Designer Brands Management
Management criteria checks 2/4
Designer Brands' CEO is Doug Howe, appointed in Apr 2023, has a tenure of 3.17 years. total yearly compensation is $7.92M, comprised of 15.3% salary and 84.7% bonuses, including company stock and options. directly owns 1.04% of the company’s shares, worth $4.52M. The average tenure of the management team and the board of directors is 2.7 years and 11.6 years respectively.
Key information
Doug Howe
Chief executive officer
US$7.9m
Total compensation
| CEO salary percentage | 15.32% |
| CEO tenure | 3.2yrs |
| CEO ownership | 1.0% |
| Management average tenure | 2.7yrs |
| Board average tenure | 11.6yrs |
Recent management updates
Recent updates
Analysis Article • Jan 29
Some Confidence Is Lacking In Designer Brands Inc.'s (NYSE:DBI) P/S
There wouldn't be many who think Designer Brands Inc.'s ( NYSE:DBI ) price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 0.1x is worth a...Analysis Article • Jan 06
Designer Brands (NYSE:DBI) Is Experiencing Growth In Returns On Capital
What trends should we look for it we want to identify stocks that can multiply in value over the long term? Amongst...Seeking Alpha • Dec 10
Designer Brands Q3: A Clear EPS Beat, But Not Good Enough
Summary Designer Brands Inc. reported a clear EPS beat in Q3, sending the stock surging. The report still shows weak underlying trends. Comparable store sales remain weak, ultimately driving long-term earnings deterioration. Gross margin expansion through lower markdowns is a clear positive, but gains shouldn't be extrapolated far. After the post-earnings surge, DBI is valued too optimistically. I estimate 36% downside to $3.92. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaAnalysis Article • Nov 30
Designer Brands (NYSE:DBI) Has Affirmed Its Dividend Of $0.05
Designer Brands Inc. ( NYSE:DBI ) has announced that it will pay a dividend of $0.05 per share on the 19th of December...Analysis Article • Nov 27
Should You Think About Buying Designer Brands Inc. (NYSE:DBI) Now?
Designer Brands Inc. ( NYSE:DBI ), is not the largest company out there, but it saw a significant share price rise of...Analysis Article • Oct 12
Is Designer Brands (NYSE:DBI) A Risky Investment?
The external fund manager backed by Berkshire Hathaway's Charlie Munger, Li Lu, makes no bones about it when he says...Analysis Article • Sep 11
Returns At Designer Brands (NYSE:DBI) Are On The Way Up
To find a multi-bagger stock, what are the underlying trends we should look for in a business? Typically, we'll want to...Analysis Article • Jun 11
At US$3.05, Is It Time To Put Designer Brands Inc. (NYSE:DBI) On Your Watch List?
While Designer Brands Inc. ( NYSE:DBI ) might not have the largest market cap around , it led the NYSE gainers with a...Analysis Article • May 22
Designer Brands (NYSE:DBI) Is Paying Out A Dividend Of $0.05
Designer Brands Inc.'s ( NYSE:DBI ) investors are due to receive a payment of $0.05 per share on 18th of June. The...Seeking Alpha • Mar 20
Designer Brands Is Not Attractive After Q4, Pre- Or Post-Rally
Summary Designer Brands Inc. posted positive comparable sales for the first time in over two years, driven by a stronger athletic assortment but at the cost of margin recovery. Despite moderate business improvement expected for fiscal 2025, DBI's high leverage, razor-thin margins, and questionable capital allocation make its current valuation unjustified. DBI's balance sheet remains highly leveraged with $500 million in debt and $50 million in annual interest expense, raising concerns about financial stability. Given the high debt, poor capital allocation, and uncertain margin trajectory, I maintain a Hold rating on DBI stock. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaAnalysis Article • Mar 20
Investors Could Be Concerned With Designer Brands' (NYSE:DBI) Returns On Capital
If we're looking to avoid a business that is in decline, what are the trends that can warn us ahead of time? More often...Analysis Article • Mar 20
Designer Brands (NYSE:DBI) Is Paying Out A Dividend Of $0.05
Designer Brands Inc. ( NYSE:DBI ) will pay a dividend of $0.05 on the 11th of April. This makes the dividend yield...Analysis Article • Feb 25
Here's Why Designer Brands (NYSE:DBI) Is Weighed Down By Its Debt Load
Warren Buffett famously said, 'Volatility is far from synonymous with risk.' When we think about how risky a company...Seeking Alpha • Feb 20
Designer Brands: Cheap, But With Several Caveats
Summary Designer Brands Inc. shares have plummeted over 50% since a disappointing Q1 FY 2024, driven by weak consumer spending and poor boot sales due to warm weather. The company faces significant challenges, including high interest expenses, lack of turnaround visibility, and declining market share in boots, despite some recent beneficial owner buying. The shares do trade for less than nine times FY 2025 EPS are at historical lows based on price to sales ratio, and yield nearly four percent. Buy the dip? An analysis follows in the paragraphs below. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaAnalysis Article • Jan 30
Is It Time To Consider Buying Designer Brands Inc. (NYSE:DBI)?
