Journeys Will Continue to Shine When Genesco Reports Earnings This Week, Analyst Says

Analyst Sam Poser of Williams Trading is optimistic about Genesco Inc. and has assigned the footwear retailer a "buy" rating. A significant portion of Genesco's revenue comes from its Journeys division, which accounts for 62 percent of the company's annual earnings. Poser attributes this success to Journeys' improved product selection and the introduction of a new store concept called "4.0 doors," which features larger store sizes, modern fixtures, and added experiential elements.

Poser anticipates that the positive momentum at Journeys will contribute to Genesco's strong second quarter 2027 earnings, meeting and surpassing expectations. He projects a 3.5 percent increase in same-store sales for the upcoming quarter, adding to the 9 percent gain witnessed in the same-store sales of the previous year's second quarter. As of the first quarter, there were 940 Journeys stores, with 105 of them representing the 4.0 concept, which has since expanded from just 39 locations in the same period last year.

Poser also highlighted that the company's Johnston & Murphy label, which is co-branded with NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, has seen a rise in brand awareness since the partnership began. He expects this trend to continue as the retailer focuses on appealing to younger consumers, a group that has shown strong demand and attracted Genesco customers who were previously outside their traditional customer base. Investors will be keen to learn more about Genesco's plans for the Johnston & Murphy brand in the fall season.

Meanwhile, the company's struggling Schuh division is also undergoing a transformation. CEO Mimi Vaughn expressed confidence in the brand's ability to attract the "style-led youth girl" demographic, similar to the success seen at Journeys. Schuh is focusing on improving its product mix by incorporating brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Asics. Vaughn mentioned that the British subsidiary is actively working on enhancing its merchandise offerings to boost profitability and reduce reliance on discounts.