Puma Q1 Results: German sportswear company returns to sales growth in Americas despite 'volatile' market

Demand for retro shoe styles such as 'terrace' has helped boost sales of sportswear brands like Puma and its rival at a time when the sector has been hit by weaker consumer demand and excess stocks.

"We already see that sales of our trending terrace and skate styles Palermo and Suede XL are accelerating month over month," Chief Executive Arne Freundt said in a statement.

Shares rose 4.3% to 47.15 euros in early trading.

"No miss could provide some relief to the shares this morning," given a weakness in the share price so far this year, analysts at wrote in a note to clients.

The Americas region recorded positive for the first time in four quarters, the company said, growing by 1.0% to 790 million euros, with the U.S. showing a sequential improvement.

While retail partners are still working through elevated stock levels, the company expects further improvement in the second , Freundt said.

Reported sales for the group declined 3.9% from a year earlier, with currencies hitting sales in terms by around 100 million euros in the quarter, the company said.

's wholesale business declined by 2.9% currency-adjusted to 1.61 million euros.