Deckers Outdoor stock: here’s why Stephanie Link loaded up on the stock

Deckers Outdoor Corp (NYSE: DECK) has already soared over 25% over the past two months, but Stephanie Link, the chief investment officer of Hightower, believes it will rip higher from here.Speaking recently with CNBC, the market expert said brand strength and global momentum make DECK shares a compelling catch-up trade at current levels.Despite strong performance in recent months, Deckers Outdoor stock is currently down some 45% versus its year-to-date high, which, according to Link, remains an attractive valuation to initiate a position.Why is Link bullish on Deckers Outdoor stockLink has immense confidence in all of the major Deckers brands (Hoka, UGG, and Teva). “I’m a big believer in Hoka myself personally – but the numbers speak for themselves,” she told CNBC.According to her, DECK stock is a bargain for growth-oriented investors at only 17 times forward earnings at the time of writing.With recent signs of international acceleration and direct-to-consumer (DTC) expansion, Link sees Deckers Outdoor shares as poised for continued strength in the second half of 2025.The company’s international sales came in up 50% in its latest reported quarter, with Hoka posting double-digit growth. Link sees Deckers as “at the tip of the iceberg” in terms of international sales, especially now that China has started to see signs of consumer recovery.Note that Deckers Outdoor currently generates about 8.0% of its annual revenue from the world’s second-largest economy.UBS agrees with Link’s positive call on DECK sharesStephanie Link also highlighted early strength in July and August trends for her constructive view on DECK stock.Investors should also note that UBS analyst Jay Sole agrees with Link’s positive call on the NYSE-listed footwear designer and distributor. The investment firm reiterated its “buy” rating on DECK shares this week with a price target of $158, indicating potential upside of over 30% from here.In his research note, Sole said the underperformance in Deckers Outdoor stock is mispricing of a high-growth company.“We see a very good opportunity to buy shares in a growth company currently significantly under-valued by the market,” he told clients.Deckers’ per-share earnings (EPS) currently sit at $7.90, but UBS believes Hoka’s expansion into lifestyle, training, and recovery verticals – as well as major geographic opportunities in Asia and Europe – could push the metric to $10 by FY28.Increased spend on marketing, now over 10% of sales, also suggests strategic investment in brand momentum – further substantiating the bullish case for DECK shares.How Wall Street recommends playing Deckers OutdoorBoth Link and UBS see Deckers as a rare blend of brand strength, global scalability, and valuation disconnect.Moreover, other Wall Street analysts remain constructive on DECK stock as well. The consensus rating on the footwear designer and distributor currently sits at “overweight” with the mean target of $130, indicating potential upside of roughly 10% from here.The post Deckers Outdoor stock: here's why Stephanie Link loaded up on the stock appeared first on Invezz