Genesco Inc logo

Genesco Inc(GCO)

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ADVISORIES YOU CAN VERIFY
QUALITY SIGNAL
2-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$34.54
09/25/2026
(24-hour delay)

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*as per simulation (see disclosures)
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Upturn Advisory & Investor View for GCO

09/25/2026: GCO (2-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Genesco Inc. is a specialty footwear retailer and brand owner known primarily for its youth-focused Journeys chain and the heritage-based Johnston & Murphy brand. The company's strengths lie in its specialized retail niches, though it faces structural headwinds from shifting consumer behavior and heavy reliance on mall traffic. Its growth story centers on digital transformation and optimizing store performance to bolster margins. However, execution, high competition in the footwear space, and economic sensitivity remain significant risks for shareholders. The stock may suit value-oriented investors who prioritize low valuations, while dividend seekers may find its capital return profile less compelling than traditional income-focused equities.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorMixed fitGrowth is moderate and tied heavily to retail mall performance rather than high-growth digital disruption.
Momentum investorWeak fitThe stock often lacks strong, sustained directional momentum due to the cyclical nature of the retail industry.
Value investorStrong fitGenesco often trades at low valuation multiples, which may appeal to investors looking for turnaround or value plays.
Dividend investorWeak fitThe company prioritizes capital preservation and buybacks over consistent or high-yield dividend payouts.
Low-risk investorMixed fitRetail sector volatility and reliance on consumer sentiment introduce meaningful risk for conservative investors.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMedium / highRetail stocks often react sharply to quarterly earnings and consumer sentiment shifts.
Valuation riskLowCurrent valuations often incorporate low growth expectations, reducing downside risk relative to high-multiple stocks.
Competition risk (Direct footwear retail)HighIntense competition from e-commerce giants and direct-to-consumer brands threatens market share.
Business qualityMediumGenesco possesses strong brand equity in specific niches but faces structural challenges in traditional retail.
Dividend incomeLow / noneThe company does not rely on dividends as a primary component of shareholder returns.
Execution riskMedium / highSuccess depends on accurately predicting teen fashion trends and managing complex store-based operations.

Price Behavior

Strong Uptrend
PRICE PATH

Strong Uptrend

The stock has maintained a strong upward price trend across the last three quarters.

Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Choppy

The stock has experienced frequent reversals and pronounced short-term price swings.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -57.07%
Avg. Invested days 26
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 2.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 09/25/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
GCO receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid company fundamentals. The rating is constrained by soft unit economics, and weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
GCO has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with moderate financial health, solid growth momentum, and strong ownership. In FY2026 versus FY2025, strong earnings growth (+170.2%) is partially offset by soft cash generation (FCF margin 3.4%), moderate revenue growth (+4.8%), soft profitability (net margin 0.5%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
GCO's financial health is supported by solid cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation (3.4% of revenue). Profitability is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Earnings growth is GCO's strongest growth driver at +170.2% FY2026 versus FY2025 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, free-cash-flow growth (+79.0%, strong) is also strong, while revenue growth (+4.8%, moderate) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 96.5% and approximately 79.8% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 14.07% supports management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Pzena Investment Management, LLC 9.99%
BlackRock Inc 7.86%
Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. 6.09%
Fund 1 Investments LLC 5.64%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 4.28%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
GCO generates approximately $463 of gross profit, $10 of operating income, and $34 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2026 results. Strong cash conversion and healthy margins support the rating, although capital efficiency remains below the highest tier.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: -5.44% (Tax Credit)

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
GCO has a liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while elevated volatility.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedHigh VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 373.73M USD
Price to earnings Ratio 8.66
1Y Target Price 39.67
Price to earnings Ratio 8.66
1Y Target Price 39.67
Volume (30-day avg) 234.4K shares
Beta 1.8
52 Weeks Range 21.93 - 43.60
Updated Date 09/27/2026
52 Weeks Range 21.93 - 43.60
Updated Date 09/27/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) 3.99

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Journeys RetailFootwear and accessories sold through mall-based stores and online.The primary revenue driver, catering specifically to the teen demographic.
Johnston & MurphyPremium men's and women's footwear and apparel.A stable, higher-margin segment focused on professional and quality-conscious customers.
Licensed BrandsWholesale distribution of brands like Levi's and Dockers.Leverages brand licensing to reach customers through third-party retail partners.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

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Valuation

Trailing PE 8.66
Forward PE 14.62
Enterprise Value 907.18M
Price to Sales(TTM) 0.15
Enterprise Value 907.18M
Price to Sales(TTM) 0.15
Enterprise Value to Revenue 0.37
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 9.12
Shares Outstanding 10.82M
Shares Floating 8.64M
Shares Outstanding 10.82M
Shares Floating 8.64M
Percent Insiders 14.07
Percent Institutions 96.54

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Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

About Genesco Inc

Exchange NYSE
Headquarters Nashville, TN, United States
IPO Launch date 1985-07-01
President, CEO & Chairman Ms. Mimi Eckel Vaughn
Sector Consumer Cyclical
Industry Apparel Retail
Full time employees 4800
Full time employees 4800

Genesco Inc. operates as a retailer and wholesaler of footwear, apparel, and accessories. The company operates through four segments: Journeys Group, Schuh Group, Johnston & Murphy Group, and Genesco Brands Group. The Journeys Group segment offers footwear and accessories for young men, women, and children through the Journeys, Journeys Kidz, and Little Burgundy retail chains, as well as through e-commerce operations. The Schuh Group segment operates Schuh retail footwear stores that offer casual and athletic footwear, as well as sells footwear through e-commerce. The Johnston & Murphy Group segment is involved in the retail and e-commerce operations; and wholesale distribution of footwear, apparel, and accessories primarily for men. The Genesco Brands Group segment markets footwear under the Levi's, Dockers, and other brands. The company provides its products through catalogs and e-commerce websites, including journeys.com, journeyskidz.com, journeys.ca, schuh.co.uk, schuh.ie, schuh.eu, littleburgundyshoes.com, johnstonmurphy.com, and nashvilleshoewarehouse.com. It operates retail stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland primarily under the Journeys, Journeys Kidz, Schuh, Little Burgundy, and Johnston & Murphy brands. Genesco Inc. was incorporated in 1934 and is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.