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Risk Overview Q3, 2026
Risk Distribution
35% Finance & Corporate
26% Production
19% Ability to Sell
9% Tech & Innovation
7% Macro & Political
5% Legal & Regulatory
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
This chart displays the stock's most recent risk distribution according to category. TipRanks has identified 6 major categories: Finance & corporate, legal & regulatory, macro & political, production, tech & innovation, and ability to sell.
Risk Change Over Time
S&P500 Average
Sector Average
Risks removed
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Academy Sports and Outdoors Risk Factors
New Risk (0)
Risk Changed (0)
Risk Removed (0)
No changes from previous report
The chart shows the number of risks a company has disclosed. You can compare this to the sector average or S&P 500 average.
The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.
The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.
Risk Highlights Q3, 2026
Main Risk Category
Finance & Corporate
With 15 Risks
Finance & Corporate
With 15 Risks
Number of Disclosed Risks
43
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 31
43
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 31
Recent Changes
0Risks added
0Risks removed
0Risks changed
Since Aug 2026
0Risks added
0Risks removed
0Risks changed
Since Aug 2026
Number of Risk Changed
0
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 1
0
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 1
See the risk highlights of Academy Sports and Outdoors in the last period.
Risk Word Cloud
The most common phrases about risk factors from the most recent report. Larger texts indicate more widely used phrases.
Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 43
Finance & Corporate
Total Risks: 15/43 (35%)Above Sector Average
Share Price & Shareholder Rights4 | 9.3%
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1
Our stock price may be highly volatile or may decline regardless of our operating performance, and you may not be able to resell shares of our common stock at or above the price you paid or at all, and you could lose all or part of your investment as a result.Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 2
Anti-takeover provisions in our organizational documents could delay or prevent a change of control.Certain provisions of our restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws may have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, defer or prevent a merger, acquisition, tender offer, takeover attempt, or other change of control transaction that a stockholder might consider in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares held by our stockholders.
These provisions provide for, among other things:
- a classified Board of Directors, as a result of which our Board of Directors is divided into three classes, with each class serving for staggered terms until the 2028 Annual Meeting at which time our Board of Directors will be elected annually;- the ability of our Board of Directors to issue one or more series of preferred stock without stockholder approval;- advance notice requirements for nominations of directors by stockholders and for stockholders to include matters to be considered at our annual meetings;- certain limitations on convening special stockholder meetings; and - the removal of directors only for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the shares of common stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
Unless we remove or sunset some or all of these provisions, these anti-takeover provisions could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if the third party's offer may be considered beneficial by many of our stockholders. As a result, our stockholders may be limited in their ability to obtain a premium for their shares.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 3
Our restated certificate of incorporation provides, subject to limited exceptions, that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for substantially all disputes between us and our stockholders and the federal district courts will be the exclusive forum for Securities Act claims, which could limit our stockholders' ability to bring a suit in a different judicial forum than they may otherwise choose for disputes with us or our directors, officers, team members or stockholders.Our restated certificate of incorporation provides, subject to limited exceptions, that unless we consent to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any (i) derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of our company, (ii) action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, or other employee or stockholder of our company to the Company or our stockholders, creditors or other constituents, (iii) action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer of the Company arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, or our restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or (iv) action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer of the Company governed by the internal affairs doctrine; provided that, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act, which already provides that such claims must be bought exclusively in the federal courts. Our restated certificate of incorporation also provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the U.S. federal district courts will be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any actions or proceedings asserting claims arising under the Securities Act. While the Delaware Supreme Court has upheld the validity of similar provisions under the DGCL, there is uncertainty as to whether a court in another state would enforce such a forum selection provision. Our exclusive forum provision does not relieve us of our duties to comply with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, and our stockholders are not deemed to have waived our compliance with these laws, rules and regulations.
Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock is deemed to have notice of and consented to the forum provisions in our restated certificate of incorporation. This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder's ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or any of our directors, officers, other team members or stockholders. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our restated certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, results of operations and financial conditions.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 4
You may be diluted by the future issuance of additional common stock in connection with our incentive plans, acquisitions or otherwise.We have approximately 235 million shares of common stock authorized but unissued. Our restated certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue these shares of common stock, options and other equity awards relating to common stock for the consideration and on the terms and conditions established by our Board of Directors in its sole discretion, whether in connection with acquisitions or otherwise. As a result, our Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of additional shares of common stock or securities convertible into or exercisable for common stock without stockholder approval, subject to applicable laws and stock exchange requirements. We have reserved shares for issuance under our New Academy Holding Company, LLC 2011 Unit Incentive Plan (the "2011 Equity Plan"), our 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the "2020 Equity Plan"), and our 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP"). Any common stock that we issue, including under our 2011 Equity Plan, 2020 Equity Plan, ESPP or other equity incentive plans that we may adopt in the future, will dilute the percentage ownership of our existing stockholders. In the future, we may also issue our securities in connection with investments or acquisitions. The amount of shares of our common stock issued in connection with an investment or acquisition could constitute a material portion of our then-outstanding shares of our common stock. Any issuance of additional securities in connection with investments or acquisitions may result in additional dilution to you and could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
Accounting & Financial Operations2 | 4.7%
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 1
We cannot provide any guaranty of future dividend payments or that we will repurchase our common stock pursuant to our share repurchase program, and our indebtedness could limit our ability to pay future dividends on our common stock.Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 2
