Analyst Ratings February 12, 2026

Needham Raises Crocs Price Target to $118 Following Strong Q4 and Upgraded 2026 Profit Forecasts

Firm keeps Buy rating as fourth-quarter results and management guidance underpin upward revisions to EPS estimates

By Derek Hwang CROX
Needham Raises Crocs Price Target to $118 Following Strong Q4 and Upgraded 2026 Profit Forecasts
CROX

Needham increased its Crocs (CROX) price target to $118 from $100 and reaffirmed a Buy rating after the footwear maker reported stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter results and issued a bullish fiscal 2026 outlook. The company delivered Q4 earnings per share of $2.29 and provided FY2026 adjusted EPS guidance well above consensus, prompting Needham to lift its EPS forecasts for fiscal 2026 and 2027.

Key Points

  • Needham raised its Crocs price target to $118 from $100 and kept a Buy rating.
  • Crocs reported Q4 EPS of $2.29 and revenue of $958 million, beating forecasts.
  • Company guidance for FY2026 EPS of $12.88-$13.31/$13.35 exceeds consensus estimates near $11.90; Needham raised FY26/27 EPS forecasts to $13.35/$14.72.
  • CROX trades with a P/E of 30.66, market cap of $5.2 billion, and an InvestingPro financial health rating of "GREAT"; management share buybacks noted as positive.

Analysts at Needham have raised their price objective on Crocs Inc. to $118.00 from $100.00 while maintaining a Buy recommendation on the footwear company’s stock. The move follows quarterly results and management guidance that together presented a brighter near-term earnings picture for the brand.

Crocs reported fourth-quarter results that outpaced expectations: revenue fell 3% year-over-year, notably better than the company’s prior guidance calling for an 8% decline, and adjusted earnings per share came in at $2.29, above the guidance range of $1.82 to $1.92. The company’s gross profit margins remain robust, with a trailing twelve-month margin of 59.08%.

Management’s outlook for fiscal year 2026 shows sales projected to be between a 1% decline and slight growth, a range consistent with Street expectations. The company issued adjusted earnings-per-share guidance between $12.88 and $13.31 in one statement and between $12.88 and $13.35 elsewhere, both figures sitting comfortably above consensus estimates that the article reports as roughly $11.90 and $11.89 respectively. Needham credited the stronger outlook in raising its own earnings forecasts and subsequently lifted its fiscal 2026 and 2027 EPS projections to $13.35 and $14.72, up from prior estimates of $11.32 and $12.50.

For the first quarter, Crocs guided to EPS of $2.67 to $2.77, a range that materially exceeds the Street expectation cited here of $1.90, even as the company continues to contend with headwinds in Crocs North America and a planned decline for its HeyDude brand across the fiscal year.

The quarter’s top-line and bottom-line beats were reflected in the company’s reported figures for the period: EPS of $2.29 versus a forecast of $1.91, and revenue of $958 million compared with an anticipated $916.09 million. Management’s stronger EPS outlook for 2026 — reiterated in adjusted guidance between $12.88 and $13.35 in one disclosure — was highlighted as a key driver behind the more constructive analyst stance.

Market metrics cited alongside the results show Crocs trading below what InvestingPro terms its Fair Value, a market capitalization near $5.2 billion, and an overall financial health rating labeled "GREAT." The stock’s current price-to-earnings multiple is reported at 30.66, and investing research noted management’s aggressive share repurchase activity as a favorable element for investors.

Not every analyst moved to increase enthusiasm. Stifel retained a Hold rating on Crocs with a $90.00 price target despite the upbeat 2026 outlook. Stifel’s commentary referenced a projected year-over-year earnings growth of 3% to 7% that outperformed its prior expectation for a decline.

Together, the quarter’s outperformance, management guidance, and subsequent adjustments from Needham and other firms have drawn investor attention to Crocs’ near-term profit trajectory while leaving open questions about segment-level pressure in North America and the HeyDude business.


Disclosure: See separate disclosure field for related information.

Risks

  • Ongoing weakness in Crocs North America and a planned decline in the HeyDude brand could weigh on full-year performance - impacts retail and consumer discretionary sectors.
  • Revenue guidance spanning a slight decline to marginal growth for 2026 introduces uncertainty in top-line expansion - impacts investor expectations in the retail sector.
  • Divergent analyst views, such as Stifel’s Hold rating at a $90 price target despite the robust 2026 outlook, reflect continued uncertainty about sustainability of earnings momentum - impacts equity market sentiment for the stock.

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