Winning in the Sneaker Stock Market - 1998


CAUTION: Investments in the stock market can and do lose money; they can also provide significant dividend income and rewarding increases in share value. The companies I list here manufacture athletic shoes, a product whose sales are relatively unpredictable and subject to the whims of consumer demand. Past performance is no guarantee of future performance. This data is historical... using historical information is akin to running backwards (it can be a good exercise but be very careful about running into the unexpected). Potential investors should examine all available data about a given stock, including but not limited to Securities and Exchange Commission filings, before investing.


For those who have asked, I Just Did It: bought about $1000 of adidas Group (made enough to buy almost any pair of sneakers they sell) and about $1000 of Nike (made enough to buy five pairs of Chucks).  On the other hand, but if you want to buy stock to make money: also consider Airbus Group, Boeing, or Dr Pepper Snapple Group.


There are a number of athletic shoe companies (as indicated by their Standard Industrial Codes) that are represented in the various stock markets in the United States (either NASDAQ or NYSE).

Of the nine I have been able to locate, four of them made money for their investors in 1997. The 1998 market has been a major rout for athletic shoe companies, with two big exceptions.


The winners in 1998:

Saucony Jazz classic running shoe: green with silver trimDuring the first half of 1998, Hyde Athletic Industries changed their name to Saucony, Inc. However, there was no need for their investors to "Hyde" from embarrassment. Saucony Class A stock went up a surprising 83.9% during calendar year 1998. NOTE: Historical interest only; Saucony is now a division of Stride Rite.


K-Swiss "Classic Luxury Edition," all-white patent leather shoeK-Swiss, Inc. was another winner. It went up by 65.6% during the year.


The Nike Jumpman Pro basketball sneaker: white with dark blue JUMPMAN and trimDuring 1998, Nike stock made a 3.8% increase. Not a very good JUMP, MAN...



The losers during 1998:

Sperry Top-Sider navy canvas boat sneakerStride Rite, maker of Sperry Top-Siders, was taking on water fast with a 27.1% price decrease.


Reebok BB4600 black high-top basketball sneaker with white trimReebok (now part of the adidas Group) didn't finish in the black... with a 48.3% decrease during 1998.


Vans slip-on sneaker: black, red, and whiteLook at the red... not the black! VANS stockholders took a 54.5% loss during 1998. VANS is now part of VF Corporation, the major apparel maker.


Converse "Chuck Taylor" All Star red high-top sneakerWhile Converse brought out new green Chucks, their investors sure weren't making any green during 1998. Converse stock lost 60% over the year. Converse is now a division of Nike.


Fila FX-100 athletic shoe (strap not installed)The stock for the maker of FILA high-tops was down low, with a 62.6% loss in value during 1998. The FILA ADR is no longer publicly traded.


Teva All Terrain in "Pepsi Stuff" color schemeTeva sport sandals aren't supposed to sink. However, the stock of Deckers Outdoor Corporation sank 70.8% during 1998.



 Continue onward to 1999's results...
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Last Updated: 23 February 2017


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Charlie's Sneaker Pages copyright 1995-2024 by Charles L. Perrin.

READERS PLEASE NOTE: Names of athletic shoe manufacturers, shoe styles, and technologies may be trademarked by the manufacturers. Charlie's Sneaker Pages uses these names solely to describe the shoes with the same familiar nomenclature used by the manufacturer and recognized by the reader.