Our quarterly operating results and comparable sales may fluctuate due to seasonality and other factors outside of our control.We have historically experienced and expect to continue to experience seasonal fluctuations in our net sales, operating income and net income. A significant portion of our net sales and profits is driven by summer holidays, such as Memorial Day, Father's Day and Independence Day, during the second quarter. Our net sales and profits are also impacted by the November/December holiday selling season, and in part by the sales of cold weather sporting goods and apparel during the fourth quarter. We must carry a significant amount of inventory, particularly before these selling periods. If we miscalculate the demand for our products generally or for our product mix during certain holiday or sporting seasons, our net sales could decline resulting in lower margins, higher labor costs as a percentage of sales and excess inventory, which would harm our financial performance. If we are not successful in selling our inventory during these periods, we may be forced to rely on markdowns or promotional sales to dispose of the excess inventory or may not be able to sell the inventory at all, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our quarterly results of operations and comparable sales have historically fluctuated, and may continue to fluctuate, as a result of factors outside our control, including:
- general regional and national economic conditions;- consumer confidence in the economy;- unseasonal or extreme weather conditions, natural or man-made disasters or public health emergencies (such as snow storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, pandemics, and civil disturbances);- catastrophic or tragic events (such as tragedies involving firearms);- changes in demand for the products that we offer in our stores;- lack of, or access to, new products or brands;- lockouts or strikes involving professional sports teams;- retirement of sports superstars used in marketing various products;- sports scandals, including those involving leagues, associations, teams or athletes with ties to us or our markets;- costs related to the closure of existing stores;- litigation;- the success or failure of college and professional sports teams in our markets;- expansion of existing or entry of new competitors into our markets;- the impact of competitive developments in our markets;- shift in consumer tastes and fashion trends;- calendar shifts or holiday or seasonal periods;- the timing of income tax refunds to customers;- changes in laws and regulations, politics or consumer advocacy affecting our business, including sentiment relating to the sale of firearms and ammunition;- cancellations of tax-free holidays in certain states;- pricing, promotions or other actions taken by us or our existing or possible new competitors; and - changes in other tenants or landlords or surrounding geographic circumstances in the shopping centers in which we are located.
Our quarterly operating results and comparable sales may also be affected by the timing of new store openings and the relative proportion of new stores to mature stores, the level of pre-opening expenses associated with new stores and the amount and timing of net sales contributed by new stores. Furthermore, our operating margins may be impacted in periods in which incremental expenses are incurred as a result of upcoming new store openings.
Debt & Financing7 | 16.3%
Debt & Financing - Risk 1
Our level of indebtedness requires that we dedicate a portion of our cash flows to debt service payments and reduces the funds that would otherwise be available for other general corporate purposes and other business opportunities, which could adversely affect our operating performance, growth, profitability and financial condition, which in turn could make it more difficult for us to generate cash flow sufficient to satisfy all of our obligations under our indebtedness.Debt & Financing - Risk 2
Despite our level of indebtedness, we may still be able to incur substantially more debt, which could further increase the risks to our financial condition described above.Despite our level of indebtedness, we may be able to incur significant additional indebtedness in the future, including off-balance sheet financings, trade credit, contractual obligations and general and commercial liabilities. Although the credit agreements governing the Term Loan and the ABL Facility and the indenture governing the Notes contain restrictions on the incurrence of additional indebtedness, these restrictions are subject to a number of qualifications and exceptions, and the additional indebtedness incurred in compliance with these restrictions could be substantial. These restrictions also will not prevent us from incurring obligations that do not constitute indebtedness, and additionally we have further borrowing capacity under the ABL Facility. As of January 31, 2026, we had no borrowings outstanding under the ABL Facility, and an available borrowing capacity under the ABL Facility of approximately $992.4 million (which is subject to customary borrowing conditions, including a borrowing base). We may be able to increase the commitments under the ABL Facility by $250.0 million, subject to certain conditions. We may also be able to increase the capacity under the Term Loan by up to the greater of (x) $480.0 million and (y) 100% of the Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Term Loan), plus an additional amount, subject to certain conditions, which borrowings would be secured indebtedness. The addition of new debt to our current debt levels could further exacerbate the related risks to our financial condition that we now face.
Debt & Financing - Risk 3
If we are unable to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness, we may be forced to take other actions to fund the satisfaction of our obligations under our indebtedness, which may not be successful.If our cash flow is insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we could face substantial liquidity problems and could be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures or to dispose of material assets or operations, raise additional debt or equity capital or restructure or refinance our indebtedness. However, we may not be able to implement any such alternative measures on commercially reasonable terms or at all and, even if successful, those alternative actions may not allow us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations. Even if new financing were available, it may be on terms that are less attractive to us than our then existing indebtedness or it may not be on terms that are acceptable to us. In addition, the credit agreements governing the Term Loan and the ABL Facility and the indenture governing the Notes restrict our ability to dispose of assets and use the proceeds from those dispositions and may also restrict our ability to raise debt or equity capital to be used to repay other indebtedness when it becomes due. Thus, we may not be able to consummate those dispositions or to obtain proceeds in an amount sufficient to meet any debt service obligations then due.
If we cannot generate sufficient cash flow to permit us to make scheduled payments on our debt, then we will be in default and holders of that debt could declare all outstanding principal and interest to be due and payable. If our existing indebtedness were to be accelerated, there can be no assurance that we would have, or be able to obtain, sufficient funds to repay such indebtedness in full. In addition, in the event of a default, the lenders under the ABL Facility could terminate their further commitments to loan money and our secured lenders under the Term Loan and the ABL Facility and/or holders of the Notes could foreclose against the assets securing their borrowings and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation.
Debt & Financing - Risk 4
The terms of our outstanding indebtedness may restrict our current and future operations, particularly our ability to respond to changes or to take certain actions.The credit agreements governing the Term Loan and the ABL Facility and the indenture governing the Notes contain restrictive covenants that impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us and may limit our ability to engage in acts that may be in our best interest, including restrictions on our ability to:
- incur additional indebtedness and guarantee indebtedness;- pay dividends or make other distributions in respect of, or repurchase or redeem, capital stock;- prepay, redeem or repurchase certain debt;- make loans, investments and other restricted payments;- sell or otherwise dispose of assets;- incur liens;- enter into transactions with affiliates;- alter the businesses we conduct;- enter into agreements restricting our subsidiaries' ability to pay dividends; and - consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets.
