Academy Sports + Outdoors
Retailer of sports and outdoor gear
Merchandise Planner - MLB/NFL Apparel/Licensed Novelty
Regular in-office attendance is required; domestic travel up to 5% may include occasional overnight stays.
About the job
- A bachelor's degree in a relevant field of study or equivalent work experience is required.
- At least 5 years of related work experience is required.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to solve problems and develop creative solutions are required.
- The ability to prioritize work in a fast-paced, frequently changing environment while staying organized and detailed is required.
- Knowledge of retail mathematics and the ability to apply it in planning and analysis are required.
- Experience using Microsoft Office, Oracle, SAS, or similar planning and analysis tools is required.
- Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills with the ability to work effectively with partners at various levels are required.
- The ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed, is required.
- The ability to travel domestically up to 5%, including occasional overnight stays, is required.
- Regular in-office attendance is required.
- An acceptable level of hearing and vision to perform job duties is required.
- The ability to adhere to company policies and professional standards is required.
- Support the buying organization in achieving sales, profit, and inventory goals through financial and assortment planning.
- Build class and subclass insights.
- Create item-level plans.
- Reconcile quarterly or seasonal assortment plans with financial targets.
- Evaluate proposed actions and timelines to keep internal and external stakeholders on track for key deadlines.
- Collaborate with replenishment, buyers, and planning managers to maintain financial plans, manage open-to-buy, and monitor trends.
- Use planning systems and reporting tools to generate insights, support vendor discussions, and identify business best practices.
- Work with Buyers, Planning Managers, and the Replenishment team to align financial plans, assortment strategies, and inventory decisions.
- Collaborate with vendors and cross-functional partners by sharing projections, discussing trends, and supporting decisions with clear data and recommendations.
- Experience in a retail environment is preferred.
About the company
Academy Sports + Outdoors sells sports and outdoor equipment, including apparel, footwear, and gear for many activities, serving individuals, families, and teams. It operates through physical stores and an online platform, letting customers shop in-store or online. It differentiates itself with price matching, gift cards, a branded credit card, and easy returns with order tracking and in-store pickup. Its goal is to provide high-quality equipment at competitive prices and make shopping convenient to build ongoing relationships with customers.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Katy, Texas
Founded
1938
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- September 9, 2026, Academy raised adjusted EPS guidance to $6.50-$6.90.
- Q2 2026 e-commerce grew 12.8%, proving omnichannel demand.
- Academy plans 11 Q3 2026 openings and 20-25 total stores this fiscal year.
What critics are saying
- Q2 2026 comparable sales fell 0.4%, signaling weak traffic despite store growth.
- Q1 2026 tariffs cut gross margin 80 basis points, and refund rights remain unresolved.
- April 2026 firearms litigation can trigger insurance spikes, reputational damage, and category restrictions.
What makes Academy Sports + Outdoors unique
- Academy's one-roof model bundles sporting goods, hunting, and outdoor recreation across 327 stores.
- Private labels and national brands support value pricing against Dick's higher-end assortment.
- Two hundred Ariat shop-in-shops deepen Academy's western and workwear differentiation this fall.
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Benefits
Flexible Work Hours
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 13%1 year growth
↑ 13%2 year growth
↑ 13%Academy Sports and Outdoors shares surged over 11% in premarket trading Wednesday after the sporting goods retailer beat second-quarter earnings expectations and raised full-year profit guidance. Adjusted earnings per share reached $2.31, surpassing the analyst consensus of $2.08. Revenue hit $1.65 billion, up 3.0% year-over-year, matching market expectations. Comparable sales declined 0.4%, reflecting pressure on consumer spending among lower-income households. However, e-commerce revenue grew 12.8% during the quarter. The company raised its fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings guidance to between $6.50 and $6.90 per share, up from the previous range of $6.40 to $6.80. Full-year net sales guidance remained unchanged at $6.23 billion to $6.36 billion. Chief executive Steve Lawrence said the company is reinvesting tariff-related benefits into value whilst expanding new brands and accelerating omnichannel initiatives.
