Company: UAA
Filing Date: 2025-05-22
Form Type: 10-K
Source: 0001336917-25-000078
Chunk: 46

Company: Under Armour, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-05-22
Form: 10-K
Item: Item 1
Chunk 46
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 and industrial and aesthetic designs. These patents cover various footwear, apparel, accessories, equipment and digital applications. However, we traditionally have had limited patent protection on some of the technology, materials and processes used in the manufacture of our products. In addition, patents are important with respect to our innovative products and investments. As we continue to expand and drive innovation in our products, we seek patent protection on products, features and concepts we believe to be strategic and important to our business. We will continue to file patent applications where we deem appropriate to protect our new products, innovations and designs that align with our corporate strategy. 

Competition

The market for performance apparel, footwear and accessories is highly competitive and includes many new competitors as well as increased competition from established companies expanding their production and marketing of performance products. Our direct competitors include, among others, NIKE, adidas, PUMA and lululemon athletica, which are large apparel and footwear brands with strong worldwide brand recognition and in some cases, significantly greater resources than us. Within our international markets, in addition to global brands, we also compete with regional and country-specific brands that may have stronger local brand recognition. Many of the fabrics and technology used in manufacturing our products are not unique to us, and we own a limited number of fabric or process patents. We also compete with other manufacturers, including those specializing in performance apparel, footwear, accessories and private label offerings of certain retailers, including some of our wholesale customers.

In addition, we must compete with others for purchasing decisions and limited floor space at retailers. We believe we have been successful in this area because of the relationships we have developed and the sales performance of our products. However, if retailers experience higher demand for or earn higher margins from our competitors' products or their own private label offerings, they may favor the display and sale of those products.

We believe we compete successfully because of our brand image and recognition, the performance and quality of our products and our selective distribution strategies. We also believe our focus on athletic performance, product style and merchandising helps differentiate us from our competition. We compete for consumer preferences and expect to continue to do so in the future. We may face greater competition on pricing in the future, which may favor larger competitors with lower production costs per unit that can spread the effect of price discounts across a more extensive array of products and a larger base of customers and consumers. The purchasing decisions of consumers for our products often reflect highly subjective preferences influenced by various factors, including advertising, media, product sponsorships, product improvements