German sportswear giant Adidas is benefiting from multiple structural growth drivers that should last well beyond the near-term boost offered by the ongoing FIFA World Cup , according to analysts at UBS. In a note Monday, the Swiss bank reiterated its "Buy" rating Adidas stock with a 12-month price target of 219 euros, implying upside of around from its July 3 closing price of 185.30 euros. Tournament tailwind Robert Krankowski, equity analyst at UBS in London, said the World Cup can serve as a critical growth catalyst for Adidas as it looks to strengthen its long-term positioning in the crucial U.S. market, which accounts for about 20% of the company sales. "One of the key investor concerns is whether the World Cup in the U.S. will prove to be a one-off sales boost that subsequently becomes a headwind in 2027," Krankowski said. ADS-DE YTD mountain Adidas. "In our view, this interpretation is overly simplistic, as it overlooks potential demand substitution effects; for example, stronger World Cup-related sales may come at the expense of MLS jerseys. From Adidas' perspective, the tournament has the potential to act as a structural growth catalyst." Improving U.S. margins Adidas' profitability in North America still lags other regions, with a gross margin of around 45.4% compared with 50.8% group-wide. However, UBS research shows Adidas' market share gap with rival Nike is typically narrower in markets with higher soccer participation. With the World Cup taking place in the U.S., Canada and Mexico at a strategically useful time — just ahead of key ordering windows for major retailers — Adidas can tap into heightened interest in soccer and greater brand visibility in the United States. This has the potential to amplify the tournament's impact in the key geography over time, according to UBS. "Increasing scale should drive margin improvement over time, not only through better trading terms but, more importantly, through greater operating leverage," Krankowski said. Running: Long-distance momentum UBS also pointed to longer-term growth opportunities from a separate boom in demand for running apparel. The bank estimates running makes up about 12% of Adidas' group sales, with the category growing 28% in the first quarter of 2026. "Adidas expressed a notably higher level of confidence in the sustainability of its momentum, supported by a broader product range and a more localized approach across regions," Krankowski said of its running division. The brand remains underrepresented in specialty running outlets, he noted. "While gaining shelf space in this channel can be a lengthy process, early results have been encouraging."
<small>Source: CNBC</small>
