in and soft by American results consumer direct of business. distributor direct experience continue we The to a Overall, continuation North afternoon. a we've the marketplace positive Europe to maximize led we our challenged, Outside environment. good China and America, and most North remains demand momentum and experienced of working in sales reflect businesses are all Andrew, quarter trends third financial year. outdoor Thanks,
the share low this, able a guidance Third X% quarter expense per net disciplined our Despite declined to and sales of were diluted end came in margin exceed earnings management. our range through guidance at gross better-than-planned range. year-over-year and we
remains strong. financial position Our
We exited over of debt. $XXX short-term with and cash and quarter the investments million no
We $XXX in are to track on million cash generate operating this over flow year.
we investing to free addition cash business In dividends our to share drive are shareholders flow growth, to repurchases. profitable long-term in and via returning
the has the our buyback to year, Through million. of approved repurchases Directors Highlighting commitment our totaled the new Board continued of $XXX a first strategy, allocation capital X $XXX million quarters share our authorization.
As we colder await cautious this in in arrival for net of outlook sales peak our of We mind, taking shortage weather season, no a uncertainty. the of world. the regions remainder sales the enter the are many year. more With there's we of
the top earnings pressure, diluted are per raising share line end slightly our Despite we of the guidance. bottom
new results Before reviewing in more Columbia's outlook our I'd to strategy growth discuss named like detail, Accelerate. and
elevate initiated Accelerate, brand attract more the and and recent growth to consumers. In intended Columbia younger months, active a strategy brand the
an world. built one largest in of brands outdoor we've extraordinary years, XX company the past the Over and the
consumer-centric top accelerate is to company our enhanced shifts The rapidly. Accelerate I centered Our strategic capable of of is growth priority profitable ways growth around is and working. growing know strategy several and
of framework segmentation First, the us. clearly consumer strengthened to ahead our we have define growth opportunities
is We and part the into bringing on also outdoor consumers essentials will consumers active largest the outdoor know new, that this focusing with consumer while to accessible market. segment fastest-growing serve brand. younger We existing of continue the our
younger, growth coming in more will the and strategies markets on brand, We are focus in Europe. U.S., already U.S. successfully we the the China In marketplace product serve this where consumer our reaching strong seasons, outside and active like consumers. seeing
right the to deliver we We at product win marketplace. right that right when consumers in the we time the the know
refreshed strategy Columbia's consumers' a brand second this doing elevating life. that Gert with brand. made shift Tough perception brings is of the Mother, Boyle, the our unique that of one We're brand famous. the embracing We're creative spirit The personality to
products for whatever throws exceptional will to we in and consumers fun, our the helping too at protected. cool you, keep and and dry, engineer this Columbia same brand We life marketing. evident is increasingly become at irreverent time, take ourselves don't And authentic, The warm, seriously.
global the of Columbia brand marketing as integration lead digital extensive direction, strategic Marketing. recently has efforts. To leading the Matt marketing this Head and Matt hired experience the of new we and Columbia in marketing Sutton brand be will
to a record, agency new also vision our bring announced global help of to ad Eve, We've us Adam and life.
success The product. and is our differentiated, iconic The creating functional around is are that third of innovative. foundation products shift
Under style the and seasons, our we emphasizing trust already be products the as to our product teams coming will a In styles. as construct its to well product targeted brand leadership innovation have Columbia consumer Woody with new Blackford, with iconic reliability. growth quality, updates value drive and the segments. Consumers new of most for
efforts ship our alongside best-in-class elevating strategic to products bring the retail to of the position strategies, on with and and Accelerate powerful elevate clear Columbia brand brand in our brand partners and to our our product collections we marketplace. presentations fewer, will purpose. the life. activate in-store is focus our more reducing To in We're unique assortment invest U.S. The fourth
we're In brand in-store to stories brick-and-mortar to of come our to business, tell sales. drive want enhancing and direct-to-consumer evolve assortments that In innovations We be begun focusing with visitors e-commerce our the and and latest site brand the on better presentations expression the brand. columbia.com products we've enriched to see our our best to stores, already storytelling.
our is full funnel marketing Accelerate in strategy. shift integrated next The
greater the the a on year-round share emphasis will We in voice have of consistent market.
we're invest we activate be Not demand also planning these into but efficient going where only are and how creation to more marketing, to with more we investments.
