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Designer BrandsFRA:D9W +0.89%71 Gross Margin % is 45.28% as of Apr. 2026, which is 44% above its 10-year median of 31.49. GuruFocus rates FRA:D9W with a GF Score™ of 71/100 and a GF Value™ of €5.75. The stock has 6 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,028 Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories companies, Designer Brands ranks better than 69.94% on this metric.
The historical rank and industry rank for Designer Brands's Gross Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
FRA:D9W'
s Gross Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 13.93 Med: 31.49 Max: 44.13
Current: 44.13
During the past 13 years, the highestGross Margin % of Designer Brands was 44.13%. The lowest was 13.93%. And the median was 31.49%.
FRA:D9W's Gross Margin % is ranked better than 69.94% of 1028
companies
in the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry
Industry Median: 28.22
vs FRA:D9W: 44.13
Designer Brands had a gross margin of 45.28% for the quarter that ended in Apr. 2026 => Durable competitive advantage
The 5-Year average Growth Rate of Gross Margin for Designer Brands was 20.10% per year.
Warren Buffett believes that firms with excellent long term economics tend to have consistently higher margins.
Durable competitive advantage creates a high Gross Margin % because of the freedom to price in excess of cost. Companies can be categorized by their Gross Margin %
1. Greater than 40% = Durable competitive advantage
2. Less than 40% = Competition eroding margins
3. Less than 20% = no sustainable competitive advantage
Consistency of Gross Margin is key
Designer Brands had a gross margin of 45.28% for the quarter that ended in Apr. 2026 => Durable competitive advantage
Be Aware
If a company loses its competitive advantages, usually its gross margin declines well before its sales declines. Watching Gross Margin % and Operating Margin % closely helps avoid value trap situations.
Designer Brands Gross Margin % Related Terms
Designer Brands Gross Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for Designer Brands's Gross Margin % can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
FRA:D9W vs FWDI, RCKY, FOSL: Gross Margin % Comparison
For the Footwear & Accessories subindustry, Designer Brands's Gross Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Gross Margin % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Designer Brands Gross Margin % vs Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories Industry
For the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry and Consumer Cyclical sector, Designer Brands's Gross Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Designer Brands's Gross Margin % falls into.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
A positive Gross Profit is only the first step for a company to make a net profit. The gross profit needs to be big enough to also cover related labor, equipment, rental, marketing/advertising, research and development and a lot of other costs in selling the products.
Designer Brands (FRA:D9W) has a Gross Margin % of 45.28% as of Apr. 2026. Gross margin is the ratio of total gross profit to net sales. View historical data on Designer Brands and its competitors. This is 44% above median its historical median of 31.49. Over the past decade, Designer Brands' Gross Margin % has ranged from 13.93 to 44.13. According to the industry distribution chart, Designer Brands ranks #309 out of 1028 companies in the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry, placing it in the top 30.1%.
Is Designer Brands' Gross Margin % too high?
Designer Brands' current Gross Margin % of 45.28% is 44% above median its 10-year median of 31.49. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 13.93 to a high of 44.13. The Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry median Gross Margin % is 28.22. Designer Brands' value of 45.28% is 60.5% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Designer Brands ranks #309 out of 1028 companies in the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Designer Brands has a GF Score™ of 71/100, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Designer Brands' Gross Margin % compare to FWDI and RCKY?
According to the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry distribution chart, Designer Brands ranks #309 out of 1028 companies for Gross Margin %. This puts Designer Brands in the upper half of its industry. The industry median Gross Margin % is 28.22. Designer Brands' value of 45.28% is 60.5% above this benchmark. Historically, Designer Brands' own Gross Margin % has ranged from 13.93 to 44.13 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 31.49 vs. the industry median of 28.22, Designer Brands has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Gross Margin % for a Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories company?
The median Gross Margin % among Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories companies is 28.22, based on 1,028 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Gross Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Gross Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Designer Brands's current Gross Margin % of 45.28% is 60.5% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Gross Margin % mean?
A high Gross Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Gross margin is the ratio of total gross profit to net sales. View historical data on Designer Brands and its competitors. For the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry, the median Gross Margin % is 28.22 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Designer Brands's current Gross Margin % is 45.28%, which is 44% above median its own 10-year median of 31.49. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Designer Brands stock overvalued right now?
Designer Brands (FRA:D9W) has a current Gross Margin % of 45.28%. The stock's GF Value™ is €5.75, compared to a current price of €5.65 — trading 1.7% below its estimated fair value. The current Gross Margin % is 45.28%, which is 44% above median its 10-year median of 31.49 and 60.5% above the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories industry median of 28.22. Designer Brands' overall GF Score™ is 71/100 with 6 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Gross Margin % calculated?
Gross Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Designer Brands (FRA:D9W), the current Gross Margin % is 45.28% as of Apr. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Designer Brands (FRA:D9W) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Designer Brands stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of €5.65 is trading 1.7% below its estimated GF Value™ of €5.75.
Key valuation signals for FRA:D9W:
Gross Margin %: 45.28% (44% above median its 10-year median of 31.49)
GF Value™: €5.75 vs. price of €5.65 (1.7% below fair value)
Industry Position: 60.5% above the Manufacturing - Apparel & Accessories median (#309 of 1028)
No single metric tells the full story. See the FRA:D9W stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Designer Brands Inc is a designer, producer, and retailer of footwear and accessories. The company operates in two reportable segments: the Retail segment and the Brand Portfolio segment. The Retail segment, which derives key revenue, operates the DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse ("DSW") banner through its direct-to-consumer stores and e-commerce sites in the United States ("U.S.") and Canada, and the Shoe Co. and Rubino banners through its direct-to-consumer stores and e-commerce sites in Canada. The Brand Portfolio segment principally earns revenue from the wholesale of its exclusive and licensed brands to retailers, its Retail segment, and international distributors, and the sale of its Vince Camuto, Keds, and Topo brands through direct-to-consumer e-commerce sites.
71GF Score
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