 alone. The company expects to incur approximately $2 million in remaining Stuart Weitzman acquisition and integration expenses in FY2026.

Famous Footwear has faced declining comparable sales, with FY2025 comparable sales down 2.3% and Q1 2026 comparable sales down 2.3%. This reflects broader challenges in the retail footwear sector, including changing consumer purchasing patterns and competition from direct-to-consumer brands and online retailers.

The company's reliance on third-party manufacturing facilities in China and other countries creates supply chain risk. Caleres disclosed in its SEC filings that it relies heavily on third-party manufacturing for a significant amount of its inventory, exposing the company to political and economic conditions in sourcing countries.