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Escalade (ESCA) AI Stock Analysis

ESCA

Escalade

(NASDAQ:ESCA)

Select Model
Rating:75Outperform
Price Target:$21.00▲(6.60% Upside)
Action:reiterated
Date:10/29/26

Escalade scores well on the strength of its financial position: a near debt-free balance sheet, net cash, $41.1M of trailing free cash flow and steadily expanding margins that have lifted net income to $24.2M despite lower sales. Valuation reinforces the case, with an 11.1x P/E and a 3.28% dividend yield backed by robust cash generation. The latest earnings call added positives — record-type margin and cash flow improvement, deleveraging, acquisitions and a stepped-up innovation pipeline into 2027. The main drags are the persistent lack of top-line growth, with revenue down for three straight years and Q3 sales off 3% amid softness in basketball, indoor games and table tennis, plus a soft near-term technical setup with the stock trading below its 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages and a modestly negative MACD. Overall, a financially sound, conservatively capitalized leisure name at a reasonable valuation, where further upside hinges on stabilizing sales.

Positive Factors
Conservative Balance SheetVery low leverage limits financial risk and preserves flexibility to invest in products, facilities, or acquisitions. Equity growth and approximately 13% TTM ROE also indicate that Escalade is using its capital efficiently while maintaining capacity to withstand operating volatility.
Negative Factors
Persistent Revenue DeclineA prolonged top-line contraction raises questions about demand stability and the company’s ability to sustain recent profitability improvements. If sales remain weak, fixed costs may be absorbed less efficiently and margin gains could become harder to preserve over the next several quarters.

Escalade (ESCA) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

-20%0%20%40%60%80%100%120%ESCA+75.83%SPY+11.79%Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
Market Cap
$271.19M
Dividend Yield
3.08%
Average Volume (3M)
36.71K
Price to Earnings (P/E)
11.2
Beta (1Y)
0.46
Revenue Growth
0.05%
EPS Growth
90.86%
Country
US
Employees
441
Sector
Consumer Cyclical
Sector Strength
61
Industry
Leisure

Escalade Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Escalade, Inc. is a globally operating enterprise that manufactures, distributes, imports, and sells a diverse range of sporting and recreational equipment. The company's reach extends throughout North America, Europe, and other international markets...

How the Company Makes Money

Escalade makes money primarily by selling sporting goods and recreation products to retail and online customers. Its core revenue stream is product sales across its brand portfolio and private-label offerings, typically through wholesale distribution...

Escalade Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 28, 2026(Q3-2026)|% Change Since:6.26%|Next Earnings Date:Feb 17, 2027
Earnings Call SentimentPositive

The call was predominantly positive. Escalade reported stronger gross margin, EBITDA, net income, operating cash flow, inventory efficiency, and balance-sheet liquidity, while continuing to invest in innovation, acquisitions, and facilities. These achievements outweighed the 3% net sales decline, category softness, higher SG&A, and ongoing pressure on discretionary consumer spending.

Positive Updates

Improved Earnings and Gross Margin
Third-quarter net income was $6.7 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, on net sales of $65.6 million. Gross margin expanded approximately 123 basis points year-over-year to 29.4% from 28.1%, driven by lower operational costs, better fixed-cost absorption, favorable sales mix, and strong operational execution.

Negative Updates

Net Sales Declined Year-over-Year
Third-quarter net sales declined 3% year-over-year to $65.6 million. The decline reflected softness in basketball, indoor games, and table tennis, a difficult comparison with the prior year’s tariff-related delayed shipments, and the strategic exit from certain lower-margin product lines.

Company Guidance

Management said it continues to work toward its longer-term inventory turn target of 3x and expects recent and upcoming new product introductions to support market share gains across several key categories as it moves into 2027, while current and ongoing investments in innovation are expected to drive an acceleration in new product introductions as it moves into 2027. The company is comfortable having at least a turn of EBITDA, which is around that number mentioned, on the balance sheet; anticipates that some cash could be used towards acquisitions; expects a little bit more capital expenditure in the fourth quarter and a little bit more into next year; and will continue to pay a dividend and buy back shares from time to time when that makes sense for the board of directors.

Escalade Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Escalade combines a near debt-free balance sheet (balance sheet score 86) and strong cash generation (cash flow score 83) with improving but growth-challenged earnings (income statement score 71). Total debt has been cut roughly 86% since 2022 to $14.2M, debt-to-equity sits at just 0.09, equity funds about 76% of assets, and return on equity has recovered to 13.1%. TTM free cash flow of $41.1M grew about 59% year over year on minimal capital intensity, comfortably backing net income of $24.2M. Margins have expanded every year — gross margin to 27.5% and net margin to 9.5% TTM. The clear offset is three consecutive years of revenue decline, leaving sales roughly 23% below the 2022 peak, so earnings growth remains dependent on cost control rather than top-line expansion in a discretionary consumer category.

