Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Q3 net sales grew over 8% year-over-year to $3.12 billion, primarily driven by unit volume growth, not price [7][12] - Gross margin expanded roughly 50 basis points year-over-year to 29.8% [9][12] - Adjusted EBITDA reached $181 million, up 30% year-over-year, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 5.8%, representing a 100 basis points year-over-year expansion [9][14] - Free cash flow for the quarter was approximately $176 million, up nearly $70 million sequentially [9][14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Autoship customer sales increased 13.6% to $2.61 billion, outpacing total company growth [7] - Active customers reached 21.2 million, up nearly 5% year-over-year, with improvements across every part of the active customer funnel [8] - Net sales per active customer reached $595, up nearly 5% year-over-year [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company continues to outperform the pet category and expand market share, with profits growing faster than sales [6] - Marketing efficiency continues to strengthen, attracting high-quality customers and improving LTV to CAC ratios [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims for a long-term objective of a 10% adjusted EBITDA margin, with ongoing investments in automation and health services [6][21] - Chewy Vet Care (CVC) is driving strong utilization and customer loyalty through high-margin services, with plans to open 8-10 locations this fiscal year [10] - The acquisition of Smart Equine is expected to enhance Chewy's premium health and nutraceutical assortment and strengthen its position in high-value wellness categories [10][11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to deliver consistent, durable EBITDA expansion over the next several years, with a focus on disciplined, customer-centric growth [20][21] - The company expects 2026 to be characterized by structural unit volume growth, with potential pricing benefits slightly larger than in 2025 [43][45] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately 1.5 million shares for $55 million during the quarter [15] - The company ended Q3 with approximately $675 million in cash and cash equivalents, remaining debt-free [15] Q&A Session Summary Question: How does the team continue to evolve learnings about the lifetime value of customers? - Management discussed the strong intersection between Autoship, Chewy Plus, and CVC, emphasizing their complementary nature in driving customer retention and profitability [26][27] Question: Can you talk about the drivers of active customer growth? - Management noted that active customer growth was driven by improvements in customer acquisition and retention, with higher direct traffic and better conversion rates [33][34] Question: What is the outlook for demand in 2026? - Management views 2026 similarly to 2025, expecting low single-digit industry growth and stable pricing dynamics [43][44] Question: How should we think about gross margins going forward? - Management indicated that gross margin expansion opportunities remain, with several levers expected to contribute to growth [61][62] Question: What changes have been observed in retention after raising the Chewy Plus fee? - Management reported that conversion has remained strong post-price increase, with paid Chewy Plus members delivering gross margins in line with the overall enterprise [70][71]