Additionally, at certain times, the ABL Facility requires maintenance of a certain minimum adjusted fixed charge coverage ratio. Our ability to comply with the covenants and restrictions contained in our credit agreements and indenture may be affected by events beyond our control. If market or other economic conditions deteriorate, our ability to comply with these covenants and restrictions may be impaired.
A breach of the covenants under one of these agreements could result in an event of default under the applicable indebtedness, which, if not cured or waived, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Such a default, if not cured or waived, may allow the creditors to accelerate the related debt principal and/or related interest payments and may result in the acceleration of any other debt to which a cross-acceleration or cross-default provision applies. If our existing indebtedness were to be accelerated, there can be no assurance that we would have, or be able to obtain, sufficient funds to repay such indebtedness in full. In addition, an event of default under the credit agreement governing our ABL Facility would permit the lenders under our ABL Facility to terminate all commitments to extend further credit under that facility. Furthermore, if we were unable to repay the amounts due and payable under secured indebtedness, the lenders/holders of such indebtedness could proceed against the collateral granted to them to secure that indebtedness, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation.
Debt & Financing - Risk 5
Our variable rate indebtedness subjects us to interest rate risk, which could cause our debt service obligations to increase significantly.Borrowings under the Term Loan and ABL Facility are at variable rates of interest and expose us to interest rate risk. If interest rates increase, our debt service obligations on the variable rate indebtedness will increase even though the amount borrowed will remain the same, and our net income and operating cash flows, including cash available for servicing our indebtedness, will correspondingly decrease. In the past we have used, and in the future we may again use interest rate swap agreements to hedge market risks relating to possible adverse changes in interest rates with the intent of reducing volatility in our cash flows due to fluctuations in interest rates. However, we may not maintain interest rate swaps with respect to all of our variable rate indebtedness, and any swaps we enter into may not fully mitigate our interest rate risk, may prove disadvantageous, or may create additional risks. In addition, our hedging activities are subject to the risks that a counterparty may not perform its obligations under the applicable derivative instrument.
Debt & Financing - Risk 6
If the financial institutions that are lenders under the ABL Facility fail to extend credit under the facility or reduce the borrowing base, our liquidity and results of operations may be adversely affected.One of our sources of liquidity is the ABL Facility. Each financial institution that is a lender under the ABL Facility is responsible on a several but not joint basis for providing a portion of the loans to be made under the facility. If any participant or group of participants with a significant portion of the commitments under the ABL Facility fails to satisfy its or their respective obligations to extend credit under the facility and we are unable to find a replacement for such participant or participants on a timely basis (or at all), our liquidity may be adversely affected. In addition, the lenders under the ABL Facility may reduce the borrowing base under the facility in certain circumstances, which could adversely impact our liquidity and results of operations.
Debt & Financing - Risk 7
Our level of indebtedness may hinder our ability to negotiate favorable terms with our landlords, vendors and suppliers, which could negatively impact our operating performance and, thus, could make it more difficult for us to generate cash flow sufficient to satisfy all of our obligations under our indebtedness.Our new store profitability is partially attributable to our ability to negotiate attractive rental rates with our landlords and, in the future, to secure sale-leaseback financing at attractive cap rates. Our level of indebtedness may adversely affect our credit profile or rating, which may adversely affect our ability to negotiate favorable rental rates for our new store locations or expiring existing store leases or secure sale-leaseback financing. This could negatively impact the profitability of new and existing stores and potentially limit the number of viable new store locations or replacement store locations for expiring store leases.
Our successful retail strategy is partially attributable to our ability to negotiate favorable trade terms with our vendors. Our level of indebtedness may adversely affect our credit profile or rating, which may adversely affect our ability to negotiate favorable trade terms from our current or future merchandise vendors, including pricing, payment, delivery, inventory, transportation, defective and marketing allowances and other terms, and may increase our need to support merchandise purchases with letters of credit. We may also be unable to negotiate favorable trade terms for our current or future service and non-merchandise vendors, including vendors that assist us in critical aspects of the business such as real estate, transportation and logistics, customs, hazardous material and firearm compliance, warehousing and storage, insurance and risk management, procurement, marketing and advertising, store and online operations and information technology. This could negatively impact the profitability of our business and our ability to effectively compete against other retailers. Thus, our level of indebtedness could adversely affect the profitability of our business, which could make it more difficult for us to generate cash flow sufficient to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness.
Corporate Activity and Growth2 | 4.7%
Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 1
We may pursue strategic acquisitions, which could have an adverse impact on our business, as could assimilation of companies following acquisition.Corporate Activity and Growth - Risk 2
We may not be able to continue our store growth plans successfully or continue to manage our growth effectively, and our new stores may not generate sales levels necessary to achieve store-level sales or profitability comparable to that of our existing stores, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.Our growth strategy includes opening stores in existing markets and, from time to time, new markets. We must successfully choose our store sites, execute favorable real estate transactions on terms that are acceptable to us, construct and equip the stores with furnishings and appropriate merchandise, hire and train competent personnel and effectively open and operate these new stores and integrate the stores into our operations. We may also need to expand our distribution infrastructure, including the addition of new distribution centers, as it might be difficult to extract additional efficiencies from our existing distribution infrastructure. Our plans to increase our number of retail stores will depend in part on the availability of existing vacant retail stores or developable store sites. The availability of second-generation retail store space and developable store sites (i.e., land and redevelopment sites) that meet our criteria is very low and highly-sought after by our competitors. In addition, land prices and lease rents have continued to increase due to various macroeconomic factors. Further, a lack of available financing on terms acceptable to real estate developers or a tightening credit market may adversely affect the retail sites available to us. We cannot expect that stores or sites will be available to us, or that they will be available on terms acceptable to us. If additional retail store sites are unavailable on acceptable terms, we may not be able to carry out a significant part of our growth strategy. Rising real estate costs and acquisition, construction and development costs, available credit to landlords and developers and landlord bankruptcies could also inhibit our ability to grow. If we fail to locate desirable sites, obtain lease rights to these sites on terms acceptable to us, hire adequate personnel and open and effectively operate these new stores, our financial performance could be adversely affected.
