tiprankstipranks
Trending News
More News >
Roots Corporation (TSE:ROOT)
TSX:ROOT

Roots Corporation (ROOT) AI Stock Analysis

Compare
78 Followers

Top Page

TSE:ROOT

Roots Corporation

(TSX:ROOT)

Select Model
Select Model
Select Model
Neutral 48 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:48Neutral
Price Target:
C$3.00
▼(-1.64% Downside)
The score is held back primarily by weak financial performance driven by ongoing losses and margin pressure, and by soft technical momentum (negative MACD and trading below key moving averages). Cash flow trends and a manageable leverage profile provide some offset, but valuation remains constrained by unprofitability and no stated dividend yield.
Positive Factors
Brand and product durability
Roots' long heritage and focus on craftsmanship and sustainability build durable brand equity. This loyalty supports repeat purchases and premium positioning, helping stabilize revenues versus fast-fashion peers and providing a durable foundation for margins and long-term customer lifetime value.
Omnichannel revenue mix and partnerships
An omnichannel model—bricks-and-mortar store footprint plus e-commerce—and strategic collaborations diversify revenue and distribution. That reduces single-channel risk, broadens customer reach across cohorts, and supports steadier sales and inventory turnover over the medium term.
Improving free cash flow trajectory
Despite unprofitability, improving free cash flow indicates the business can generate cash from operations. Durable cash generation enhances liquidity, finances capex or marketing investments, and creates runway to deleverage or invest in margin-enhancing initiatives without immediate external funding.
Negative Factors
Negative profitability and shrinking margins
Persistently negative net income and falling EBIT/EBITDA margins point to structural profitability issues. Operating inefficiencies or pricing pressure may be embedded in the cost base; without sustained margin recovery the firm will struggle to self-fund growth or generate acceptable returns for shareholders.
Negative ROE and rising leverage
A negative ROE means capital is not earning returns and recent slight leverage increases reduce financial flexibility. This combination limits the company's ability to fund strategic initiatives, increases refinancing risk in adverse cycles, and constrains long-term capital allocation choices.
Modest revenue growth and limited scale
Revenue growth near 5% and a relatively small operational footprint point to constrained scale. Limited scale can impede operating leverage, slow margin recovery, and make international expansion or meaningful omnichannel investment more costly and risky relative to larger apparel peers.

Roots Corporation (ROOT) vs. iShares MSCI Canada ETF (EWC)

Roots Corporation Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionRoots Corporation (ROOT) is a Canadian lifestyle brand that specializes in high-quality apparel, leather goods, and accessories inspired by the outdoors and Canadian heritage. Founded in 1973, the company operates in the retail sector, offering a wide range of products including clothing for men, women, and children, as well as footwear and home products. Roots is known for its commitment to craftsmanship and sustainability, with a focus on creating durable products that resonate with consumers who value both style and functionality.
How the Company Makes MoneyRoots Corporation generates revenue primarily through its retail and e-commerce channels. The company sells its products directly to consumers through a network of branded retail stores across Canada and in select international markets, supplemented by its online platform, which allows for broader reach and convenience. Key revenue streams include sales of apparel, leather goods, and accessories. Additionally, Roots benefits from strategic partnerships that enhance its brand visibility and product offerings, such as collaborations with other fashion and lifestyle brands. The company's focus on seasonal collections and limited-edition products also helps drive consumer interest and sales, contributing to its overall earnings.

