SCVL
Consumer CyclicalShoe Carnival, Inc. · Apparel - Retail · $450M
What is Shoe Carnival, Inc.?
Shoe Carnival is a family footwear retailer operating across the United States under two banners: Shoe Carnival and Shoe Station. The company serves men, women, and children with a broad selection of shoes and accessories at value-oriented price points.
Shoe Carnival operates physical retail stores across more than 35 states and Puerto Rico, complemented by online sales through shoecarnival.com and a mobile app. Revenue comes primarily from in-store purchases of footwear across dress, casual, work, and athletic categories, plus sandals and boots. The Shoe Station banner extends the company's reach in the Southeast. Accessories round out the merchandise mix and contribute to basket size.
Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, Shoe Carnival has grown into a recognizable small-cap name in the consumer cyclical sector.
- Dress, casual, and work footwear for the whole family
- Athletic shoes and performance footwear
- Sandals and boots across seasons
- Footwear accessories and add-ons
- Online and mobile shopping via shoecarnival.com
Is SCVL a Good Stock to Buy?
UQS Score rates SCVL as Below Average overall.
The brightest spots in SCVL's profile are its Risk and Valuation pillars. The Risk pillar earns a Good label, suggesting the company carries a relatively manageable financial risk profile compared to many small-cap peers. Valuation is rated Attractive, meaning the stock does not appear expensive relative to its fundamentals — a potential point of interest for value-oriented investors.
Quality, Moat, and Growth are all rated Weak, indicating limited competitive differentiation, below-average business quality metrics, and constrained growth momentum — headwinds that weigh on the overall score.
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Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.
Does SCVL pay dividends?
Yes — Shoe Carnival, Inc. pays a dividend.
Shoe Carnival pays a regular dividend, which is relatively uncommon among small-cap retailers. This signals a degree of financial discipline and a commitment to returning capital to shareholders. Income-focused investors may find this appealing, though the dividend should be weighed alongside the company's Weak Quality and Growth pillar ratings when assessing sustainability.
When does SCVL report earnings?
Shoe Carnival reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, consistent with standard practice for US-listed public companies.
Given Weak ratings across Quality and Growth pillars, recent earnings periods have reflected the pressures facing value-oriented footwear retail — including consumer spending sensitivity and competitive pricing dynamics. The Good Risk rating suggests the balance sheet has remained relatively stable through these cycles.
For the most recent quarter's results and guidance, visit Shoe Carnival's official investor relations page.
SCVL Price History
-38.5% over 5Y
Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.
What if I invested in Shoe Carnival, Inc.?
Based on Shoe Carnival, Inc.'s historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.
SCVL Long-term Outlook
SCVL's UQS profile points to a cautious near-term fundamental outlook. With Growth rated Weak, meaningful top-line expansion is not clearly evident in the current business trajectory. The Attractive Valuation label does leave room for upside if operational trends improve, while the Good Risk rating provides some downside cushion. The core challenge remains building durable competitive advantages in a crowded, price-sensitive retail category.
Growth drivers
- Potential store count expansion under both the Shoe Carnival and Shoe Station banners
- Growth in e-commerce and mobile channel penetration
- Value-focused positioning that may attract budget-conscious consumers during economic uncertainty
Key risks
- Weak Moat rating reflects limited pricing power and ease of substitution by competitors
- Consumer cyclical exposure means revenue is sensitive to discretionary spending shifts
- Weak Quality and Growth ratings suggest structural headwinds that Attractive Valuation alone may not offset
SCVL vs Peers
Shoe Carnival competes in the value and specialty retail footwear space alongside several other consumer-facing retailers.
Stitch Fix operates a data-driven personal styling model delivered by subscription, contrasting sharply with Shoe Carnival's traditional brick-and-mortar footwear format.
Citi Trends focuses on value-priced apparel and accessories for urban consumers, overlapping with Shoe Carnival's budget-conscious customer base but with a broader merchandise scope.
Zumiez targets action sports and youth lifestyle consumers through a specialty retail model, giving it a more defined brand identity than Shoe Carnival's broad family format.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Shoe Carnival do?
Shoe Carnival operates family footwear retail stores across the United States, selling dress, casual, work, and athletic shoes along with sandals, boots, and accessories. It runs stores under the Shoe Carnival and Shoe Station banners, and also sells online through its website and mobile app.
Does SCVL pay dividends?
Yes, Shoe Carnival pays a regular dividend. This is relatively uncommon for a small-cap retailer and reflects a degree of financial discipline. Investors should review the company's investor relations page for the current dividend rate and payment schedule.
When does SCVL report earnings?
Shoe Carnival reports earnings quarterly, in line with standard US public company practice. For specific upcoming report dates and recent results, check the company's investor relations page directly.
Is SCVL a good stock to buy?