Designer Brands Inc. ( NYSE:DBI ), might not be a large cap stock, but it saw significant share price movement during...Seeking Alpha • Dec 12
Designer Brands Is Buying Back Shares At The Expense Of Even More Leverage Risk
Summary Designer Brands' 3Q24 results show topline challenges across all segments, with US retail down 2.8%, Canada down 4.6%, and owned brands down 7.5%. Despite cutting $20 million in SG&A, DBI's financial risk increased due to repurchasing shares with expensive debt, raising concerns about covering interest expenses by Q4. The company's equity remains highly risky; achieving a 3.2% operating margin requires a 10% sales increase, which seems unlikely in current conditions. I maintain a Hold rating on DBI due to deteriorating sales comparables, increased leverage, and uncertain future profitability despite potential for reasonable yield. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaAnalysis Article • Nov 29
Designer Brands (NYSE:DBI) Has Announced A Dividend Of $0.05
Designer Brands Inc. ( NYSE:DBI ) will pay a dividend of $0.05 on the 20th of December. This means the annual payment...Analysis Article • Nov 26
Designer Brands (NYSE:DBI) Has Some Difficulty Using Its Capital Effectively
When it comes to investing, there are some useful financial metrics that can warn us when a business is potentially in...Analysis Article • Oct 11
Is Designer Brands (NYSE:DBI) Using Too Much Debt?
Some say volatility, rather than debt, is the best way to think about risk as an investor, but Warren Buffett famously...
New Narrative • Sep 21
Athleisure Shift Pressures Margins, Yet Strategic Growth And Analyst Optimism Prevail
Shifting focus to athletic sales strains profitability and net margins due to lower mark-ups and gross margin pressure from prioritizing growth in low-margin categories.Seeking Alpha • Sep 12
Designer Brands: Stumbling On The Earnings Runway
Summary Designer Brands Inc. missed Q2 2024 earnings estimates, with EPS of $0.29 and revenue shortfall of $44.24 million, highlighting profitability and debt issues. Despite positive signs in athleisure and back-to-school sales, the company's high debt load and declining profitability make it a risky investment. DBI's valuation metrics, including a high EV/EBITDA ratio and significant debt, indicate financial instability, overshadowing potential recovery in athletic and casual segments. Given the financial challenges and industry headwinds, I rate DBI as a 'Sell' due to limited upside and fragile financial condition. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaAnalysis Article • Sep 12
Is Designer Brands Inc. (NYSE:DBI) Trading At A 37% Discount?
Key Insights The projected fair value for Designer Brands is US$8.21 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Current...Seeking Alpha • Jun 25
Designer Brands Sees Improving Financials Ahead
Summary Designer Brands reported weak financials in Q4 due to inventory management, but reported a gradual improvement in Q1 as assortment, marketing, and omnichannel efforts started to show results. The company expects the improvements' momentum to continue into FY2024 and beyond, and I believe that investors should start to look closely for sequential improvements in sales. The stock's valuation seems to be balanced, largely determined by the sustainable margin level outlook beyond FY2024. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaCEO Compensation Analysis
| Date | Total Compensation | Salary | Company Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 31 2026 | US$8m | US$1m | -US$8m |
| Nov 01 2025 | n/a | n/a | -US$27m |
| Aug 02 2025 | n/a | n/a | -US$32m |
| May 03 2025 | n/a | n/a | -US$29m |
| Feb 01 2025 | US$5m | US$1m | -US$11m |
| Nov 02 2024 | n/a | n/a | -US$2m |
| Aug 03 2024 | n/a | n/a | -US$5m |
| May 04 2024 | n/a | n/a | US$18m |
| Feb 03 2024 | US$6m | US$1m | US$29m |
| Oct 28 2023 | n/a | n/a | US$104m |
| Jul 29 2023 | n/a | n/a | US$139m |
| Apr 29 2023 | n/a | n/a | US$148m |
| Jan 28 2023 | US$11m | US$740k | US$163m |
Compensation vs Market: Doug's total compensation ($USD7.92M) is above average for companies of similar size in the US market ($USD2.59M).
