Shoe Carnival (NASDAQ:SCVL) Upgraded to “Strong-Buy” at Zacks Research

Shoe Carnival (NASDAQ:SCVL) was upgraded by analysts at Zacks Research from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report issued on Thursday,Zacks.com reports.

Several other analysts have also issued reports on the stock. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of Shoe Carnival in a research report on Friday, March 27th. Williams Trading set a $22.00 price target on shares of Shoe Carnival in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Shoe Carnival currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $22.00.

Shoe Carnival Trading Down 3.5%

NASDAQ SCVL opened at $16.66 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $457.82 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.34 and a beta of 1.44. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $17.30 and its 200 day simple moving average is $18.12. Shoe Carnival has a 1 year low of $14.91 and a 1 year high of $26.57.

Shoe Carnival (NASDAQ:SCVL) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 21st. The company reported $0.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.20 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $270.73 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $268.73 million. Shoe Carnival had a net margin of 3.31% and a return on equity of 7.24%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.34 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Shoe Carnival will post 1.5 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CFO W Kerry Jackson acquired 31,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 2nd. The stock was acquired at an average price of $16.13 per share, with a total value of $500,030.00. Following the purchase, the chief financial officer directly owned 215,529 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,476,482.77. This trade represents a 16.80% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 33.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Shoe Carnival

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Huntington National Bank lifted its stake in Shoe Carnival by 164.8% in the 3rd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 1,491 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 928 shares during the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC bought a new position in Shoe Carnival in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. lifted its stake in Shoe Carnival by 305.0% in the 3rd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 2,029 shares of the company’s stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 1,528 shares during the last quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in Shoe Carnival in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $44,000. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Shoe Carnival in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $86,000. Institutional investors own 66.05% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting Shoe Carnival

Here are the key news stories impacting Shoe Carnival this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Shoe Carnival posted first-quarter EPS of $0.23, beating the $0.20 consensus, and revenue of $270.7 million also topped estimates. Conference Call / Earnings Report
• Positive Sentiment: Management highlighted improving sales trends, including a 2.2% decline in Shoe Carnival banner sales, which was better than prior fiscal 2025 trends and suggests some stabilization in the business. Q1 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Several market commentaries pointed to the stock’s attractive valuation, with one noting the shares trade at a single-digit earnings multiple ex-cash, which may appeal to value investors if the turnaround continues. Valuation Commentary
• Neutral Sentiment: Despite the beat, revenue still declined 2.5% year over year and EPS was below last year’s $0.34, underscoring that the recovery is still early.
• Negative Sentiment: Some analysts warned the stock could remain volatile because the business is still working through broader retail headwinds and the shares may be vulnerable if momentum fades.

Shoe Carnival Company Profile

Shoe Carnival, Inc (NASDAQ: SCVL) is a U.S.-based specialty retailer offering a broad assortment of footwear, apparel and accessories for the entire family. Through its network of brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce platform, the company provides casual, athletic and dress shoes for men, women and children, as well as complementary apparel, handbags, socks and other accessories designed to deliver value and variety. Its distinctive in-store carnival host service model aims to create an engaging shopping experience and foster customer loyalty.

Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, Shoe Carnival has expanded over four decades to operate more than 350 retail locations across over 30 states.