Why Foot Locker Inc. Stock Plummeted 26% Today

What happened

Shares of Foot Locker Inc. (NYSE: FL) were down 26.3% as of 2:30 p.m. EDT Friday after the footwear retailer announced disappointing second-quarter 2017 results. More specifically, for its fiscal second quarter ended July 29, 2017, Foot Locker's revenue declined 4.4% year over year, to $1.7 billion, including a 6% decline in comparable-store sales.

On the bottom line, that translated to GAAP net income of $51 million, or $0.39 per share, down from $127 million, or $0.94 per share in the same year-ago period. On an adjusted (non-GAAP) basis -- which excludes a $50 million litigation charge related to a lawsuit against the company regarding the conversion of its pension plan in 1996 -- earnings were $81 million, or $0.62 per share.

Even so, analysts' consensus estimates called for adjusted earnings of $0.90 per share on higher revenue of $1.8 billion.

So what

According to Foot Locker chairman and CEO Richard Johnson:

That said, Johnson also insisted Foot Locker is striving to adjust its business to better suit today's difficult retail industry, noting consumers are more quickly moving "from one source of inspiration to another." The company's efforts include working with vendors to more quickly capitalize on new trends, reprioritizing capital expenditures, and implementing additional expense-reduction initiatives.

Now what

These actions might well be exactly what Foot Locker needs to return to sustained, profitable growth. But given its relative underperformance in the meantime -- and even with the stock down more than 30% year to date before this report -- it's no surprise to see Foot Locker shares touching a fresh 52-week low today.

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Steve Symington has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.