As I was prepping my clubs for the upcoming golf scramble, there's something that caught my eye and I couldn’t wait to share it with you. So before I focus on sinking some birdies, let me fill you in on a sports company that's been quietly making moves—until their shares decided to jump 22% this week.

If Amer Sports doesn’t ring a bell, no worries—you’re not alone. But this low-key sports company is suddenly stealing the spotlight, and it’s all thanks to some clever moves with tennis legend Roger Federer and WNBA sensation Caitlin Clark. 

(Source: Retail Dive)

You may not know the name Amer Sports, but you’ve definitely heard of their brands. Think Arc’teryx for outdoor gear, Wilson for tennis and basketball, and Louisville Slugger for baseball. The company is basically the mastermind behind some of the most iconic sports equipment in the world. Owned by Lululemon billionaire Chip Wilson and a trio of Chinese firms, Amer Sports has been quietly taking over the sports and outdoor gear world since it went public on February 1st of this year.

Amer Sports just dropped their Q2 earnings, and the numbers are worth noting. The company pulled in $994 million in sales, marking a solid 16% jump from last year. But here’s the part that’ll make you do a double-take: they trimmed their net loss to just $1.8 million. For a company this big, it’s almost laughable how small that loss is.

But let’s talk about the real headline-makers: How did Roger Federer and Caitlin Clark get mixed up with Amer Sports? The company’s been focused on revamping its Wilson brand, which is pretty much synonymous with tennis and basketball gear. Federer, who’s practically tennis royalty, just launched a new line with Wilson called RF, featuring rackets, bags, etc. According to Amer Sports CEO Jie Zheng, “Roger is a living legend in tennis, and this new product line has been met with a very enthusiastic response from the market.”

Then there’s Caitlin Clark, the former Iowa college basketball phenom who’s been turning heads everywhere she goes. Her basketball collection sold out right after the release. And Amer Sports isn’t done yet—they’re planning to roll out even more Caitlin Clark-branded gear later this year. If you don’t already know, Caitlin Clark is one of the hottest tickets in sports right now. Everything she touches turns to gold.

On top of the athlete star power; they’ve also got the numbers to back it up. The company’s outdoor clothing brand Arc’teryx is killing it, especially in China, where demand has exploded. That division alone saw sales jump by 34%. No wonder Amer Sports decided to raise their full-year sales guidance to a 16% increase.

Investors are clearly impressed. Amer Sports shares hit $14.25 at one point before settling at $14.12—a two-month high. And for billionaire Chip Wilson, this translates to an extra $122 million in his bank account. Not a bad week, right?

(Source: Daily Hive)

So, while Amer Sports might not be a household name just yet, but with Federer and Clark on board, they’re definitely challenging the biggest names in sports, and so far, it looks like they’re making up ground. Keep an eye on them, and also if you live on a golf course, keep an eye out for my ball in your backyard today.

Stocks.News does not have positions in companies mentioned.