ANNUAL REPORT
2023
- Letter from the CEO
- Key Financials
- Board of Directors
June 27, 2023
Dear Shareholders,
As an athlete and sports enthusiast, I have always admired the Under Armour brand and what it stands for – a hard-earned, unique reputation for grit, strength, and innovation. After spending my first several months at the company meeting with athletes, customers, investors, and teammates, my enthusiasm and confidence in this brand have grown exponentially. I believe the potential for Under Armour is even more significant than I initially imagined, and I am excited and energized for what comes next.
Reflecting on fiscal 2023, as we navigated an increasingly uncertain macroeconomic and industry backdrop, Under Armour delivered 3 percent revenue growth, reaching $5.9 billion. And despite a decline in gross margin, driven primarily by a highly promotional environment and supply chain impacts, including higher freight and product costs, we delivered $0.84 of diluted earnings per share. We also ended the year with lower-than-expected inventory growth, $712 million of cash on hand, and, over the past year and a half, have bought $425 million of Under Armour class C stock under the company’s share repurchase program.
This past year also saw strong brand momentum, exemplified by the announcement of our stronger partnership with Stephen Curry – a crucial catalyst for Under Armour as we drive and prioritize the impact of sport on communities worldwide. We are also proud of the re-launch of Protect This House, a ubiquitous ethos of Under Armour that has driven positive and inspiring responses from our athletes and customers. We are also energized by the launch of the UA SlipSpeed heel-up/heel-down footwear platform, including our versatile training sneakers, which bring together design, engineering, storytelling, and an ‘it’ factor wrapped in a solution only Under Armour can create.
As we work into our next chapter, I am confident that we have a strong foundation, the right plans, and a brand capable of delivering sustainable, profitable growth over the long term. In this respect, we must increase our focus, execution, and accountability. It is with that spirit that I have set three priorities based on my assessment of Under Armour’s current strengths and opportunities. This is about three big things over the next three years – appropriately called “Protect This House 3” – which is meant to drive clarity and business alignment across Under Armour:
- Drive Global Brand Heat with a Focus on the United States. Under Armour has a globally recognized brand and strong franchises, including compression apparel like ColdGear and HeatGear, trusted by the highest-level athletes in sport. We are one of few brands that can be found on the fields of play worldwide at the highest levels of competition. Yet, we need to pull in our fair share of market growth. Conversion should be more active, especially in the United States, where consumers are aware of and engaged with the Under Armour brand at the highest level. Globally, we’re assessing how our products, athletes, and marketing strategies are – or are not – breaking through to reach our target consumers. With love for a brand that plays considerably larger than the business – I am confident that simplification and doing more with less in our brand activations will be an outstanding unlock to generate excitement and increase conversion towards greater top-line growth.
- Deliver Elevated Design and Products with a Focus on Footwear, Women, and Sportstyle. Undoubtedly, we offer industry-leading performance innovations for athletes, yet we can extend our reach even further. Under Armour has a significant growth opportunity to expand our existing offerings and partnerships and to deliver more premium products, particularly in footwear, our women’s business, and Sportstyle. To do so, we have solicited help from sneaker and branding experts who will add industry-proven design horsepower. We also have exceptional women’s products. However, there is an opportunity to deliver more consistently for our female athletes and cut through the competition. Finally, we are focusing energy and resources on our evolving Sportstyle offering, a broadening of our product aperture that embodies the intersection of style, design, and performance.
- Grow U.S. Sales While Leveraging Continued Growth in Our International Business. Fiscal 2023 saw strong results in EMEA and Asia-Pacific, and while we have made solid progress in the quality of our business in the United States, there’s still significant potential to drive growth in our home market. In addition to driving brand heat and delivering best-in-class products, Under Armour will focus on driving productivity in our direct retail and digital channels and expanding our ‘better’ and ‘best’ wholesale footprint to create a dramatically improved consumer experience with an emphasis on exceptional service, inspiration, and premium experience. We have a significant opportunity to elevate our brand and showcase it in the best presentation possible in the United States, and we are focused on doing so.
These priorities are a starting point as we work to unlock Under Armour’s potential for improved results – all of which are engineered to drive revenue growth, expand margins, elevate our brand, and deliver exemplary service to whomever we serve, both inside and outside our business – continuously identifying tangible ways to get better.
This also applies to our approach to protecting the planet and our efforts to reduce harmful environmental impacts while respecting the rights and improving the lives of our teammates and suppliers’ workers. Our latest Sustainability & Impact Report outlines 23 goals and targets across three key pillars – Products, Home Field, and Team. From how we create our products to our workplace, interactions with suppliers, and relationships with key stakeholders worldwide, I am inspired every day by the efforts of our team to reach our objectives while being transparent about our progress, goals, and opportunities as a purpose-driven brand.
Under Armour’s purpose in serving athletes is distinct within our culture and aligned with Kevin Plank’s vision. As an incredible thought partner, I look forward to working with Kevin and the entire global team as we continue building into the next chapter for this iconic brand.