We typically lease our stores under operating leases with initial terms of approximately 15 years, and we generally cannot cancel these leases at our option. If a store is not profitable, and we decide to close it, we may nonetheless be committed to perform our obligations under the applicable lease including, among other things, paying the base rent for the balance of the lease term. Similarly, we may be committed to perform our obligations under the applicable leases even if current locations of our stores become unattractive as demographic patterns change. In addition, as each of our leases expire, we may fail to negotiate renewals, either on commercially acceptable terms or at all, which could require us to close stores in desirable locations.
In addition, our expansion into new and existing markets may present competitive, merchandising, marketing, human resources, distribution and regulatory challenges that differ from our current challenges, including expanding and improving our operating capabilities, competition among our stores, diminished novelty of our store design and concept, added strain on our distribution centers, maintaining our levels of customer service, training our store team members, additional information to be processed by our management information systems and diversion of our management's attention from operations, such as the control of inventory levels in our stores. New stores in new markets, where we are less familiar with the target customer and less well-known by the target customer, may face different or additional risks and increased costs compared to stores operated in existing markets or new stores in existing markets. Expansion into new markets could also bring us into direct competition with retailers with whom we have no past experience as direct competitors. To the extent that we are not able to meet new challenges in expanding in new and existing markets, our sales could decrease and our operating costs could increase.
There also can be no assurance that we will be able to continue our expansion plans successfully or continue to manage our growth effectively, or that our new stores will generate sales levels necessary to achieve store-level profitability or profitability comparable to that of our existing stores. Our continued growth also depends in large part, upon our ability to open new stores in a timely manner and to operate them profitably. A slower than expected pace of new store openings may negatively impact our net sales growth and operating income. New stores also may face greater competition and have lower anticipated sales volumes relative to previously opened stores during their comparable years of operation. We may not be able to advertise cost-effectively in new or large markets in which we have less store density, which could slow sales growth at such stores. We also cannot guarantee that we will be able to obtain and distribute adequate product supplies to our new stores or maintain adequate warehousing and distribution capability to support our new stores at acceptable costs. Furthermore, the success of our stores depends on several factors including the sustained success of the shopping center where the store is located, consumer demographics, and consumer shopping habits and patterns. Changes in consumer shopping habits and patterns, reduced customer traffic in the shopping centers where our stores are located, financial difficulties of our landlords, or the shopping center operators, anchor tenants or a significant number of other retailers, and shopping center vacancies or closures, could impact the profitability of our stores and increase the likelihood that our landlords or the shopping centers operators fail to fulfill their obligations and conditions under our lease agreements or governing documents. Thus, our failure to achieve our expansion plans could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Production
Total Risks: 11/43 (26%)Above Sector Average
Manufacturing1 | 2.3%
Manufacturing - Risk 1
Our sales and operating results could be adversely affected by product safety concerns.Employment / Personnel2 | 4.7%
Employment / Personnel - Risk 1
We depend on key personnel in order to support our existing business and future initiatives and may not be able to retain or replace these team members, recruit additional qualified personnel or effectively manage succession.Employment / Personnel - Risk 2
Our failure to attract, train and retain quality team members in sufficient numbers, increases in wage and labor costs, and changes in laws and other labor issues could adversely affect our business.The success of our business depends significantly on our ability to hire and retain quality team members, including store managers, Enthusiasts and other store team members, distribution center team members and corporate directors, managers and other personnel. We plan to expand our team member base to manage our anticipated growth. Competition for non-entry-level personnel, particularly for team members with retail experience, is highly competitive. Additionally, our ability to maintain consistency in the quality of customer service in our stores is critical to our success. Many of our store team members are in entry-level or part-time positions that historically have high rates of turnover, which can lead to increased training and retention costs, particularly if employment opportunities increase. We are also dependent on the team members who staff our distribution centers, many of whom are skilled. We may be unable to meet our labor needs and control our costs due to external factors such as the availability of a sufficient number of qualified persons in the work force of the markets in which we operate, competition, unemployment levels, changes in immigration laws, demand for certain labor expertise, prevailing wage rates, wage inflation, changing demographics, health and other insurance costs, adoption of new or revised employment and labor laws and regulations, and the impacts of man-made or natural disasters, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and public health events. We have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, a shortage of labor for certain functions, which has increased our labor costs and negatively impacted our profitability. The extent and duration of the effect of these labor market challenges are subject to numerous factors, including availability of qualified persons in the markets where we and our contracted service providers operate and unemployment levels within these markets, behavioral changes, prevailing wage rates and other benefits, inflation, adoption of new or revised employment and labor laws and regulations (including immigration/visa processing) or government programs, safety levels of our operations, and our reputation within the labor market.
Potential future legislative initiatives may seek to increase the federal minimum wage in the United States, as well as the minimum wage in a number of individual states or markets. As federal or state minimum wage rates increase, we may need to increase not only the wage rates of our minimum wage team members, but also the wages paid to our other hourly team members as well. Further, should we fail to increase our wages competitively in response to increasing wage rates, the quality of our workforce could decline, causing our customer service to suffer. Any increase in the cost of our labor could have an adverse effect on our operating costs, financial condition and results of operations. If we are unable to hire and retain store-level team members capable of providing a high level of customer service, skilled distribution center team members or other qualified personnel, our business could be materially adversely affected.
