Asics raises 2026 earnings forecast on strong sneaker sales

Asics has upwardly revised its full-year earnings forecast for the period ending December 2026, raising its sales forecast by 10.5% to 1.05 trillion yen and its operating profit forecast by 14% to 195 billion yen. This revision is driven by strong performance in the 'Sports Style' and 'Onitsuka Tiger' segments, alongside adjustments to planned exchange rates.

The 'Sports Style' category, which repurposes running technology for lifestyle sneakers, saw a significant surge, with mid-term sales increasing 83% year-on-year. This segment currently maintains a high profit margin of 34%.

Historically, the company's foundation was built on the innovation of founder Kihachiro Onitsuka. His early efforts to develop specialized basketball shoes—a difficult task at the time—involved close collaboration with local manufacturers and direct observation of athletes to meet the functional demands of the sport.