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GIII Drives Sustainable Growth Through Brand Ownership and Innovation

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G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. GIII is successfully transforming its business by prioritizing owned brands, boosting profitability and brand control while reducing dependence on licensed labels. Strong growth from key brands like DKNY and Karl Lagerfeld, strategic digital investments and aggressive international expansion are positioning the company for sustainable, long-term success. Moreover, its focus on innovation, global reach and operational efficiency continues to drive strong momentum into fiscal 2026 and beyond.

G-III's Strategic Shift Toward High-Margin Owned Brands

This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company is undergoing a significant transformation, with owned brands now contributing more than 50% of total net sales as of March 13, up sharply from previous years. The company has effectively reduced its dependence on licensed brands like Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, which now represent just 34% of fiscal 2025 sales compared with more than 50% two years ago. This pivot has strengthened G-III’s profitability, brand ownership and pricing power.

Key brands such as DKNY, Donna Karan, Karl Lagerfeld, and Vilebrequin posted more than 20% growth in fiscal 2025, driving solid revenue gains. Licensing royalty income also increased 10% year over year, reaching more than $80 million, further validating the company's owned-brand focus.

GIII Stock Past Three-Month Performance

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Expanding its brand portfolio, G-III launched Donna Karan, Nautica, Halston and Champion outerwear during the year, boosting fourth-quarter revenues by 9.8% year over year to $839.5 million. The Donna Karan relaunch exceeded expectations with strong sell-throughs and high average unit retail prices, expanding its footprint to more than 1,500 points of sale by fiscal year-end, with plans to reach 1,700 by spring 2026.

Looking ahead, international licensing initiatives, particularly for Donna Karan's new fragrance and jewelry lines, are positioned to accelerate growth toward a $1 billion annual sales target. Similarly, Karl Lagerfeld surpassed $580 million in net sales for fiscal 2025, growing more than 20% year over year. G-III expects double-digit growth for DKNY, Karl Lagerfeld and Donna Karan to continue in fiscal 2026, solidifying its leadership in the global fashion market.

Digital Transformation and Omnichannel Growth of GIII

G-III has made strategic investments in digital infrastructure, boosting its omnichannel capabilities and expanding partnerships with Amazon and Zalando to enhance online visibility. Sales from owned-brand digital platforms rose more than 20% in fiscal 2025, reflecting strong consumer adoption and digital strength.

The company is also leveraging AI-driven technologies to streamline operations, enhance supply-chain transparency and optimize digital merchandising, which is driving margin expansion. Its North America retail turnaround significantly improved profitability, reducing losses by half and adding more than $15 million in gains during fiscal 2025.