Filing Flows › Columbia Sportswear (COLM) › Guidance & outlook
Columbia Sportswear (COLM) guidance and outlook
Columbia Sportswear (COLM) raised some and lowered other parts of its guidance on Oct 29, 2026: Gross margin 52.1%–52.3% for FY2026; Revenue $3.4B for Q4 2026; Gross margin +160 bps to +180 bps for Q4 2026; Tax rate 25% for Q4 2026. Columbia Sportswear's 10-Q filed Nov 5, 2026 makes 12 forward-looking statements.
Guidance and outlook
Latest guidance
| Metric | Period | Range | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | FY2026 | 52.1%–52.3% | new |
| Revenue | Q4 2026 | $3.4B | lowered |
| Gross margin | Q4 2026 | +160 bps to +180 bps | new |
| Tax rate | Q4 2026 | 25% | new |
| EPS | Q4 2026 | $3.24 | lowered |
From the earnings release filed Oct 29, 2026 (8-K on EDGAR).
Forward-looking statements, 10-Q filed Nov 5, 2026
- Ultimately, we expect our investments to enable market share capture across our brand portfolio, expand gross margin, improve selling, general and administrative expense efficiency, and drive improved operating margin over the long-term.
- The foundational shifts of the ACCELERATE Growth Strategy are continuing to show tangible signs of traction with our target consumers, reflecting progress across the Columbia brand, product, marketing and marketplace initiatives.
- Tariff refunds of $8 million remain deferred in inventory, which we expect to be recognized as a future benefit to gross margin as the associated inventory is sold in the fourth quarter of 2026.
- In response to expected longer lead times, we have brought forward Spring 2027 production, which we expect to increase year-end inventory.
- The decline in U.S. net sales reflected a shift in the shipment timing of increased Fall 2026 wholesale orders, with a higher proportion expected to ship in the fourth quarter of 2026 as compared to the same period in 2025, partially offset by growth in our DTC business.
- • lower expenses in targeted areas of the business resulting from prior-year actions taken under our Profit Improvement Program and disciplined expense management in the current year.
- U.S. net sales decreased $5.8 million, or 1%, for the third quarter of 2026, compared to the same period in 2025, driven by our U.S. wholesale business, reflecting a shift in the shipment timing of increased Fall 2026 orders, with a higher proportion expected to ship in the fourth quarter of 2026 as compared to the same period in 2025, partially offset by growth across our DTC e-commerce and B&M businesses.
- Unallocated corporate expenses decreased by $35.4 million to $217.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2026 from $253.2 million for the comparable period in 2025, primarily reflecting the absence of $29.0 million prior-year impairment charges of goodwill and intangible assets, as well as lower expenses in targeted areas of the business resulting from prior-year actions taken under our Profit…
- This trough cash position is impacted by the amount of inventory we order from our contract manufacturers in anticipation of customer demand and is more heavily impacted in advance of periods of expected high demand.
- While we currently project having adequate liquidity to meet our short-term and long-term working capital needs, we have a $500.0 million committed credit facility on which we can draw, should it be needed, until we receive cash receipts in the fourth quarter.
- Our expected short-term and long-term cash needs are primarily for working capital and capital expenditures.
- We expect to meet these short-term and long-term cash needs primarily with cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, cash flows from operations and, if needed, borrowings from our existing credit facilities, lines of credit and overdraft facilities.
Columbia Sportswear's latest quarter
Columbia Sportswear, Q3 2026: revenue $963M (+2% year over year), operating margin 11.4%, net earnings $84.7M, operating cash flow −$318M. The chart follows the revenue to costs, profit and cash.
Questions
Did Columbia Sportswear raise or lower its guidance?
Columbia Sportswear (COLM) raised some and lowered other parts of its guidance on Oct 29, 2026: Gross margin 52.1%–52.3% for FY2026; Revenue $3.4B for Q4 2026; Gross margin +160 bps to +180 bps for Q4 2026; Tax rate 25% for Q4 2026.
What does Columbia Sportswear expect?
Ultimately, we expect our investments to enable market share capture across our brand portfolio, expand gross margin, improve selling, general and administrative expense efficiency, and drive improved operating margin over the long-term. The foundational shifts of the ACCELERATE Growth Strategy are continuing to show tangible signs of traction with our target consumers, reflecting progress across the Columbia brand, product, marketing and marketplace initiatives. Tariff refunds of $8 million remain deferred in inventory, which we expect to be recognized as a future benefit to gross margin as t
Updated Nov 8, 2026. Read automatically from SEC filings and public data; errors are possible. Not investment advice.