Although none of our team members are currently covered under collective bargaining agreements, we cannot guarantee that our team members will not elect to be represented by labor unions in the future. If some or all of our entire workforce were to become unionized and collective bargaining agreement terms were significantly different from our current compensation arrangements or work practice, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Supply Chain3 | 7.0%
Supply Chain - Risk 1
We depend on approximately 1,500 suppliers to supply us with the merchandise we purchase for resale and our significant dependence on these suppliers exposes us to risks associated with disruption in supply and losses of merchandise purchasing incentives that could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.Supply Chain - Risk 2
Our private label brand merchandise exposes us to various risks generally encountered by companies that source, manufacture, market and retail exclusive private label brand merchandise.In addition to national brand merchandise, we offer customers private label brand merchandise, most of which is sold exclusively by Academy. The sale of private label brand merchandise subjects us to certain risks, including:
- our ability to successfully and profitably conduct sourcing and manufacturing activities internally or with third-party agents, manufacturers and distributors;- our failure or our manufacturers' failure to comply with federal, state and local regulatory requirements, including product safety, working age and conditions, anti-corruption, import and customs and retail sale restrictions;- potential mandatory or voluntary product recalls;- claims and lawsuits resulting from injuries associated with the use of our private label brand merchandise;- our ability to successfully protect our intellectual property or other proprietary rights (e.g., defending against counterfeit, knock-offs, grey-market, infringing or otherwise unauthorized goods);- our ability to successfully navigate and avoid claims related to the intellectual property or other proprietary rights of third parties;- our ability to successfully administer and comply with the obligations under license agreements that we have with the licensors of brands, including in some instances certain sales minimums that if not met could cause us to lose the licensing rights or pay damages;- sourcing and manufacturing outside the United States, including foreign laws and regulations, political unrest, disruptions or delays in cross-border shipments, changes in economic conditions in foreign countries, exchange rate and import duty fluctuations and conducting activities with third-party manufacturers; and - increases in the price of raw materials used in the manufacturing of our private label brand merchandise and other risks generally encountered by entities that source, manufacture, market and retail private label brand merchandise.
Our failure to adequately address some or all of these risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Supply Chain - Risk 3
A failure of our third-party vendors of outsourced business services and solutions to meet our performance standards and expectations could adversely affect our operations.As part of our long-term strategy, we look for opportunities to cost-effectively enhance the capabilities of our business services. In some cases, we outsource certain business services and solutions, and rely on the third-party vendors of these business services and solutions, to support a variety of our business functions, including portions of our information technology and management information systems, data security and credit card fraud detection, supply chain (including product manufacturers, logistics service providers or independent distributors), retail operations, administrative services and other core business functions. In some cases, we rely on a single vendor for such services. While we believe we conduct appropriate due diligence before entering into agreements with these third-parties, if we fail to properly manage these vendors or if they fail to meet, or are prevented from meeting, our performance standards and expectations, then our reputation, sales, and results of operations could be adversely affected. Any significant interruption in the operations of these service providers, over which we have no control, could also have an adverse effect on our business. In addition, we could face increased costs or incur substantial time in finding and implementing replacement service vendors or, alternatively, hiring new team members, making additional technology purchases, and changing information systems configurations to provide these business services and solutions in-house.
Costs5 | 11.6%
Costs - Risk 1
Our insurance or indemnities may not be sufficient to cover damages related to claims and lawsuits.Costs - Risk 2
Fluctuations in merchandise costs, increases in commodity prices and other factors could negatively impact our consolidated and combined results of operations.The cost of our merchandise has increased and may continue to increase due to, among other factors, higher raw material prices, tariffs, labor costs, freight and logistics expenses, and increased regulatory compliance requirements. A substantial rise in the price of raw materials, including as a result of increases in commodity prices and tariffs on them, could dramatically increase the costs associated with manufacturing the merchandise that we purchase from our suppliers, which could cause the price of our merchandise to increase and could have a negative impact on our sales and profitability. If we increase the price for our products in order to maintain gross margins for our products, such increase may adversely affect demand for, and sales of, our products, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Costs - Risk 3
If we are unable to protect against inventory shrink, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.Our business depends on our ability to effectively manage our inventory. We have historically experienced loss of inventory (also called shrink) due to damage, theft (including from organized retail crime), and other causes. We continue to experience elevated levels of inventory shrink relative to historical levels, which has adversely affected, and could continue to adversely affect, our results of operations and financial condition. To protect against rising inventory shrink, we have taken, and may continue to take, certain operational and strategic actions that could adversely affect our reputation, customer experience, and results of operations. In addition, sustained high rates of inventory shrink at certain stores could impact the profitability of those stores and result in the impairment of long-term assets.
Costs - Risk 4
A significant disruption to our distribution network or the timely receipt of inventory could adversely impact sales or increase our transportation costs, which would decrease our profits.We rely upon various means of transportation, including ships and trucks, to deliver products from vendors to our distribution centers and from our distribution centers to our stores. Consequently, our results can vary depending upon numerous factors affecting transportation, including the price of fuel and the availability of trucks and ships. The price of fuel and demand for transportation services has fluctuated significantly over the last few years, and has resulted in increased costs for us and our vendors. For example, during fiscal 2021, we experienced a period of decreased or delayed supply and high inflation as a result of increased competition across the industry for resources, which constrained the supply chain and negatively impacted our transportation and inventory costs. While we have seen some improvement to these constraints, resulting in decreased freight costs over the past couple of years, we may from time to time experience decreased or delayed supply. In addition, changes in regulations may result in higher fuel costs through taxation, transportation restrictions or other means. Fluctuations in transportation costs and availability could adversely affect our results of operations.