I love and believe in Under Armour, and I couldn’t be more excited to lead this fantastic company toward realizing its full potential and the vision we all have for it. As we move forward – now is the time for bold decisions and distinct actions that yield results.
We are operating with our eyes wide open and know the urgency of the work ahead of us. Our renewed strategic focus on world-class execution and increased accountability across all levels of the organization is front and center in our efforts to drive Under Armour toward more robust, profitable growth over the long term. Our athletes, teammates, shareholders, and brand deserve it.
Thank you for your continued support of our brand and our business.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Linnartz
President and Chief Executive Officer
(PERCENT OF FY24 TOTAL)
(PERCENT OF FY24 TOTAL)
(PERCENT OF FY24 TOTAL)
($ in Billions)
(Percent of Revenue)
($ in Millions and Percent of Revenue)
- Following a transition quarter (January 1 to March 31, 2022), Under Armour changed its fiscal year-end from December 31 to March 31, beginning FY 2023 on April 1, 2022. The company did not have a FY 2022. Accordingly, FY 2021 presented in these charts is not directly comparable to FY 2023 and FY 2024.
- The Company revised its prior period financial statements for accounting corrections primarily related to cost of goods sold and selling, general and administrative expenses on the Company's Consolidated Statement of Operations, as well as corresponding impacts to the Company’s other Consolidated Financial Statements. The impacts of these revisions were not material to the Company’s previously filed financial statements. For more information, see Note 1 to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II, Item 8 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Adjusted basis: Excludes 0.1% of restructuring and impairment impacts in FY21; GAAP Basis 50.3% for FY21.
- Adjusted basis: Excludes $80M and $20M litigation reserve in FY24 and FY23, respectively, and excludes $41M of restructuring and impairment impacts in FY21; GAAP Basis $230M, $264M, and $475M for FY24, FY23, and FY21, respectively.
Board of Directors
Biography
Mr. Plank became Under Armour’s President and Chief Executive Officer in April 2024, after serving as Executive Chair and Brand Chief from January 2020 to March 2024. Prior to that, he served as Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board of Directors from 1996 to 2019, and President from 1996 to July 2008 and August 2010 to July 2017. Founded in 1996 out of frustration that cotton T-shirts were unable to keep him dry and comfortable while playing football at the University of Maryland, Mr. Plank designed and created a new apparel innovation that efficiently wicked sweat to optimize athletic performance. Over a quarter of a century later and Under Armour has grown into one of the world’s leading developer, marketer, and distributor of branded performance apparel, footwear and accessories. Mr. Plank also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Inc., and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Maryland College Park Foundation.
Biography
Biography
Since May 2010, Mr. Coltharp has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Encompass Health Corporation (formerly HealthSouth Corporation). Before that, Mr. Coltharp served as a partner at Arlington Capital Advisors and Arlington Investment Partners, a Birmingham, Alabama based financial advisory and private equity business from May 2007 to April 2010 and as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Saks Incorporated and its predecessor organization from 1996 to May 2007.
Biography
Ms. DeVard served as Executive Vice President, Chief Customer Officer of Office Depot, Inc. from January 2018 to March 2020, leading their eCommerce and Customer Service functions and Marketing and Communications and as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer from September 2017 to December 2017. Before that, Ms. DeVard served as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of The ADT Corporation, a leading provider of home and business security services, from March 2014 through May 2016. From July 2012 to March 2014, she was Principal of DeVard Marketing Group, a firm specializing in advertising, branding, communications and marketing strategies. Before that, she served as Executive Vice President of Marketing for Nokia. Ms. DeVard served in a number of senior marketing roles throughout her career, including as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Senior Vice President, Marketing Communications and Brand Management of Verizon Communications, Inc., Chief Marketing Officer of the e-Consumer business at Citibank N.A. and other senior marketing positions at Revlon Inc., Harrah’s Entertainment, the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings and the Pillsbury Company. In 2021, Ms. DeVard founded the Black Executive CMO Alliance (BECA), an alliance designed to champion corporate diversity and help build the next generation of C-suite marketing executives. Ms. DeVard currently serves on the Board of Directors of Cars.com and is a member of its Compensation and ESG Committees; on the Board of Directors of Root, Inc. and is a member of its Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee; and on the Board of Directors of Dow Inc. and is a member of its Audit and Environment, Health, Safety and Technology Committees. Ms. DeVard previously served on the Board of Directors of Focus Impact Acquisition Corp. from October 2021 to January 2022.
Biography
Dr. El-Erian served as CEO and Co-Chief Investment Officer of PIMCO, one of the world’s premier global investment management firms, from December 2007 to March 2014. He currently serves as Chief Economic Advisor of Allianz, the corporate parent of PIMCO, a role he has held since March 2014, and is the President of Queens’ College, Cambridge. Dr. El-Erian joined PIMCO in 1999 as a senior member of the portfolio management and investment strategy group. In February 2006, he became president and CEO of Harvard Management Company, the entity responsible for managing the university’s endowment, before returning to PIMCO in December 2007 to serve as co-CEO and co-CIO. From December 2012 to January 2017, he was chair of the U.S. President’s Global Development Council. Previously, he was a managing director at Salomon Smith Barney/Citigroup in London and worked at the International Monetary Fund for 15 years, rising to the position of Deputy Director. He serves as non-executive director of Barclays plc and is a member of its Board Risk and Board Nomination Committees. He is a trustee of the National Bureau of Economic Research and a columnist for Bloomberg and a contributing editor at the Financial Times.
