StockVS

Genesco Inc. (GCO) Stock Analysis

Consumer Cyclical

Genesco Inc.

$37.38

+$0.36 (+0.97%)

Last Updated: May 26, 2026

Price History

Analysis

Company Overview

Genesco Inc. operates as a retailer and wholesaler specializing in footwear, apparel, and accessories across its portfolio. The company functions within the Consumer Cyclical sector, specifically targeting the Apparel Retail industry, which denotes its sensitivity to consumer discretionary spending patterns. Its market capitalization stands at $297.74M, while the entity reported annual revenue of $2.44B for the trailing twelve months. Although specific employee headcount data is not available in the provided records, the financial scale indicated by a market cap near $300 million and revenue exceeding $2 billion suggests a mid-cap entity with significant operational breadth. These valuation and revenue figures position Genesco as a substantial player capable of managing multiple business segments, including the Journeys Group, Schuh Group, Johnston & Murphy Group, and Genesco Brands Group, thereby reflecting a diversified operational footprint within the retail landscape.

Financial Health

The company reported revenue of $2.44B and generated a net income of $13.28M over the trailing twelve months, resulting in an EBITDA of $78.39M. The substantial disparity between the $2.44B revenue figure and the $13.28M net income reveals a highly leveraged cost structure where operating expenses, including cost of goods sold and overhead, absorb the vast majority of top-line earnings before reaching the bottom line. Free cash flow metrics are not disclosed in the available financial data, meaning external analysis must rely on EBITDA and cash balance rather than direct cash generation figures to assess liquidity. The gross margin stands at 46.3%, indicating that the company retains a significant portion of sales revenue after direct costs. Operating margin is calculated at 7.0%, which reflects the efficiency of managing overhead and administrative costs relative to sales volume. Profit margin is 0.5%, demonstrating that after all expenses and taxes, only a small fraction of revenue converts to shareholder profit. Total cash on hand is $105.41M, while total debt stands at $521.38M, creating a scenario where liabilities significantly outweigh liquid assets. The debt-to-equity ratio is 91.95, which indicates a highly leveraged balance sheet where debt constitutes the primary source of capitalization. The current ratio is 1.64, suggesting the company maintains sufficient current assets to cover short-term obligations with a margin of safety. Return on Equity is 2.4% and Return on Assets is 1.1%, metrics that reveal management effectiveness is currently constrained by high leverage and the challenging margin environment typical of the apparel retail sector.

Valuation Assessment

The trailing twelve-month P/E ratio is 22.06, whereas the forward P/E is 10.07. This significant divergence implies that the market expects earnings growth that will compress the forward multiple relative to current earnings, or that current earnings are depressed by temporary factors not reflected in future projections. The price-to-book ratio is 0.50, indicating that the stock trades at half its book value, which suggests the market does not assign a premium to the company's intangible assets or brand equity relative to its tangible net worth. The price-to-sales ratio is 0.12, a very low metric that suggests the market values the company primarily on its revenue generation capabilities rather than profitability or assets. The EV/EBITDA multiple is 8.94, providing an alternative valuation perspective that accounts for enterprise value and operational earnings before interest, taxes, and depreciation. The 52-week high is $38.95 and the 52-week low is $16.19. Based on the forward P/E of 10.07 and the current market context implied by the low price-to-sales ratio, the stock is likely trading well below its 52-week high, reflecting a valuation that is conservative relative to its historical trading range. The beta is 1.87, which indicates that the stock price is significantly more volatile than the broader market, moving with greater intensity during periods of market fluctuation.

Growth & Income

Revenue growth year-over-year is 7.2%, while earnings growth year-over-year is 41.6%. The fact that earnings growth vastly outpaces revenue growth implies significant leverage in the earnings structure, where even modest improvements in margins or cost control can drive disproportionate increases in profitability. The company does not pay a dividend, evidenced by a dividend yield of N/A and a payout ratio of 0.0%. This absence of a payout indicates that Genesco retains all its earnings to reinvest into the business, service its substantial debt load, or fund operational expansion rather than distributing cash to shareholders. Consequently, the income profile for investors is derived entirely from capital appreciation potential rather than dividend income streams. The overall growth and income profile is characterized by high earnings expansion driven by operational efficiency improvements, offset by a lack of current income generation through dividends and a highly volatile price trajectory indicated by the high beta.

Peer Comparison

Genesco Inc. (GCO) operates in the Apparel Retail industry. Here is how it compares to its closest peers by market capitalization:

Company Ticker Market Cap P/E Ratio
Genesco Inc. GCO $405.88M 29.9
The TJX Companies, Inc. TJX $175.79B 31.0
Ross Stores, Inc. ROST $75.91B 32.8
Burlington Stores, Inc. BURL $20.52B 34.4

The Apparel Retail industry average P/E ratio is 25.1x. Genesco Inc. trades at a P/E of 29.9.

This analysis is AI-generated for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Data may be delayed or inaccurate. Always do your own research and consult a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.

About Genesco Inc.

Genesco Inc. operates as a retailer and wholesaler of footwear, apparel, and accessories. The company operates through four segments: Journeys Group, Schuh Group, Johnston & Murphy Group, and Genesco Brands Group. The Journeys Group segment offers footwear and accessories for young men, women, and children through the Journeys, Journeys Kidz, and Little Burgundy retail chains, as well as through e-commerce operations. The Schuh Group segment operates Schuh retail footwear stores that offer casual and athletic footwear, as well as sells footwear through e-commerce. The Johnston & Murphy Group segment is involved in the retail and e-commerce operations; and wholesale distribution of footwear, apparel, and accessories primarily for men. The Genesco Brands Group segment markets footwear under the Levi's, Dockers, and other brands. The company provides its products through catalogs and e-commerce websites, including journeys.com, journeyskidz.com, journeys.ca, schuh.co.uk, schuh.ie, schuh.eu, littleburgundyshoes.com, johnstonmurphy.com, and nashvilleshoewarehouse.com. It operates retail stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland primarily under the Journeys, Journeys Kidz, Schuh, Little Burgundy, and Johnston & Murphy brands. Genesco Inc. was incorporated in 1934 and is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.

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Key Statistics

Market Cap
$405.88M
P/E Ratio
29.90
52-Week High
$38.95
52-Week Low
$19.62
Avg Volume
239.13K
Beta
1.83

Data provided by Yahoo Finance via yfinance. Updated daily.

Company Info

Exchange
NYSE
Country
United States
Employees
4,800