right Combined, to our experience right the product, accelerated and to are the at in brand. consumers with more time. marketplace be the right get and differentiated ways activations will immersive strategies We creative marketing marketing place product the to engineered
will with to to us. This further multiyear they them where be in This momentum ahead. excited to builds bring that meet only life. the go not us Accelerate our will to We're a seasons strategy are, enable inspire consumers steadily but
As consumers. the XXXX evident to progresses, increasingly making be will we're changes
prepared we financial While not strategy the profitable these to metrics actions brand-right growth. drive for I are believe provide point, firmly Accelerate this growth will at
our We margin will brand achieve over operating seek investments expense to with to of growth disciplined profitable with balance time. expansion management goal
review I growth. third sales, net in Net X% quarter sales performance. declined by global X% offset by $XXX direct-to-consumer a wholesale million financial decline will of driven X% year-over-year, now our partially
points above increased was activity of performance ahead by in driven This favorable XXX freight expanded and international higher share gross diluted reflecting basis to offset U.S. plan, expenses. margin at margin expenses. coming expenses, by expenses in X%, income the earnings primarily and guidance SG&A supply operating range. lower XX.X%. gross lower SG&A DTC chain Gross in per Favorable lower-than-expected underspend and promotional partially our margin resulted
net geography. by percent XX%, sales our primarily decrease decreased by at in net mid-teens driven U.S. Looking sales wholesale. U.S.
reminder, our the XX a percent. was a down mid-single-digit U.S. As in book Fall order
a has the season, early slow very off to gotten sell-through in still start. wholesale While
with expect to of We cold the up arrival pick weather. sell-through
flat by high year. teens market U.S. temporary the were well outdoor from columbia.com in brick-and-mortar relatively productivity a net new net reflecting down increased store up stores conditions opened a locations, digital the e-commerce sales percent, clearance last marketing was percent, contribution DTC and sales U.S. mid-single shift challenging were as digits driven over strategies. as
increased in of growth reference growth constant market. each review rates underlying Asia region net XX%. our international America, currency From geographies, third quarter to growth or Pacific illustrate net sales in sales year-over-year I LAAP, will Latin
net trend innovation. sales XX% with outdoor on unique China to and healthy localized activations transit with low headwinds DTC. growth Colombia continues is grow. highlight economic China, product the lines this brand heritage that Despite across wholesale Columbia's increased and and broader capitalizing in like category
in featured and During Shangri-La a this hiking Park. first-of-its-kind premier in Columbia destination. National the hosted well-attended The quarter, at event music event event the hiking hiking
incredibly generated amplified event continues successful whose momentum celebrity an content China's business on ambassadors several Columbia of had sales ranking Brand e-commerce Super third the The highlights impressions. volume brands. build outdoor in all to by with Tmall in millions across quarter. Day was online brand
start. store year. this see region its a on to Columbia's first important track off markets exciting TikTok, On is strong Columbia growth to this full in remains realize it footwear potential fastest-growing launched brand and to the our and be It's of one
increased percent. sales double-digit Korea tourism. continued percent, net aided strength Japan digit in international mid-single by sales increased net
the During new of we as General the Columbia quarter, Korea. appointed Manager Sportswear Jeff McPike
experiences. passion mid-XXs building strategy robust for Jeff industry consumer instrumental omnichannel be percent, marketplace our orders. innovative the Korea. veteran Fall were LAAP reflecting right in is distributor expertise XX in His business markets forward building to will with drive a up primarily a XX-year
DTC job increased creating sales single-digit net team Middle led increased and The growth. Hike percent Africa direct a unique by the EMEA, like of visibility or region, net with Europe, Europe doing is robust Society. sales an relevance marketing exceptional activations low and East European brand XX%.