Academy Sports + Outdoors reported second quarter fiscal 2026 sales growth of 3.0%, though comparable sales declined 0.4%. E-commerce sales increased 12.8%, whilst new stores posted mid-single-digit comparable growth. The retailer's diluted GAAP earnings per share rose 17.3% to $2.17, with adjusted EPS up 19.1% to $2.31. A net tariff refund contributed $0.06 to EPS, including reinvestments. The company opened three new stores during the quarter across Pennsylvania and Tennessee, bringing its total store count to 327. It plans to open 11 stores in the third quarter. Academy affirmed its sales guidance for fiscal 2026 whilst raising EPS expectations. The board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share, payable 14 October 2026.
Academy Sports + Outdoors relocating Macon store to Tom Hill Sr. Blvd in October. The new 48,279-square-foot store will be located at 195 Tom Hill Sr. Boulevard. An exact opening date has not been announced. 3 hours ago MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) - Academy Sports + Outdoors plans to relocate its Macon store to Northpark Center in October. According to a news release from the company on Tuesday, the new 48,279-square-foot store will be located at 195 Tom Hill Sr. Boulevard. Its current location is across town at 1689 Eisenhower Parkway. Academy says the relocated store, which will occupy the address formerly occupied by Big Lots, will continue selling apparel, footwear and equipment for hunting, fishing, camping, outdoor cooking and team sports. The retailer did not announce an exact opening date or provide information about when its current Macon location will close. People interested in working at the new location can apply through Academy's careers website. Academy was founded in Texas in 1938 and operates more than 300 stores across 21 states.
Academy Sports + Outdoors has appointed Matthew M. Pasch as Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer. In this role, Pasch will oversee the company's talent strategy, human resources, and communications functions across corporate offices, distribution centres, and retail operations. Pasch joins Academy from Burlington, where he most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. During his tenure at Burlington, he held various senior leadership positions, including roles overseeing human resources for merchandising, marketing, strategy, and supply chain functions. He will report directly to Chief Executive Officer Steve Lawrence and replaces William S. Ennis, who recently retired. Academy Sports + Outdoors operates more than 300 stores across 21 US states.
Academy Sports + Outdoors plans new Manor location. Sporting giant Academy Sports' could soon bring its full-scale sporting goods and outdoor retail concept to Manor. Published Date: September 3, 2026, 7:05 AM EDT Sporting goods giant eyes Highway 290 project in fast-growing Travis County suburb. According to public filings, Academy Sports + Outdoors plans to open a new location at 14018 US 290 in Manor. Founded in 1938 in San Antonio, Academy Sports + Outdoors offers sporting goods, outdoor recreation gear, apparel, and footwear from national brands alongside its own private-label lines. The brand is known for its "one single roof" concept, bringing a full-scale sports store and outdoor and hunting shop together under one roof. What Now Austin reached out to Academy Sports' representatives to inquire about the opening timeline but did not receive a response prior to publication. Permitting records list a construction completion date of March 2027. However, dates listed in public filings are not always definitive. What Now has tracked Academy Sports' rapid national expansion in other markets. What Now Atlanta reported on the opening of a 50,200-square-foot Perimeter Center store, the company's 12th in metro Atlanta at the time, while What Now Charleston covered a new Academy store anchoring the upcoming Victory Village development in Lexington, South Carolina, alongside Target. The Manor opening adds to a wave of development activity What Now has tracked along the city's Highway 290 corridor. What Now Austin reported on a new McAlister's Deli planned for the area and separately covered new locations for IHOP, Mountain Mike's Pizza, and Tropical Smoothie Cafe, reflecting Manor's rapid growth as one of the fastest-expanding suburbs east of Austin. Love its content? Add WhatNow as a preferred source on Google to see more of its trusted coverage when you search. Be the first to know. From new restaurant openings to exciting retail launches and real estate insights, be the first to know what's happening in Austin Daniela Velez is a bilingual journalist and communications strategist based in Colombia. She has covered stories across the humanitarian, political, and entertainment sectors, bringing a multidisciplinary perspective shaped by her background in Communications and Political Philosophy from Universidad de La Sabana and additional training in Modern Journalism from NYU