Lauren Hobart took the top job at Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc. earlier this year, becoming one of a few dozen female CEOs to helm America’s largest companies and the third person to run the family-owned retailer since its start in 1948.
Last fiscal year, Dick’s comparable sales—those from stores and digital channels operating for at least 12 months—rose faster than ever in the company’s history, up 9.9% year-over-year, driven by demand for outdoor and fitness gear during the pandemic, the company said. Strong demand has continued this year, with comparable sales up 115% in the fiscal first quarter ended May 1 versus the year-earlier period when stores closed amid the pandemic, and 19.2% in the second quarter.