Labor shortages in the transportation industry have historically had and could potentially continue to negatively affect transportation costs and our ability to supply our stores in a timely manner. In particular, our business is highly dependent on the shipping and trucking industry to deliver products to our distribution centers and our stores. Our results of operations may be adversely affected if we, or our vendors, are unable to secure adequate transportation resources at competitive prices to fulfill our delivery schedules to our distribution centers or our stores.
Difficulties in moving products manufactured overseas and through the ports of North America, whether due to port congestion, government shutdowns, labor disputes, product regulations and/or inspections or other factors, including man-made or natural disasters and public health events, could negatively affect our business.
Costs - Risk 5
If we are not successful in managing our inventory balances, our sales may decline and our results of operations may be negatively affected.We must maintain sufficient inventory levels of merchandise that our customers desire to successfully operate our business. A shortage of popular merchandise could reduce our net sales. Conversely, we also must seek to avoid accumulating excess inventory to maintain appropriate in-stock levels. If we overstock unpopular merchandise, then we may be forced to take significant inventory markdowns or miss opportunities for the sale of other merchandise, both of which could have a negative impact on our profitability, and, in turn, our sales may decline or we may be required to sell the merchandise we have obtained at lower prices. For example, the popularity of much of the licensed apparel we offer is dependent on the performance of certain sporting teams throughout the course of the applicable sports seasons. If we overestimate or underestimate the projected success of a certain sports team, we may have to take significant mark-downs of our licensed apparel for that sports team or we may miss the opportunity to sell additional licensed apparel or other products with that sports team's logo. The success of sporting teams is highly uncertain and difficult to predict. In addition, factors beyond our control, such as severe weather, local safety concerns, player-lockouts or strikes, may significantly affect whether or not certain sports leagues are able to host their games in their usual seasons, and if they are, whether or not spectators can or are able to attend. Our licensed apparel is significantly more popular when spectators are able to attend the games of the sports teams featured on such apparel. Rapid changes in trade policy, tariffs, or sourcing strategies may also contribute to inventory forecasting challenges, including the timing and quantity of inventory purchases, which could increase the risk of excess inventory, supply shortages, or mismatches between product availability and consumer demand.
Ability to Sell
Total Risks: 8/43 (19%)Above Sector Average
Competition1 | 2.3%
Competition - Risk 1
Intense competition in the sporting goods and outdoor recreation retail industries could limit our growth and reduce our profitability.Demand2 | 4.7%
Demand - Risk 1
If we are unable to predict or effectively react to changes in consumer tastes and preferences, or if we fail to obtain access to, and sell brand name merchandise at competitive prices, then we may lose customers and our sales may decline and our results of operations may be negatively affected.Demand - Risk 2
Our stores are located primarily in the southern United States which could subject us to regional risks.Because our stores are located primarily in the southern United States, we are subject to regional risks, such as the regional economy, weather conditions and natural disasters such as floods, droughts, tornadoes and hurricanes. Man-made disasters, such as an oil spill impacting the Gulf Coast region of the United States, a nuclear power plant crisis or other events, may also impact our regional area. We sell a significant amount of merchandise related to sports and outdoor activities which can be adversely affected by such events that may postpone the start of or shorten sports seasons or inhibit participation in other outdoor activities or otherwise have a significant impact on our operations. Several of our competitors operate stores across the United States and thus are not as vulnerable to the risks of operating in one region. If there is a regional economic downturn or any other adverse regional event in the southern United States, there could be an adverse impact on our net sales and results of operations and our ability to implement our planned expansion program.
Sales & Marketing4 | 9.3%
Sales & Marketing - Risk 1
Our success depends on the effectiveness of our marketing and advertising programs.Sales & Marketing - Risk 2
We are subject to payment-related risks that could increase our operating costs, expose us to fraud or theft, subject us to potential liability and potentially disrupt our business.For our sales to our customers, we accept a variety of payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, electronic funds transfers and electronic payment systems. Accordingly, we are, and will continue to be, subject to significant and evolving regulations and compliance requirements, including obligations to implement enhanced authentication processes that could result in increased costs and liability, and reduce the ease of use of certain payment methods. For certain payment methods, including credit and debit cards, as well as electronic payment systems, we pay interchange and other fees, which may increase over time. We rely on independent service providers for payment processing, including credit and debit cards. If these independent service providers become unwilling or unable to provide these services to us or if the cost of using these providers increases, our business could be harmed. The payment methods that we offer also subject us to potential fraud and theft by criminals, who are becoming increasingly sophisticated, seeking to obtain unauthorized access to or exploit weaknesses that may exist in the payment systems. We are also subject to payment card association operating rules and agreements, including data security rules and agreements, certification requirements and rules governing electronic funds transfers, which could change or be reinterpreted to make it difficult or impossible for us to comply or increase our costs of compliance. If we fail to comply with these rules or requirements, or if our data security systems are breached or compromised, we may be liable for losses incurred by card issuing banks or customers, subject to fines and higher transaction fees, lose our ability to accept credit or debit card payments from our customers, or process electronic fund transfers or facilitate other types of payments. Any failure to comply could harm our brand, reputation, business and results of operations.
