Dr. Martens shares plunge 30% to all-time low, trading briefly halted on weak outlook

Shares of Dr. Martens plunged to a record low in early deals after the shoemaker flagged a challenging 2025 outlook.

Apr 16, 2024 - 21:05

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Dr. Martens shares plunge 30% to all-time low, trading briefly halted on weak outlook

New Doc Martens boots seen in Dublin's Doc Martens store window. On Monday, 05 July 2021, in Dublin, Ireland.

Artur Widak | Nurphoto | Getty Images

Shares of Dr. Martens plunged 30% on Tuesday to hit a record low in early deals, after the shoemaker flagged a challenging 2025 outlook on the back of weaker revenues.

Trading in the company shares was temporarily suspended on the London Stock Exchange after the firm issued an unscheduled trading update.

Dr. Martens said it expects its wholesale revenue in the U.S. in 2025 to be down by double-digits year-on-year, given that its order book for autumn and winter — which represents half of the company's wholesale proceeds in the region — is "significantly" down.

The business assumes revenues in 2025 will decline by a single-digit percentage year-on-year, citing an inability to offset next-year inflation amid no further intentions to increase prices.

"We have built an operating cost base in anticipation of a larger business, however with revenues weaker we are currently seeing significant deleverage through to earnings," said CEO Kenny Wilson, who will step down in March 2025.

Chief Brand Officer Ije Nwokorie is set to replace him in the top position.

In a Tuesday note, analysts at RBC flagged a negative sentiment on the stock and said that markets would focus on the 2025 guidance in the short term. With mid-market consumers under pressure from inflation, there may also be trading down within the category, the analysts said.

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Dr Martens share price

Analysts at Investec meanwhile said in a Tuesday note that they do not anticipate evidence of a recovery in Dr. Marten's performance in the U.S. until the end of the second half of the year, while separately acknowledging the British shoemaker's "robust" capital generation and its longer-term growth potential.

Google ads lawsuit

Dr. Martens filed a Hight Court claim last week accusing Temu of manipulating Google searches so that products which look similar to the bootmaker's brand goods appears above them, according to a report from the Sunday Times.

It's not the first time the shoemaker has taken such legal action. Dr. Martens and other brands previously sued fast-fashion brand Shein in 2021, accusing it of a "clear intent to sell counterfeits", according to a report from the Financial Times.

Dr. Martens, Shein and Temu have yet to respond to CNBC requests for comment.

— CNBC's Ganesh Rao contributed to this report.