hosted we XX young events, them grassroots connections creating and Technologies. Columbia Hike Society to hikers season, with introducing This
track this year. Our of markets direct on business remains fastest-growing Europe one be to our
trust. by well high driven strength Fall driven on well timing as Canada many Canada lower sales distributor awareness of remains orders XX%, as EMEA by XX brand Our Columbia distributor higher shipments sales. a approximately business of with in wholesale markets. consumer and Columbia the XXX%, the brand increased The net by in brand in decreased shift positioned
by trends by Canada, at net offset performance international reflecting the Columbia challenging partially a continuation and brand. brand of primarily in a most Looking in X%, decreased markets. sales U.S. marketplace healthy
are integral of innovation largest Infinity our one This several Omni-Heat fall, fastest-growing our remains marketing the innovations business. have product platform our strategies. and we that and to parts of
weather cold be channels. Arctic featured prominently DTC in newest will Our innovation, our Omni-Heat
that to bear's in. warmth, protection to with layer mimicking a body the an energy lets warmth insulation system. then transmitted the outer Omni-Heat polar Arctic translucent reminder, a close As layer solar Heat for is starts maximum
to Product Officer, fabrications developing President technologies of Association American Innovation, contributions in are Blackford; Woody I'd in their Textile Colorists for our the Vice and the who Beckham, by of significant Chemists like our new and apparel and honored congratulate Chief industry.
outdoor you Colombia you in Thank everything team. make leader the do work for Great to space. a
front, fall, On this we Club on the collection. with Outdoor partnered Disney Mickey's collaboration
in media from Inspired strip, styles iconic artwork quickly by out outdoor the the featured outlets. Disney a camping characters was line focused the on Top and trip. beloved Disney Mouse comic collection this Mickey and numerous sold featured
annual This ninth holiday launch our season, will Star Wars collection. Colombia
will The Star a special tomorrow and War of first content the to guests. and want to going see are a Star from collaboration NASCAR surprise Wars feature will go-live Fans promoting appearance this.
and Shifting by growth. product new collection, growth. on Whisperer emerging the brand snow Mountain The exciting and X%, DTC brand focused the year a soon-to-be-announced net balance Hardware and the accelerating are offerings line expanded product activations team sports positioning sales brands. has Ghost Mountain brand of our is for Hardware's several an on driven increased to including product co-lab. and track
PrAna net order recent by the 'XX. I'm and prAna for marketing sales has position with encouraged progress for confident wholesale distribution the decreased team I'm positive months, brand a activating starting the in quarter. refreshing X% team. the actions new in to recruiting these talent leadership growth, spring made that book
brand is under SOREL strategies to building process 'XX spring team will I is know sales activity brand I remain potential and XX trends the lower by marketplace will sales XX%, elevated long-term expect prior and driven SOREL capable in and sales in focused take drive time, that of. the season. This Fall growth and on pressure product clearance The the promotional decreased the brand, net orders year.
XXXX our Please I financial This include statements. discuss and and additional these see to forward-looking will disclosures outlook. and presentations details now CFO statements. for commentary review our related financial commentary outlook
consumer supply there others, conflicts, and U.S. potential to weather the external demand the many the risks across and elections. marketplace, chain geopolitical uncertainties, impact headwinds, our upcoming factors, and operations. among outdoor U.S. are consumer Looking disruptions global These and have industry
to sales expected are XX% a to XX to we X.X%. sales, net outlook X% to to operating Gross reflect of to mind, margin in leading X% XX.X% XX to now to points. year. uncertainty this expected SG&A be decline With our an X.X% this margin is expand of is basis reducing
track this to million deliver year. The program is profit approximately improvement savings in cost on $XX
the slightly raising are of guidance EPS our $XXX is now $XXX We million range, low end diluted to which million.
year. prAna markets. XX Spring in we a Hardware and our U.S. first order of in to reflects return the the wholesale This in international half book Colombia, business growth across Mountain growth As noted book last reflects on the and growth and the call, our order
Based on increase anticipate percent. first the wholesale Spring sales XX orders, half digit to mid-single we net
margin While providing expansion. sales to guidance we are operating full our XXXX not time, at any objective year deliver and this growth net is
report we in on provide next will XXXX February. We update our when
summary, In across growth confident years that shifts profitable business. see The strategies opportunities strategic unlock strategy provides unlock come. will I'm brand-wide growth the we the have in place clear Accelerate to right for we the to growth significant
our with digitally investments, growth, strategic amplify investing differentiated, as to empower enhance and that are in and driven are demand creation emphasis retain renewed innovative, value. We excellence led talent priorities capabilities functional global engagement products iconic delight brand investing drive our and is consumer focused omnichannel marketplace and in profitable to that by by experiences accelerate with consumers, create core increased
That concludes prepared remarks. us the of help with my the questions you that? your We Operator, for welcome can remainder hour.