Compensation vs Earnings: Doug's compensation has increased whilst the company is unprofitable.
CEO
Doug Howe (65 yo)
3.2yrs
Tenure
US$7,919,728
Compensation
Mr. Douglas M. Howe, also known as Doug, is the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Designer Brands Inc since April 01, 2023. He was President of DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse since May 2022 until July 2...
Leadership Team
| Name | Position | Tenure | Compensation | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Chairman | 21.3yrs | US$6.41m | 24.09% $ 104.9m | |
| CEO & Director | 3.2yrs | US$7.92m | 1.04% $ 4.5m | |
| Vice Chairman & Chief Product Officer | less than a year | US$4.03m | 0.84% $ 3.7m | |
| COO, Executive VP of Designer Brands & President of Brands | less than a year | US$2.20m | 0.12% $ 514.0k | |
| CFO, Executive VP & Principal Financial Officer | less than a year | no data | no data | |
| Senior VP | no data | no data | no data | |
| Executive VP & President of Designer Brands Canada Inc. | 6.3yrs | no data | 0.070% $ 303.0k | |
| EVP of Designer Brands & President of North America Retail of DSW Shoe Warehouse Inc. | 2.9yrs | US$1.69m | 0.040% $ 173.3k | |
| Senior Vice President of Strategy and FP&A | no data | no data | no data |
2.7yrs
Average Tenure
65yo
Average Age
Experienced Management: DBI's management team is considered experienced (2.7 years average tenure).
Board Members
| Name | Position | Tenure | Compensation | Ownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Chairman | 21.3yrs | US$6.41m | 24.09% $ 104.9m | |
| CEO & Director | 3.2yrs | US$7.92m | 1.04% $ 4.5m | |
| Vice Chairman & Chief Product Officer | less than a year | US$4.03m | 0.84% $ 3.7m | |
| Independent Director | 18.3yrs | US$310.00k | 0.031% $ 133.6k | |
| Independent Director | 18.3yrs | US$315.00k | 0.17% $ 727.2k | |
| Independent Director | 9.8yrs | US$285.00k | 0.096% $ 416.7k | |
| Independent Director | 21.4yrs | US$290.00k | 0.098% $ 428.7k | |
| Independent Director | 21yrs | US$310.00k | 0.050% $ 219.2k | |
| Independent Director | 8.8yrs | US$315.00k | 0% $ 0 | |
| Inside Director | 13.5yrs | US$255.00k | 0.64% $ 2.8m | |
| Independent Director | 3.6yrs | US$255.00k | 0.23% $ 1.0m | |
| Independent Director | 1.8yrs | US$290.00k | 0% $ 0 |
11.6yrs
Average Tenure
67.5yo
Average Age
Experienced Board: DBI's board of directors are seasoned and experienced ( 11.6 years average tenure).
Company Analysis and Financial Data Status
| Data | Last Updated (UTC time) |
|---|---|
| Company Analysis | 2026/06/03 13:13 |
| End of Day Share Price | 2026/06/03 00:00 |
| Earnings | 2026/01/31 |
| Annual Earnings | 2026/01/31 |
Data Sources
The data used in our company analysis is from S&P Global Market Intelligence LLC. The following data is used in our analysis model to generate this report. Data is normalised which can introduce a delay from the source being available.
| Package | Data | Timeframe | Example US Source * |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company Financials | 10 years |
| |
| Analyst Consensus Estimates | +3 years |
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| Market Prices | 30 years |
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| Ownership | 10 years |
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| Management | 10 years |
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| Key Developments | 10 years |
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* Example for US securities, for non-US equivalent regulatory forms and sources are used.
Unless specified all financial data is based on a yearly period but updated quarterly. This is known as Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) or Last Twelve Month (LTM) Data. Learn more.
Analysis Model and Snowflake
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Industry and Sector Metrics
Our industry and section metrics are calculated every 6 hours by Simply Wall St, details of our process are available on Github.
Analyst Sources
Designer Brands Inc. is covered by 17 analysts. 2 of those analysts submitted the estimates of revenue or earnings used as inputs to our report. Analysts submissions are updated throughout the day.
| Analyst | Institution |
|---|---|
| Camilo Lyon | Canaccord Genuity |
| Jeff Black | Citigroup Inc |
| Steven Marotta | CL King & Associates, Inc. |