Sportsman's Warehouse Posts Strong Q1 2027 Earnings Amid Challenging Market Conditions
Despite ongoing consumer macroeconomic pressure and higher fuel prices, Sportsman's Warehouse has reported a solid first quarter for 2027, with same-store sales up just over 2% compared to last year. This increase builds on the 2% growth achieved in Q1 of 2026, demonstrating the company's resilience in the face of adversity.
According to CEO Paul Stone, the company continues to refine its assortment to meet the current needs of customers with regionally specific product and brands that strategically align to their core pursuits. This approach has yielded impressive results, with first quarter sales in the hunting and shooting sports department increasing over 7% versus last year.
The successful execution of a spring Range Days event also showcased pursuit-led solutions for shooting sports customers through curated products and accessories, further supporting sales of firearms and ammunition during the quarter. As a leader in both shooting sports and personal protection, Sportsman's Warehouse will continue to strategically build on its authority in these areas.
In contrast, the fishing department experienced a softer-than-expected ice fishing season, which put pressure on the category in Q1. However, with sales increasing nearly 6% during the quarter and up about 17% on a two-year comp stack, the company remains confident in its assortment and position in the market to capture share during the late spring and summer seasons.
A strategic decision was made last year to reduce inventory and assortment in the camping and soft line departments, allowing for the elimination of slow-moving and low gross margin return on investment products. This move has freed up working capital dollars to invest in new product and brands that align with the company's core pursuits of hunting, fishing, shooting, and personal protection.
Newness for the summer season is now landing in stores, with a focus on quality and value from name brands that customers recognize. The e-commerce business outperformed again, with e-com driven sales up over 6% in the quarter, underscoring the strength of Sportsman's Warehouse's omni-channel model and growth potential in its core pursuits.
Improvements were seen in both units per transaction and average order value, driven by merchandising strategy, better in-stocks, and a strategic shift to solution selling. Close management of inventory remains a key priority, with the team timing merchandise flow to ensure regional and seasonal relevance to meet shopper demand.