Biography
Ms. Everson has served since January 2023 as a Senior Advisor for Permira, a private equity firm focused on technology and consumer brands. She has also served since September 2023 as a Senior Advisor for Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in the Technology, Media & Telecom and Marketing, Sales & Pricing practice areas. Before joining Permira and BCG, she served as President of Instacart from September to December 2021; before that, she was Vice President of the Global Business Group at Meta Platforms, Inc. from March 2011 to June 2021. Before joining Meta, Ms. Everson held leadership positions in advertising at Microsoft Corporate and MTV Networks Company. Ms. Everson serves on the Board of Directors of The Walt Disney Company and is a member of its Compensation Committee and on the Board of Directors of The Coca-Cola Company and is a member of its Talent and Compensation Committee. Ms. Everson previously served on the Board of Directors of The Hertz Corporation from 2013 to 2018 and on the Board of Directors of Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. from 2016 to 2018. She also serves on the boards of Villanova University, the Humane Society of the United States, and Columbia Medical School. In addition, she is a member of the Council of Foreign Relations. Ms. Everson earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and communications from Villanova University and a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School.
Biography
Mr. Gibbs serves as Chief Executive Officer of Yum! Brands, Inc. (“YUM”), a position he has held since January 2020, and has served as a member of YUM’s Board of Directors since November 2019. Before that, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer from August 2019 to December 2019, as President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer from January 2019 to August 2019 and as President and Chief Financial Officer from May 2016 to December 2018. Before these positions, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Pizza Hut Division from January 2015 to April 2016. From January 2014 to December 2014, Mr. Gibbs served as President of Pizza Hut U.S. Before these positions, Mr. Gibbs served as President and Chief Financial Officer of Yum! Restaurants International, Inc. (“YRI”) from May 2012 through December 2013. Mr. Gibbs served as Chief Financial Officer of YRI from January 2011 to April 2012. He served as Chief Financial Officer of Pizza Hut U.S. from September 2005 to December 2010. From March 2016 to January 2020, Mr. Gibbs served on the Board of Directors of Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc.
Biography
Ms. Katz served as interim CEO of Intermix, an omni-channel women’s fashion business, from May 2022 through November 2022. Previously, she served as President and CEO of Neiman Marcus Group LTD LLC, one of the world’s leading luxury and fashion retailers, from 2010 to February 2018. Having joined Neiman Marcus in 1985, Ms. Katz served in key executive and leadership roles in the company’s merchant, stores and eCommerce organizations as Executive Vice President—Stores, a member of the Office of the Chairman of Neiman Marcus Group, and President, Neiman Marcus Online, and President and CEO, Neiman Marcus Stores. Ms. Katz serves on the Board of Directors of Humana Inc. and is the Chair of its Nominating, Governance & Sustainability Committee and a member of its Organization & Compensation Committee. She has served on the Board of Directors of The RealReal, Inc. since February 2021 and is a member of its Audit Committee, and has served as Chairperson since February 2024. Ms. Katz previously served on the Board of Directors of Casper Sleep from April 2019 to January 2022.
Biography
Admiral Olson retired from the United States Navy in 2011 as an Admiral after 38 years of military service. He served in special operations units throughout his career, during which he earned a Master’s Degree in National Security Affairs and was awarded several decorations for leadership and valor including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the Silver Star. Admiral Olson’s career culminated as the head of the United States Special Operations Command from July 2007 to August 2011, where he was responsible for the mission readiness of all Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps special operations forces. In this capacity, he led over 60,000 people and managed an annual budget in excess of ten billion dollars. Admiral Olson served as Chief Executive Officer of HANS Premium Water, a clean water solution for homes, from June 2019 to May 2020. He has served as President and Managing Member of ETO Group, LLC since September 2011, supporting a wide range of private and public sector organizations. Admiral Olson serves on the Board of Directors of Iridium Communications, Inc. and is Chair of its Compensation Committee and on the Board of Directors of Palladyne AI (previously Sarcos Technology & Robotics Corp) and is a member of its Audit Committee and Chair of its Compensation Committee. Admiral Olson also serves as Chairman Emeritus of the non-profit Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
Biography
Mr. Whitesell has served since October 2017 as Executive Chairman of Endeavor Group Holdings, a global sports and entertainment company composed of industry-leading entities including entertainment agency WME; sports, fashion, events and media company IMG; and premier mixed martial arts organization UFC. He also serves on Endeavor’s Board of Directors. Previously, Mr. Whitesell served as Endeavor’s Co-Chief Executive Officer, following his role as Co-Chief Executive Officer of WME. Mr. Whitesell also serves on the Board of Directors of Learfield and is a graduate of Luther College.
Biography
