Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM) AI Stock Analysis

NASDAQ: COLMAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

COLM AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Columbia Sportswear Company designs and distributes outdoor and lifestyle apparel, footwear, accessories, and equipment under brands like Columbia, Mountain Hardwear, and SOREL. In FY2025, the company posted $3.40B in revenue and generated $216.7M in free cash flow. It maintains a healthy financial position with $163.4M in net cash and returned $201.1M to shareholders through share buybacks in FY2025.

Market cap
$3.08B
Revenue (TTM)
$3.41B
P/E
15.7x
fwd 12.7x
1Y return
20.9%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$69.83
16.1% vs last close

Bull case

  • Columbia holds a net cash balance of $163.4M with total cash of $624.6M and a current ratio of 2.49 as of June 30, 2026.
  • The company has reduced its share count by 20.8% over five years, supported by $201.1M in share buybacks during FY2025.
  • The stock trades at a forward P/E of 12.7x and an EV/EBITDA of 8.0x, both at a discount to the median of its US-listed Consumer Cyclical peers.

Bear case

  • Net income declined from $354.1M in FY2021 to $177.2M in FY2025, accompanied by an operating margin drop from 14.4% to 6.0%.
  • For the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly earnings fell 13.3% year-over-year.
  • Analysts forecast next fiscal year EPS to fall 11.0% to $4.18.

What Columbia Sportswear does

Established in 1938 and based in Portland, Oregon, Columbia Sportswear Company designs, sources, markets, and distributes apparel, footwear, accessories, and equipment for outdoor, active, and everyday lifestyles. The company operates globally under four primary brands: Columbia, Mountain Hardwear, SOREL, and prAna. Its products support activities including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, climbing, camping, hunting, fishing, yoga, golf, and adventure travel. Columbia reaches consumers worldwide across the United States, Latin America, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Canada via company-owned retail locations, outlet stores, e-commerce platforms, and wholesale and concession partnerships with third-party retailers.

Growth and profitability

Columbia Sportswear grew revenue from $3.13B in FY2021 to $3.40B in FY2025, representing a 5-year revenue CAGR of 6.3%. Operating margin contracted from 14.4% in FY2021 to 6.0% in FY2025, while net income decreased from $354.1M to $177.2M over the same period. In FY2024, revenue contracted 3.4% before recovering slightly with 0.8% growth in FY2025. In the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue rose 1.5% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings declined 13.3%. For the trailing twelve months, revenue was $3.41B with an operating margin of 5.0% and diluted EPS of $3.83.

COLM income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, Columbia Sportswear held $624.6M in cash and short-term investments alongside total debt of $461.2M, resulting in a net cash position of $163.4M. Its liquidity is supported by a current ratio of 2.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29 against $1.60B in shareholders' equity. In FY2025, operating cash flow stood at $282.9M and capital expenditures were $66.2M, yielding free cash flow of $216.7M. Cash deployment included $201.1M in share buybacks and $65.5M in dividends, contributing to a 5-year share count reduction of 20.8%.

COLM balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

Columbia Sportswear trades at a trailing P/E of 15.7x and a forward P/E of 12.7x, both lower than the median of its US-listed Consumer Cyclical peers of 18.0x trailing and 14.1x forward. Its EV/EBITDA of 8.0x also sits below the peer group median of 11.1x, while its price-to-sales ratio is 0.9x compared to the sector median of 0.7x. Over the past year, the stock returned 20.9%, outpacing the S&P 500 return of 16.8%. Over a 5-year span, the stock fell 32.1%, trailing the S&P 500 return of 83.0%.

COLM key metrics →

COLM dividend

Columbia Sportswear pays an annual forward dividend of $1.20 per share, which equates to a dividend yield of 1.99%. The company distributes its dividend on a quarterly frequency with a payout ratio of 41.1%. It has maintained 21 consecutive years of dividend payments, generating a 5-year annualized dividend growth rate of 35.8%. The last ex-dividend date was August 20, 2026.

COLM dividend history →

What analysts expect

Wall Street coverage consists of 2 Strong Buy, 1 Buy, 4 Hold, 0 Sell, and 1 Strong Sell ratings. The mean price target of $69.83 represents a 16.1% premium over the last close of $60.16. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus expectations call for EPS of $4.70 on revenue of $3.46B. For the subsequent fiscal year, 9 analysts forecast EPS of $4.18 and revenue of $3.57B. Columbia exceeded EPS estimates in 2 of the last 4 quarters, with its next earnings date scheduled for October 29, 2026.

COLM forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Short interest stands at 17.5% of float, reflecting substantial negative sentiment among market participants.
  • Trailing twelve month operating margin of 5.0% trails the median of its US-listed Consumer Cyclical peers of 8.8%.
  • A 5-year stock return of -32.1% reflects extended multi-year underperformance relative to the broader market.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this COLM AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: COLM income statement, COLM balance sheet, COLM key metrics, COLM analyst forecast, COLM chart. See the COLM stock overview for the latest quote and news.

COLM AI stock analysis FAQ

Does Columbia Sportswear pay a dividend?

Yes, Columbia Sportswear pays an annual forward dividend of $1.20 per share, providing a 1.99% dividend yield. It has paid dividends for 21 consecutive years with a payout ratio of 41.1%.

What is Columbia Sportswear's balance sheet situation?

As of June 30, 2026, Columbia Sportswear had $624.6M in cash and short-term investments against $461.2M of total debt, resulting in $163.4M in net cash and a current ratio of 2.49.

What are analysts forecasting for COLM?

Analysts have set a mean price target of $69.83, which is 16.1% above the last close of $60.16. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, EPS is estimated at $4.70 on $3.46B in revenue.

How has COLM stock performed compared to the S&P 500?

Over the past year, COLM gained 20.9% versus 16.8% for the S&P 500. However, over five years, COLM fell 32.1% while the S&P 500 rose 83.0%.

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