---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001319947-23-000049"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "DBI"
cik: "0001319947"
company_name: "Designer Brands Inc."
filed_at: "2023-12-05T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-07T17:45:37.568726+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.8
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Designer Brands Q3 net sales down 9.1%, EPS miss; FY guidance slashed

## Summary
- Net sales $786.3M (-9.1% YoY); total comparable sales -9.3%; gross margin 32.6% vs 33.0%.
- Reported diluted EPS $0.17; adjusted diluted EPS $0.24; net income $10.1M.
- Full-year 2023 diluted EPS guidance (ex-Keds) cut to $0.40-$0.70 from $1.20-$1.50; net sales growth lowered to high-single digits decline.
- Inventory down 12% to $601.5M; cash $54.6M, debt $375.5M; repurchased 7.6M shares for $79.7M.
- CEO Howe cites contracted footwear market and unseasonably warm weather; leadership changes underway.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001319947-23-000049
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: DBI
- cik: 0001319947
- company_name: Designer Brands Inc.
- filed_at: 2023-12-05T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.8
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1319947/000131994723000049/0001319947-23-000049-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1319947/000131994723000049/dbi-20231205.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001319947-23-000049
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001319947-23-000049.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001319947-23-000049.txt

## Key facts
- Earnings Releases
  Designer Brands Inc. reported the quarter ended October 28, 2023 results: revenue $786.3 million, net income $10.1 million, EPS $0.17. Guidance reaffirmed.
  - Period: the quarter ended October 28, 2023
  - Revenue: $786.3 million
  - Net income: $10.1 million
  - EPS: $0.17
  - Guidance: reaffirmed
  - Result: reported results
  source text: strong cash flow and ample liquidity." Third Quarter Operating Results (Unless otherwise stated, all comparisons are to the third quarter of 2022) • Net sales decreased 9.1% to $786.3 million. • Total comparable sales decreased by 9.3% . • Gross profit decreased to $256.4 million versus $285.8 million last year, and gross margin was 32.6% compared to 33.0% for the
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1319947/000131994723000049/0001319947-23-000049-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.