UQS Score rates SCVL as Below Average overall. The Valuation pillar is Attractive and Risk is Good, but Quality, Moat, and Growth are all Weak. Whether that profile suits your investment approach depends on your risk tolerance and time horizon. The full pillar breakdown is available to UQS Pro members.
Is SCVL overvalued?
Based on the UQS Valuation pillar, SCVL is rated Attractive — meaning the stock does not appear expensive relative to its fundamentals. However, an attractive price alone does not offset the Weak ratings in Quality, Moat, and Growth, which investors should weigh carefully.
How does SCVL compare to its competitors?
Compared to peers like Zumiez, Citi Trends, and Stitch Fix, Shoe Carnival occupies a broad family footwear niche at value price points. Its Good Risk and Attractive Valuation ratings may differentiate it from higher-priced peers, though its Weak Moat suggests limited competitive insulation.
What is SCVL's market cap bracket?
Shoe Carnival is classified as a small-cap company. Small-cap stocks can offer growth potential but typically carry higher volatility and less analyst coverage than large- or mega-cap peers.
Who founded Shoe Carnival?
Shoe Carnival was founded in 1978. Detailed founding history, including the names of founders, is publicly available through the company's official website and investor relations materials.
Is SCVL a long-term quality investment?
As a long-term quality indicator, SCVL's UQS profile raises questions. Weak ratings in Quality, Moat, and Growth suggest the business lacks the durable competitive advantages typically associated with strong long-term compounders. The Good Risk and Attractive Valuation ratings offer some stability, but sustained improvement in the weaker pillars would be needed to change that picture.
What sector does SCVL belong to?
Shoe Carnival belongs to the Consumer Cyclical sector. This means its business performance is closely tied to consumer discretionary spending, which tends to fluctuate with economic conditions, employment levels, and consumer confidence.
What is the main competitive advantage of Shoe Carnival?
Shoe Carnival's UQS Moat pillar is rated Weak, indicating limited durable competitive advantages relative to peers. Its value-oriented pricing and broad family focus attract budget-conscious shoppers, but these are not strong barriers to competition in the footwear retail space.
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Pro Analysis
SCVL — Score History
| Date | UQS | Quality | Moat | Growth | Risk | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2026 | 37.7 | 46.0 | 14.0 | 8.4 | 61.4 | 78.6 | 0.0 |
| May 21, 2026 | 37.7 | 46.0 | 14.0 | 8.4 | 61.4 | 78.4 | -1.9 |
| May 20, 2026 | 39.6 | 43.0 | 14.0 | 8.4 | 64.6 | 93.3 | +0.2 |
| May 19, 2026 | 39.4 | 43.0 | 14.0 | 8.4 | 64.6 | 92.1 | +0.1 |
| May 17, 2026 | 39.3 | 42.7 | 14.0 | 8.4 | 64.6 | 92.0 | +0.1 |
| May 15, 2026 | 39.2 | 42.7 | 14.0 | 8.4 | 64.6 | 91.1 | 0.0 |
| May 14, 2026 | 39.2 | 42.5 | 14.0 | 8.4 | 64.6 | 91.2 | 0.0 |
| May 13, 2026 | 39.2 | 42.5 | 14.0 | 8.4 | 64.6 | 91.4 | +0.7 |
| May 11, 2026 | 38.5 | 41.6 | 14.0 | 8.4 | 64.6 | 88.3 | +1.5 |
| May 7, 2026 | 37.0 | 37.0 | 14.0 | 8.4 | 64.6 | 86.0 | 0.0 |
SCVL — Pillar Breakdown
Quality
— 46.0/100 (25%)Shoe Carnival, Inc. has average quality metrics, with room for improvement in margins or capital efficiency.
How effectively capital is deployed to generate returns.
Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.
Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.
Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.
Asset productivity — how much gross profit each dollar of assets generates.
Free cash flow relative to market value.
Growth
— 8.4/100 (20%)Shoe Carnival, Inc. faces growth headwinds with declining or stagnant revenue trends.
Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.
Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.
Year-over-year earnings per share growth.
Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.
Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.
Risk
— 61.4/100 (15%)Shoe Carnival, Inc. maintains a reasonable risk profile with manageable debt levels.
Debt levels relative to earnings capacity.
Total debt relative to shareholder equity.
Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.
Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.
Valuation
— 78.6/100 (15%)Shoe Carnival, Inc. appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.
Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.
How many years of FCF the market cap represents.
Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.
Moat
— 14/100 (25%)Shoe Carnival, Inc. operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for SCVL.
Score Composition
Financial Data
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How is the SCVL UQS Score Calculated?
The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for Shoe Carnival, Inc. is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.
Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.
Moat (25%) assesses Shoe Carnival, Inc.'s competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.
Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.
Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.
Valuation (15%) measures whether Shoe Carnival, Inc. is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.
Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.