Why DSW Parent Designer Brands’ Stock Plunged Nearly 22 Percent After Q1 Earnings

Despite Designer Brands Inc. delivering a solid start to the year on Tuesday, investors were not happy with the company's overall outlook.

On Thursday, the DSW parent company reaffirmed its guidance for fiscal 2026 with net sales expected to be in the range of down 1 percent to up 1 percent, with diluted earnings per share at between 28 cents to 38 cents.

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Analysts are expecting earnings per share for the year at between 35 cents to 45 cents, according to Yahoo Finance, which led the stock to plunge nearly 22 percent at the end of trading on Tuesday.

Dana Telsey, founder and chief executive officer of Telsey Advisory Group, wrote in a research note on Tuesday that the consensus earnings per share forecast among analysts stands 2 cents above the high-end of the reaffirmed guidance range, which factored into the stock movement.

"While the company continues to make structural improvements across inventory management, pricing discipline, sourcing, and channel profitability , the overall macro-operating environment and global footwear space remain challenging," Telsey wrote. "As such, we view the fiscal year 2026 guide as prudently cautious, with management focusing on navigating the choppy demand environment near-term, while targeting a return to growth and historic profitability levels longer-term."

Other factors like weather and uncertainty around tariff refunds are raising worries for the company. Doug Howe, chief executive officer of Designer Brands Inc., noted on the company's f irst quarter 2026 earnings call with analysts on Tuesday that sales in seasonal categories at its retail stores were impacted by unfavorable weather in the quarter, which was more prevalent in Canada. This was partially offset by revenue at retail being slightly up in the U.S.