Escalade Increases Quarterly Dividend to $0.1525 Per Share
Escalade, Inc. (NASDAQ: ESCA), a sporting goods and recreational equipment manufacturer, declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.1525 per share, marking an increase from its previous payout.
Escalade, Inc. (NASDAQ: ESCA), a manufacturer and distributor of sporting goods and indoor/outdoor recreational equipment, declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.1525 per share. The dividend represents an increase from the company's prior quarterly distribution, announced alongside its fourth quarter 2025 earnings results. Read more dividend announcements.
The dividend will be paid to shareholders of record as of April 6, 2026, with payment scheduled for April 13, 2026.
| Dividend Details | Date |
|---|---|
| Amount | $0.1525 per share |
| Record Date | April 6, 2026 |
| Payment Date | April 13, 2026 |
Fourth Quarter Financial Performance
The Evansville, Indiana-based company reported net income of $3.7 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2025. That compared with net income of $2.7 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, in the year-earlier period.
Net sales declined 2.2% to $62.6 million in the quarter, primarily due to uneven consumer demand across most product categories. The decline was partially offset by improved demand in archery, billiards, and games.
Gross margin improved 280 basis points to 27.7%, driven by operational efficiencies from lower fixed costs and decreased inventory storage and handling costs.
Cash Flow and Debt Reduction
Escalade generated $14.9 million in operating cash flow during the fourth quarter, up from $12.3 million in the prior-year period. The company reduced total debt 27.9% to $18.5 million from $25.6 million at the end of the fourth quarter 2024.
As of December 31, 2025, the company held $11.9 million in cash and cash equivalents, with $52.9 million available on its senior secured revolving credit facility maturing in 2027. Net leverage stood at 0.3x trailing twelve-month EBITDA, down from 0.8x a year earlier.
Full Year 2025 Results
For the full year 2025, Escalade reported net income of $13.7 million, or $0.99 per diluted share, compared with $13.0 million, or $0.93 per diluted share, in 2024. Net sales decreased 4.5% to $240.2 million, while gross margin improved 219 basis points to 26.9%.
The company generated $31.0 million in operating cash flow for the year, compared with $36.0 million in 2024.
Recent Acquisitions
During the fourth quarter, Escalade completed the acquisition of AllCornhole and purchased a 110,000 square foot facility to support growth in its safety and fitness categories. The company also completed integration of its Gold Tip Archery acquisition, which closed in the third quarter and was immediately accretive in the fourth quarter.