Roots Corporation Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Dec 10, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Apr 02, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call conveyed solid operational and financial momentum: revenue growth (+6.8%), margin expansion (DTC margin +140 bps), improved adjusted EBITDA and reduced net debt, alongside successful product launches, marketing activations and omnichannel improvements. Headwinds include higher SG&A due to marketing and personnel (+10.6%), a modest decline in reported net income driven by share-based compensation revaluation, inventory buildup (+10.3%), and ongoing market discounting. Management is investing to drive both near-term sales and long-term brand equity, accepting higher marketing spend in the near term. Overall, positive growth and margin trends outweigh the identified challenges, though execution on holiday sales and inventory management will be important going into Q4.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Revenue Growth
Q3 revenue of $71.5 million, a 6.8% increase vs. Q3 2024 ($66.9M). This marks the fifth consecutive quarter of top-line growth.
Direct-to-Consumer Strength and Comparable Sales
Direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales of $56.8 million, up 4.8% vs. $54.2M last year. Comparable store sales grew 6.3% year-over-year and 12.1% on a two-year stack, driven by improved traffic, conversion and new customer acquisition.
Partner and Wholesale Growth
Partners & other sales of $14.6 million, up 15.3% vs. $12.7M last year, supported by earlier orders from the Taiwanese wholesale partner and stronger B2B activity.
Gross Margin Expansion
Total gross margin improved to 60.8%, up 80 basis points year-over-year. DTC gross margin expanded to 65.4%, an improvement of 140 basis points, driven by reduced markdowns, improved product mix and sourcing/ freight improvements.
Profitability and Adjusted EBITDA Improvement
Adjusted EBITDA of $7.5 million, up $0.4M or 5.3% vs. $7.1M a year ago. Excluding DSU revaluation impacts, adjusted EBITDA would have grown ~7.3%–7.4% year-over-year, highlighting underlying operating leverage.
Balance Sheet / Leverage Progress
Net debt reduced to $44.1 million, down 5.9% vs. $46.9M last year. Net leverage approximately 1.9x on trailing 12-month adjusted EBITDA.
Operational and Brand Momentum
Improved style productivity, successful new collections (Roam travel capsule and Cloud line), positive store activations (Vancouver/Toronto openings, University of Toronto presence), and a well-received Seth Rogen campaign driving early holiday engagement.
Working Capital and Cash Flow Trend
Q3 free cash outflow improved to $4.6 million from a $6.0 million outflow a year earlier, reflecting sales growth and working capital management ahead of seasonal peak selling.
Negative Updates
Increase in SG&A Expenses
SG&A rose to $38.2 million, up 10.6% vs. $34.5M last year, driven by increased marketing investments (+$2M–$3M expected incremental Q4 spend), higher personnel costs, and higher variable selling costs from stronger sales.
Reported Net Income Slight Decline and Share-Based Compensation Impact
Net income was $2.3 million, down 4.5% vs. $2.4M last year (EPS $0.06 in both periods). Results were negatively impacted by DSU/share-based compensation revaluation linked to share price appreciation; excluding that impact net income would have improved ~1.5%.
Inventory Buildup and Seasonality Risk
Ending inventory increased to $66.6 million, up 10.3% vs. $60.4M last year (partly FX-driven). Elevated inventory and in-transit stock ahead of the holiday season increases exposure if demand softens.
Continued Discounting Trend in Market
Management noted a continuation of discounting trends (early and post-Black Friday activity) which can pressure margins despite company progress on reducing markdowns.
Incremental Tariff and U.S. E-commerce Headwinds
Higher U.S. tariffs (removal of U.S. duty-free de minimis) added ~$0.3M of costs; changes to cross-border duty rules create modest headwinds for U.S. e-commerce sales.
Seasonal Cash Outflow Remaining
Despite improvement, the company still generated a free cash outflow of $4.6M in Q3 due to seasonal working capital build ahead of the holiday selling period.
Company Guidance
The company reiterated that it expects to continue investing behind the brand and the holiday season — specifically adding an incremental $2–3 million of marketing in Q4 — while continuing to test paid media, AI-driven discovery and site personalization; Q3 metrics backing that approach included revenue of $71.5M (+6.8% YoY), DTC sales $56.8M (+4.8%), partners & other $14.6M (+15.3%), comparable sales +6.3% (12.1% on a 2‑year stack), total gross margin 60.8% (+80 bps) and DTC gross margin 65.4% (+140 bps), adjusted EBITDA $7.5M (would be $7.6M excluding DSU revaluation, ~+7% YoY), net income $2.3M ($0.06/sh), SG&A $38.2M (+10.6%), Q3 inventory $66.6M (+10.3%), free cash outflow $4.6M (improved from $6.0M), net debt $44.1M (down 5.9%) and net leverage ~1.9x; management also completed a $1.3M repurchase of 415,000 shares and remains focused on converting holiday traffic into sales while refining next‑year marketing mix.

