Kontoor Brands, Inc.

What companies does Kontoor Brands own?
Kontoor Brands owns Wrangler, Lee, and Helly Hansen, along with the Musto brand which was acquired as part of Helly Hansen. The company was spun off from VF Corporation in 2019 with Wrangler and Lee, and acquired Helly Hansen in May 2025 for $957.5 million. In Q1 2026, Kontoor announced a competitive process to divest the Lee business.

Is Kontoor Brands publicly traded?
Yes, Kontoor Brands is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol KTB. The company was spun off from VF Corporation in May 2019 and has been independently traded since. It had 55,254,141 shares outstanding as of February 27, 2026.

Who is the CEO of Kontoor Brands?
Scott Baxter has served as President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board since the company's inception as an independent entity in 2019. He has led the company through its spinoff from VF Corporation, the Helly Hansen acquisition in 2025, and the planned divestiture of Lee in 2026.

What is Kontoor Brands' revenue?
Kontoor Brands reported revenue of $3.15 billion for fiscal year 2025, the year ended January 3, 2026. This was a 21% increase from the prior year, including an 18 percentage point benefit from the Helly Hansen acquisition. For fiscal 2026, the company expects revenue from continuing operations of $2.66 to $2.71 billion.

Where is Kontoor Brands headquartered?
Kontoor Brands is headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. Greensboro has a long history as a center for the U.S. textile and apparel industry. Both Wrangler and Lee have deep roots in the region, and the company maintains its corporate offices there.

When was Kontoor Brands founded?
Kontoor Brands was established as an independent company in May 2019 when VF Corporation spun off its denim business. The brands within Kontoor have much longer histories: Helly Hansen was founded in 1877, Lee in 1889, and Wrangler in 1947.

Why is Kontoor selling Lee?
Kontoor announced the planned divestiture of Lee in Q1 2026 to focus on Wrangler and Helly Hansen, which CEO Scott Baxter described as having "the greatest potential to maximize shareholder returns." Lee's revenue declined 5% in fiscal 2025, while Wrangler grew 6%. The divestiture process has attracted interest from multiple parties, and the company anticipates entering a definitive agreement in 2026.

Kontoor Brands was created in 2019 when VF Corporation spun off its denim business. The spinoff was completed on May 23, 2019, and Kontoor began trading on the NYSE under ticker KTB. The separation was intended to allow the denim brands to operate independently, free from the portfolio management priorities of VF Corporation, which was focusing on outdoor and lifestyle brands like The North Face and Vans.

The brands within Kontoor have much deeper histories. Helly Hansen, the oldest, was founded in 1877 in Moss, Norway, by sea captain Helly Juell Hansen and his wife Maren Margrethe. The brand started with waterproof oilskin jackets for fishermen and sailors and grew into a global outdoor and workwear brand. Lee was founded in 1889 in Salina, Kansas, by Henry David Lee as a wholesale grocery company that later expanded into workwear and denim. Wrangler was born in 1947 when Blue Bell Overall Company, based in Greensboro, North Carolina, hired designer Bernard Lichtenberg to create a jeans line for cowboys. The brand was officially named Wrangler in 1947.

After the spinoff, Kontoor focused on stabilizing operations and improving profitability. The company faced challenges including declining denim demand, wholesale channel pressure, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under Baxter's leadership, Kontoor reduced costs, optimized its supply chain, and grew its direct-to-consumer business. The company also returned capital to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

The defining strategic move came in 2025. On May 31, 2025, Kontoor completed the acquisition of Helly Hansen and its subsidiary brand Musto for CAD $1.3 billion, equivalent to $957.5 million USD. The purchase price was funded by indebtedness and cash on hand. Helly Hansen is a premium global outdoor and workwear brand, and Musto is a premium sailing and outdoor brand. The acquisition scaled Kontoor's presence in the outdoor and workwear markets and diversified the portfolio across geographies, categories, and consumers.

In Q1 2026, Kontoor announced a competitive process to divest the Lee business. The company reported Lee's results as discontinued operations starting in Q1 2026. CEO Scott Baxter stated that the decision to divest Lee enables "sharper focus on the opportunities with greatest potential to maximize shareholder returns." The company also announced a $750 million share repurchase program alongside the divestiture announcement.

For Q1 2026, revenue from continuing operations was $613 million, exceeding expectations. Wrangler global revenue was $436 million, up 4%. Helly Hansen global revenue was $176 million. The company raised its full year 2026 outlook, with revenue from continuing operations expected in the range of $2.66 to $2.71 billion.

Kontoor Brands publishes a sustainability report covering environmental and social metrics. The company has set targets for water reduction in denim manufacturing, which is a water-intensive process. Kontoor has invested in water-saving technologies at its manufacturing facilities and has implemented recycling programs.

The company operates a global supply chain with manufacturing in multiple countries. Kontoor has a supplier code of conduct and conducts audits of its manufacturing partners. The company has faced scrutiny over labor conditions in its supply chain, particularly in Bangladesh and Nicaragua, where it operates facilities.

Helly Hansen brings additional sustainability considerations as an outdoor brand. The brand has published its own sustainability commitments focused on responsible material sourcing and reducing environmental impact.

Kontoor Brands has faced supply chain controversies common to apparel manufacturers. The company has been subject to scrutiny over working conditions at its manufacturing facilities in developing countries. Labor rights organizations have raised concerns about wages and working conditions in the apparel industry broadly, and Kontoor has had to address these issues through its supplier code of conduct and audit programs.

The Lee brand has faced declining sales for several years, raising questions about the brand's long-term viability within the portfolio. The decision to divest Lee in 2026 was a strategic response to these challenges, but it also means Kontoor is selling a brand with 137 years of history.

The Helly Hansen acquisition was funded primarily with debt, increasing the company's leverage. While the company expects strong cash flow to manage this debt, the acquisition adds financial risk. The $750 million share repurchase program announced alongside the Lee divestiture has drawn some questioning from analysts about capital allocation priorities.