Steve Madden Delivers Strong Q2 as Revenue Jumps 19.1% to $665.9 Million

Steven Madden Ltd. had a strong second quarter of 2026, helped by higher sales across its footwear and accessories business.

The company reported revenue of $665.9 million for the quarter, up 19.1% from $559 million in the same period last year. Revenue was also above market expectations of around $635 million.

The biggest highlight was the improvement in earnings. Adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) came in at $0.44, more than double the $0.20 reported a year earlier. On a GAAP basis, diluted EPS was $0.38, compared with a loss of $0.56 in the year ago quarter.

Better margins

Steve Madden also saw a strong improvement in its gross margin. Gross margin increased to 46.5%, compared with 40.4% a year earlier.

The company said higher average selling prices, lower promotional activity and a smaller impact from tariffs helped improve margins.

This improvement was important because it meant the company was not only selling more products but was also keeping a better share of its sales as profit.

Direct sales grow strongly

The company's wholesale business generated $407.5 million in revenue, an increase of 13% from the previous year. Wholesale footwear revenue rose 9%.

Its direct to consumer business performed even better, with revenue jumping 30.6% to $255.4 million.

The Steve Madden brand remained a major contributor, while brands such as Dolce Vita and Kurt Geiger also supported the company's growth.

Positive outlook for 2026

Steve Madden has also raised its expectations for the full year. It now expects revenue to grow 11% to 13% and adjusted diluted EPS to reach $2.05 to $2.15.

For the global footwear market, the latest results show that Steve Madden continues to benefit from strong consumer demand, higher sales and better margins.

The strong second quarter and improved full-year outlook could keep the company in focus among investors and footwear industry watchers during the second half of 2026.