Key Takeaways:
- The North Face grew in a quarter VF had expected to be flat.
- Timberland’s growth was driven by the Americas, and shoes and boots beyond the 6-inch grew faster than the brand’s signature boot.
- Altra was VF’s fastest-growing brand.
The North Face and Timberland each grew 4% in VF Corporation’s second quarter ended Sept. 26, and Altra grew more than 40%. VF topped its own revenue forecast for the quarter and reaffirmed its full-year outlook.
Vans, which declined 9.8% in the quarter, is covered in a separate SESO story.
The North Face Grows in a Quarter VF Expected to Be Flat
The North Face revenue rose 4% as reported and in constant currency, to $1.21 billion. VF had expected the brand to be roughly flat in the second quarter because some volume was set to shift from the second quarter to the third.
Abhishek Dalmia, VF’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, said part of the growth came from wholesale demand arriving earlier, in the second quarter rather than the third. The balance came from stronger execution in Americas DTC, he said.
By region, The North Face posted these results:
- Americas: Up 8% as reported and in constant currency.
- EMEA: Up 2% as reported, or 3% in constant currency.
- APAC: Up 1% as reported, but down 4% in constant currency.
Growth was broad-based across categories. In apparel, growth was driven by bottoms, a category VF is focused on growing, and by transitional jackets, including the Quest and Yumiori Fleece.
Footwear grew double digits globally and in every region, driven by Clyffe, Thermoball, and Altamesa. Bags were also a strong performer, led by Hot Shot and the Base Camp family.
Darrell said a teen survey named The North Face a Top 10 athletic clothing brand for the first time in three years.
VF is driving its business behind a wide range of Nuptse styles, from the Summit Series to lifestyle, for the first time in several years. The campaign will feature North Face athlete Jim Morrison, who stars in “Everest: The Other Side.” The documentary, which opens in IMAX theaters Friday, was directed by North Face athlete Jimmy Chin and also features the late Hilaree Nelson.
The North Face’s partnership with U.S. Ski & Snowboard is now live, with the first product drop arriving this quarter. Athletes have already started competing in North Face product and will through the upcoming World Cup season and at every major event through at least 2034, including the 2030 Winter Games in France.
The North Face’s Five Paths to Growth
Darrell said all five of the ways he sees to grow a brand apply to The North Face: with the category, through market share gains within the category, by moving into new categories, through elevation, and by entering new markets and channels.
VF expects The North Face to grow 4% or better in the third quarter. The company narrowed its full-year forecast for the brand to mid-single-digit growth.
Timberland Growth Broadens Beyond the 6-Inch Boot
Timberland revenue rose 4% as reported and in constant currency, to $525.9 million. The Americas drove the growth:
- Americas: Up 15% as reported and in constant currency.
- EMEA: Down 1% as reported, but up 1% in constant currency.
- APAC: Down 21% as reported and in constant currency.
Dalmia said the APAC decline, roughly $12 million, was in line with VF’s expectations as the company continues to work with its partner in the region.
The 6-inch boot continued to grow, and Darrell said momentum is building in Field Boot, Stone Street, Euro Hiker, and boat shoes, as well as core PRO franchises. Shoes and other boots grew faster than the 6-inch.
Darrell said Timberland’s growth potential extends beyond its core footwear franchises.
“Sneakers and apparel represent significant whitespace for Timberland,” Darrell said. “You won’t see a meaningful contribution in the near-term numbers yet, but there is a lot happening behind the scenes, and we see substantial opportunity as we invest into these categories.”
Timberland ranked among the Top 10 footwear brands in the same teen survey for the first time ever, Darrell said. AlixPartners also named it the No. 1 fashion footwear brand in its Consumer Sentiment Index. He added that search interest continues to accelerate in the U.S. and key EMEA markets.
At Timberland PRO, franchises such as Boondock are resonating with the brand’s target consumer, according to Darrell. A multi-year NASCAR partnership just went live, including the Timberland PRO 200 in Phoenix last week.
Timberland opened five full-price stores in the Americas in the quarter, bringing its regional total to 19. Darrell said VF will continue to expand selectively, focusing on key cities.
VF expects Timberland to grow 4% or better in the third quarter, and mid-single digits for the full year.
Altra Grows More Than 40% in Every Region and Channel
Altra revenue grew more than 40% and rose in every region and channel. Darrell credited the brand’s product pipeline, momentum in its core franchises, and continued investment in brand awareness.
Road and trail both grew strongly. Darrell noted that Altra already leads in trail running, and that the road running market is 10 times bigger.
The Torin 9 was the biggest launch of the season, with strong sell-through, according to Darrell. The new Vanish Carbon 3 and Tempo 2 elevated Altra’s pinnacle race offering ahead of the fall marathon season.
VF Corp. Q2 Results at a Glance
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VF’s total revenue fell 4% as reported and in constant currency, to $2.70 billion. Excluding Dickies, which VF sold in November 2025, revenue rose 1% both as reported and in constant currency. Darrell said 75% of VF’s business by revenue grew in the quarter.
Gross margin rose 320 basis points to 55.4%. Net income rose to $285.3 million from $189.8 million a year earlier.
VF reaffirmed its fiscal 2027 forecast for revenue growth of 2% or better in constant currency and adjusted operating margin of about 8%.
Data verified by Shop Eat Surf Outdoor, visualized using AI.
