Is e.l.f. Beauty's Gross Margin Poised to Rebound in 2H26?

Core Insights - e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. is focusing on gross margin recovery while managing elevated tariff pressures and investing in growth for fiscal 2026 [1][5] - The company reported a gross margin of 69% in the fiscal second quarter, a decrease of approximately 165 basis points year-over-year due to higher tariffs on production in China [2][11] - Management anticipates improving profitability in the latter half of the fiscal year, with a projected gross margin increase to 71% [5][11] Financial Performance - The fiscal second quarter gross margin decline was attributed to tariffs, with 75% of e.l.f.'s global sourcing coming from China, making margins sensitive to trade policy changes [2][3] - Tariff rates have moderated since peaking earlier in the year, with every 10-percentage-point change in tariffs impacting annualized costs by $17 million [3][11] - A $1 price increase implemented on August 1 has helped offset higher costs, with core brand consumption growing about 7% in the fiscal second quarter [4][11] Future Outlook - e.l.f. Beauty expects a gross margin improvement to 71% in the second half of fiscal 2026, indicating a 200-basis-point increase from the first half [5][11] - The overall gross margin for the fiscal year is projected to decline by 100 basis points, primarily due to tariff pressures in the first half [5] - The favorable mix from the Rhode acquisition is expected to contribute positively to gross margins despite increased wholesale exposure [4][5] Market Position - e.l.f. Beauty's shares have declined by 37.3% over the past six months, contrasting with the industry's growth of 7.8% [10] - The company's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio stands at 23.51, lower than the industry's average of 29.00 [13] - Earnings estimates for fiscal 2026 indicate a year-over-year decline of 15.9%, while fiscal 2027 shows a growth expectation of 25% [15]