Income Statement

71Positive

Balance Sheet

86Very Positive

Cash Flow

83Very Positive
Financial statement breakdown
BreakdownTTMDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue241.66M240.16M251.51M263.57M313.76M313.61M
Gross Profit67.12M62.35M62.20M61.77M73.64M77.13M
EBITDA37.25M23.92M26.12M23.51M32.46M36.89M
Net Income24.25M13.70M12.99M9.83M17.99M24.41M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets246.19M222.11M226.33M253.00M298.72M251.80M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments24.53M11.88M4.19M16.00K3.97M4.37M
Total Debt14.21M19.76M26.83M59.83M104.52M60.56M
Total Liabilities58.46M48.89M57.33M88.43M140.24M105.18M
Stockholders Equity187.74M173.22M169.00M164.58M158.47M146.62M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow41.14M28.50M34.01M46.24M6.41M-8.62M
Operating Cash Flow44.63M31.01M36.05M48.33M8.52M1.07M
Investing Cash Flow-5.93M-4.81M3.93M-1.95M-37.83M-9.65M
Financing Cash Flow-17.68M-18.52M-35.80M-50.33M28.90M9.45M

Escalade Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentPositive
Last Price19.70

Price Trends

50DMA19.30Positive
100DMA19.30Positive
200DMA17.89Positive

Market Momentum

MACD0.01Negative
RSI58.54Neutral
STOCH52.79Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ESCA, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 19.70 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 18.75, above the 50-day MA of 19.30, and above the 200-day MA of 17.89, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.01 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 58.54 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 52.79 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for ESCA.

Escalade Risk Analysis

Escalade disclosed 40 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Escalade reported the most risks in the "Macro & Political" category.

Higher RiskSector Avg.Lower RiskFinance & CorporateTech & InnovationLegal & RegulatoryProductionAbility to SellMacro & Political
Macro & Political - Risks related to catastrophic events or geopolitical conditions that may disrupt the company’s business

Latest Risks Added

2 New Risks
1.In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025. These risks and uncertainties could materially and adversely affect our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. Our operations could also be affected by additional risks or uncertainties that are not presently known to us or that we currently do not consider material to our business. As of the date of this filing, except as set forth below, there have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in the above-referenced Form 10-K, which risk factors are incorporated herein by reference. 16Q2, 2026
2.The Company’s business is subject to risks associated with sourcing and manufacturing outside of the United States, and risks arising from tariffs and/or international trade wars.Our import operations are subject to complex custom laws, regulations, tax requirements, and trade regulations, such as tariffs set by governments through mutual agreements or bilateral actions. U.S. tariffs on goods imported into the U.S., particularly goods from China, have resulted in increased costs of goods purchased by the Company, which in turn may result in lower profitability if we are unable to offset such increases through higher prices, and/or that we may suffer a decline in sales if our customers do not accept price increases.Additionally, the U.S. government’s tariff policies, particularly as to China, Mexico and Canada, have fluctuated over the past year and created significant uncertainty with respect to future tax and trade regulations and the potential competitive effects of such actions. While the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling earlier this year striking down tariffs previously imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”), the U.S. government has since initiated new tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act. Although the Company has recognized and received recoveries of certain IEEPA tariffs and may recover additional IEEPA claims as well, the Company still faces challenges from these newly imposed tariffs and uncertainties regarding international trade policy and practices including retaliatory tariffs and trade restrictions.The countries in which our products are manufactured or imported have imposed and may again in the future impose additional quotas, duties, tariffs or other restrictions on our imports or adversely modify existing restrictions.It is unclear what the U.S. administration or foreign governments specifically will or will not do with respect to tariffs, tax policies, or other international trade agreements, regulations and policies in the long term. A trade war, other governmental action related to tariffs or international trade agreements, changes in U.S. social, political, regulatory and economic conditions or in laws and policies governing foreign trade, manufacturing, development and investment in the territories and countries where we currently manufacture and sell products or any resulting negative sentiments towards the United States could materially adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows.Q2, 2026

Escalade Peers Comparison

Overall Rating

UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)

Financial Indicators

ESCA against its peers
NameOverall RatingMarket CapP/E RatioROEDividend YieldRevenue GrowthEPS Growth
ESCAESCA75Outperform$271.02M11.1913.48%3.08%0.05%90.86%
CALYCALY67Neutral$2.71B30.943.97%8.05%-37.17%84.41%
AOUTAOUT64Neutral$228.70M-58.40-2.35%―-5.84%13.11%
YETIYETI64Neutral$3.19B18.8227.27%―6.24%10.22%
Sector *61Neutral$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
CLARCLAR57Neutral$169.62M-5.39-15.46%2.26%-0.10%61.92%
JOUTJOUT56Neutral$473.60M-58.55-1.90%2.89%17.49%82.16%

* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average

Performance Comparison

0%50%100%150%ESCACLARCALYJOUTYETIAOUTDec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
ESCA and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
ESCAEscalade19.708.4174.48%
CLARClarus Corp4.431.1936.64%
CALYCallaway Golf Company15.166.2169.39%
JOUTJohnson Outdoors45.676.6216.95%
YETIYeti Holdings43.6610.1230.17%
AOUTAmerican Outdoor Brands, Inc.18.1211.32166.47%

Escalade Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyDividendsFinancial Disclosures

Escalade Q3 2026 results highlight stronger profitability

Positive
Oct 29, 2026

Escalade reported its third-quarter 2026 results on October 29, 2026, showing that net sales fell 3.2% year over year to $65.6 million, mainly due to weaker basketball, indoor games, and table tennis sales against a prior period boosted by tariff-dri...

Business Operations and StrategyM&A Transactions

Escalade Expands Into Pet Market With ASL Acquisition

Positive
Aug 25, 2026

On August 24, 2026, Escalade, Inc. acquired substantially all the assets of ASL Solutions, Inc., a U.S. maker of premium insulated pet houses, in a transaction deemed not material for financial reporting purposes. Escalade announced the deal on Augus...

Business Operations and StrategyDividendsFinancial Disclosures

Escalade Announces Dividend Amid Strong Q2 Performance

Positive
Jul 30, 2026

In the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, Escalade reported net sales of $57.7 million, up 6.2% year over year, with gross margin improving to 26.2% and net income jumping to $9.4 million, or $0.68 per diluted share, from $1.8 million a year earlier...

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.

Date of analysis: Oct 29, 2026