Sales & Marketing - Risk 3
Our e-commerce activities expose us to various risks that could have a material adverse impact on our overall results of operations.Our customers are increasingly using computers, tablets, mobile phones and other devices to shop in our stores and online for our products. Our business has become increasingly omnichannel as we strive to deliver a seamless shopping experience to our customers through both online and in-store shopping experiences. We utilize our own e-commerce platform that allows us to control our customer experience without relying on a single third-party provider. Maintaining and continuing to improve our e-commerce platform involves substantial investment of capital and resources, integrating a number of information and management systems from different vendors, artificial intelligence initiatives, increasing supply chain and distribution capabilities, attracting, developing and retaining qualified personnel with relevant subject matter expertise, and effectively managing and improving the customer experience. Our e-commerce operations are subject to numerous risks that could have a material adverse impact on our overall results of operations, including:
- expansion of our sales across the United States, thereby, subjecting us to the regulatory and other requirements of the 50 states;- website operating issues, including website availability, system reliability, website operation, Internet connectivity, website errors, computer viruses, telecommunication failures, electronic break-ins or similar disruptions;- overall website design and functionality, including search capabilities;- the need to keep pace with rapid technological change and investments from competitors, and maintain investments necessary for our e-commerce operation;- legal compliance issues related to the online sale of merchandise;- intellectual property litigation related to the enforcement of patent rights;- privacy and personal data security;- protection against credit card and gift card fraud;- fulfillment, inventory control and shipping issues for e-commerce transactions;- tax issues, including state sales tax collection for e-commerce transactions;- hiring, retention and training of personnel qualified to conduct our e-commerce operation;- ability to procure adequate computer hardware and software and technology services and solutions from third-party providers; and - reduction in visits to, diversion and/or cannibalization of sales from, existing retail stores.
Our e-commerce activities also carry challenges such as identifying our e-commerce customer, marketing our website, establishing a profitable on-line merchandising mix, managing shipping costs to our customers, setting prices to compete against other on-line retailers, maintaining accurate website content and functionality, timely and accurately fulfilling orders, integrating our e-commerce business with our store operations, and growing the operation as part of our overall strategic plan. In addition, offering different products through each channel could cause conflicts and cause some of our current or potential e-commerce customers to consider our competitors. Offering products through our e-commerce platform could also cause some of our current or potential vendors to consider competing internet or mobile offerings of their products either on their own or through competing distributors. If we do not successfully manage the risks and navigate the challenges associated with our e-commerce activities, it could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Further, governmental regulation of e-commerce continues to evolve in such areas as marketing and advertising, taxation, privacy, data protection and privacy, pricing, content, copyrights, distribution, mobile communications, electronic contracts and other communications, consumer protection, the provision of online payment services, the design and operation of websites and the characteristics and quality of products and services. Unfavorable changes to regulations in these areas could have a material adverse impact on our e-commerce activities.
Sales & Marketing - Risk 4
A disruption in the operation of our distribution centers would affect our ability to deliver merchandise to either our stores or customers, which could adversely impact our revenues and harm our business and financial results.We operate three distribution centers located in Katy, Texas; Twiggs County, Georgia; and Cookeville, Tennessee, to manage the receipt, storage, sorting, packing and distribution of our merchandise to the appropriate stores or to the customer directly. We depend in large part on the orderly operation of our receiving and distribution process, which depends, in turn, on adherence to shipping schedules, proper functioning of our information technology and inventory control systems and overall effective management of our distribution centers. A disruption or a prolonged interruption in the operations at any of these distribution centers or third-party transportation providers due to a work stoppage, labor shortage, operations significantly below historical efficiency levels, supply chain disruption, public health events (such as pandemics), severe weather (such as tornadoes) or natural or man-made disasters (including events that may be caused or exacerbated by climate change), system or power grid failures or cyber incidents,slowdowns or strikes, acts of terror or other unforeseen events in the areas or regions of these facilities could impair our ability to adequately stock our stores, process returns of products to vendors and ship products to our e-commerce customers, thereby adversely affecting our sales and profitability. In addition, we could incur significantly higher costs and longer lead times associated with distributing our products to our stores and customers during the time it takes for us to reopen or replace these distribution centers.
Although we maintain business interruption and property insurance for these facilities, there can be no assurance that our insurance coverage will be sufficient, or that insurance proceeds will be timely paid to us, if our distribution centers are shut down or interrupted for any unplanned reason.
Brand / Reputation1 | 2.3%
Brand / Reputation - Risk 1
Harm to our reputation could adversely impact our ability to attract and retain customers, team members, vendors and/or other partners.Tech & Innovation
Total Risks: 4/43 (9%)Below Sector Average
Trade Secrets1 | 2.3%
Trade Secrets - Risk 1
Our failure to protect our intellectual property or avoid the infringement of third-party intellectual property rights could be costly and have a negative impact on our results of operations.Cyber Security1 | 2.3%
Cyber Security - Risk 1
Any failure to protect the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of our information systems (including our technology infrastructure and networks, third party services, and hosted and on-premises software) and data that we hold relating to us and our customers, team members, and partners (including vendors) could result in lost sales, fines, penalties, assessments, investigations, inquiries, and/or lawsuits, a loss of confidence in us, and harm to our reputation, business, results of operations, and financial condition.Technology2 | 4.7%
Technology - Risk 1
Problems with operating, updating or implementing our information systems could disrupt our operations and negatively impact our business operations and materially and adversely affect our financial results.Technology - Risk 2
We use and expect to continue to use machine learning and other types of artificial intelligence in our business, and challenges with properly managing its use could adversely affect our business.We use and expect to continue to use artificial intelligence and machine learning technology that is rapidly evolving and gaining capabilities. Advancements in technology may allow us to expand the use of artificial intelligence, including generative artificial intelligence, into key operational and/or administrative aspects of our business over time. Our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be adversely affected if the output of our use of artificial intelligence is or is alleged to be deficient, inaccurate, or biased. As with other emerging technology, new providers may arise from time to time, regulatory and legal limitations on its use may evolve, costs may not be predictable, and the successful use of such technology may require changes to business processes, data systems and processes, and the delivery of products and services provided to customers. We may be required to expend additional resources in order to use artificial intelligence responsibly and effectively in compliance with applicable laws and standards. Our competitors may incorporate artificial intelligence into their business more quickly or more successfully than us, which could impair our ability to compete effectively and adversely affect our results of operations.