Roots Corporation Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Roots Corporation faces profitability challenges despite a strong gross profit margin. The balance sheet shows moderate leverage, but the negative return on equity is concerning. Cash flow trends are slightly positive with growth in free cash flow, but profitability issues need addressing.
Income Statement
Roots Corporation's income statement shows a mixed performance. The TTM data indicates a slight revenue growth of 1.14%, but the company is struggling with profitability, as evidenced by a negative net profit margin of -12.23% and a negative EBIT margin of -13.25%. The gross profit margin remains healthy at 60.13%, suggesting efficient cost management at the production level. However, the negative EBITDA margin highlights challenges in covering operating expenses.
Balance Sheet
The balance sheet reflects moderate financial stability. The debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75 indicates a balanced approach to leveraging, but the negative return on equity of -19.55% suggests that the company is not generating sufficient returns on shareholders' equity. The equity ratio stands at 47.29%, indicating a reasonable proportion of equity financing relative to total assets.
Cash Flow
Cash flow analysis reveals some positive trends, with a free cash flow growth rate of 8.11% in the TTM period. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is 0.53, indicating that operating cash flows are covering net income. However, the free cash flow to net income ratio of 0.75 suggests that while free cash flow is positive, it is not fully covering the net losses.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue262.92M262.67M272.12M273.83M240.51M
Gross Profit157.13M152.46M156.98M162.86M139.74M
EBITDA-6.68M41.92M47.38M69.44M62.33M
Net Income-33.44M1.84M6.69M22.76M13.08M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets329.04M369.86M391.89M393.70M390.32M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments34.02M28.03M31.92M34.16M9.17M
Total Debt119.88M124.88M137.16M148.92M172.27M
Total Liabilities169.51M179.04M203.85M207.65M226.14M
Stockholders Equity159.53M190.82M188.04M186.06M164.18M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow25.63M33.86M22.95M52.06M47.50M
Operating Cash Flow32.33M38.70M29.30M56.47M50.92M
Investing Cash Flow-6.70M-5.13M-6.35M-4.41M-3.96M
Financing Cash Flow-19.64M-37.45M-25.19M-27.06M-31.52M

Roots Corporation Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price3.05
Price Trends
50DMA
3.23
Negative
100DMA
3.24
Negative
200DMA
3.08
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.04
Negative
RSI
47.00
Neutral
STOCH
53.76
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For TSE:ROOT, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 3.05 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 3.12, below the 50-day MA of 3.23, and below the 200-day MA of 3.08, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.04 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 47.00 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 53.76 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for TSE:ROOT.

Roots Corporation Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
75
Outperform
C$16.31B20.1831.12%1.47%6.64%27.37%
75
Outperform
C$15.17B41.3230.09%26.51%172.52%
66
Neutral
$1.83B68.576.07%3.78%-54.87%
64
Neutral
C$9.41B15.7613.16%3.17%-0.13%13.73%
61
Neutral
$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
55
Neutral
C$115.16M-297.62-0.06%-1.95%-102.54%
48
Neutral
C$122.35M-3.98-19.60%4.87%-1195.39%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
TSE:ROOT
Roots Corporation
3.12
0.92
41.82%
TSE:GIL
Gildan Activewear
88.07
20.21
29.78%
TSE:RET
Reitmans (Canada)
2.50
-0.43
-14.68%
TSE:CTC
Canadian Tire
209.00
-12.25
-5.54%
TSE:GOOS
Canada Goose Holdings
18.83
4.62
32.51%
TSE:ATZ
Aritzia
125.25
60.73
94.13%

Roots Corporation Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Roots Corporation Reports Strong Q3 2025 Financial Results
Positive
Dec 10, 2025

Roots Corporation reported strong financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2025, with a 6.8% increase in total sales compared to the previous year. The company’s growth was driven by enhanced marketing efforts and improved in-store execution, which led to a positive consumer response. Despite a slight decrease in net income, the company maintained a strong gross margin and reduced net debt by 5.9% year-over-year. The results reflect Roots’ strategic focus on long-term value creation and its ability to sustain positive sales momentum in a dynamic retail environment.

The most recent analyst rating on (TSE:ROOT) stock is a Hold with a C$3.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Roots Corporation stock, see the TSE:ROOT Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jan 09, 2026