Macro & Political
Total Risks: 3/43 (7%)Below Sector Average
Economy & Political Environment1 | 2.3%
Economy & Political Environment - Risk 1
Our results of operations are highly dependent on the U.S. economy and U.S. consumer discretionary spending and an economic and financial downturn may cause a decline in U.S. consumer discretionary spending and may adversely affect our business, operations, liquidity, capital resources and financial results.International Operations1 | 2.3%
International Operations - Risk 1
A significant portion of the merchandise that we sell is manufactured in foreign countries which exposes us to various international risks, including additional tariffs, that could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.Natural and Human Disruptions1 | 2.3%
Natural and Human Disruptions - Risk 1
The occurrence of severe weather events, catastrophic public health events, natural or man-made disasters, social and political conditions or civil unrest could significantly damage or destroy our retail locations, could prohibit consumers from traveling to our retail locations or could prevent us from resupplying or staffing our stores or distribution centers or fulfilling our e-commerce orders, especially during peak shopping seasons.Legal & Regulatory
Total Risks: 2/43 (5%)Below Sector Average
Regulation1 | 2.3%
Regulation - Risk 1
We are subject to costs and risks associated with laws and regulations affecting our business, including those relating to the sale, manufacture and import of consumer products and other matters, and the substance or enforcement of such laws may change or become more stringent.Litigation & Legal Liabilities1 | 2.3%
Litigation & Legal Liabilities - Risk 1
We are, and may in the future, be subject to claims, demands and lawsuits.See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.
FAQ
What are “Risk Factors”?
Risk factors are any situations or occurrences that could make investing in a company risky.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires that publicly traded companies disclose their most significant risk factors. This is so that potential investors can consider any risks before they make an investment.
They also offer companies protection, as a company can use risk factors as liability protection. This could happen if a company underperforms and investors take legal action as a result.
It is worth noting that smaller companies, that is those with a public float of under $75 million on the last business day, do not have to include risk factors in their 10-K and 10-Q forms, although some may choose to do so.
How do companies disclose their risk factors?
Publicly traded companies initially disclose their risk factors to the SEC through their S-1 filings as part of the IPO process.
Additionally, companies must provide a complete list of risk factors in their Annual Reports (Form 10-K) or (Form 20-F) for “foreign private issuers”.
Quarterly Reports also include a section on risk factors (Form 10-Q) where companies are only required to update any changes since the previous report.
According to the SEC, risk factors should be reported concisely, logically and in “plain English” so investors can understand them.
How can I use TipRanks risk factors in my stock research?
Use the Risk Factors tab to get data about the risk factors of any company in which you are considering investing.
You can easily see the most significant risks a company is facing. Additionally, you can find out which risk factors a company has added, removed or adjusted since its previous disclosure. You can also see how a company’s risk factors compare to others in its sector.
Without reading company reports or participating in conference calls, you would most likely not have access to this sort of information, which is usually not included in press releases or other public announcements.
A simplified analysis of risk factors is unique to TipRanks.
What are all the risk factor categories?
TipRanks has identified 6 major categories of risk factors and a number of subcategories for each. You can see how these categories are broken down in the list below.
1. Financial & Corporate
- Accounting & Financial Operations - risks related to accounting loss, value of intangible assets, financial statements, value of intangible assets, financial reporting, estimates, guidance, company profitability, dividends, fluctuating results.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights – risks related to things that impact share prices and the rights of shareholders, including analyst ratings, major shareholder activity, trade volatility, liquidity of shares, anti-takeover provisions, international listing, dual listing.
- Debt & Financing – risks related to debt, funding, financing and interest rates, financial investments.
- Corporate Activity and Growth – risks related to restructuring, M&As, joint ventures, execution of corporate strategy, strategic alliances.
2. Legal & Regulatory
- Litigation and Legal Liabilities – risks related to litigation/ lawsuits against the company.
- Regulation – risks related to compliance, GDPR, and new legislation.
- Environmental / Social – risks related to environmental regulation and to data privacy.
- Taxation & Government Incentives – risks related to taxation and changes in government incentives.
3. Production
- Costs – risks related to costs of production including commodity prices, future contracts, inventory.
- Supply Chain – risks related to the company’s suppliers.
- Manufacturing – risks related to the company’s manufacturing process including product quality and product recalls.
- Human Capital – risks related to recruitment, training and retention of key employees, employee relationships & unions labor disputes, pension, and post retirement benefits, medical, health and welfare benefits, employee misconduct, employee litigation.
4. Technology & Innovation
- Innovation / R&D – risks related to innovation and new product development.
- Technology – risks related to the company’s reliance on technology.
- Cyber Security – risks related to securing the company’s digital assets and from cyber attacks.
- Trade Secrets & Patents – risks related to the company’s ability to protect its intellectual property and to infringement claims against the company as well as piracy and unlicensed copying.
5. Ability to Sell
- Demand – risks related to the demand of the company’s goods and services including seasonality, reliance on key customers.
- Competition – risks related to the company’s competition including substitutes.
- Sales & Marketing – risks related to sales, marketing, and distribution channels, pricing, and market penetration.
- Brand & Reputation – risks related to the company’s brand and reputation.
6. Macro & Political
- Economy & Political Environment – risks related to changes in economic and political conditions.
- Natural and Human Disruptions – risks related to catastrophes, floods, storms, terror, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic/COVID-19.
- International Operations – risks related to the global nature of the company.
- Capital Markets – risks related to exchange rates and trade, cryptocurrency.