Macy’s (NYSE:M) Q4 2026 Earnings call March 18, 2026 08:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsBlake Anderson - VP of Equity ResearchDana Telsey - CEO and Chief Research OfficerJay Sole - Managing DirectorMarni Shapiro - Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Consumer and Retail IndustryPamela Quintiliano - VP of Investor RelationsTom Edwards - COO and CFOTony Spring - Chairman and CEOConference Call ParticipantsBrooke Roach - Managing Director and Senior Equity Research AnalystMatthew Boss - Managing Director and Senior ...

Macy’s (NYSE:M) Q4 2026 Earnings call March 18, 2026 08:00 AM ET Company ParticipantsBlake Anderson - VP of Equity ResearchDana Telsey - CEO and Chief Research OfficerJay Sole - Managing DirectorMarni Shapiro - Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Consumer and Retail IndustryPamela Quintiliano - VP of Investor RelationsTom Edwards - COO and CFOTony Spring - Chairman and CEOConference Call ParticipantsBrooke Roach - Managing Director and Senior Equity Research AnalystMatthew Boss - Managing Director and Senior ...

Macy’s (NYSE:M) Q4 2026 Earnings call March 18, 2026 08:00 AM ET Speaker8Greetings, and welcome to the Macy's, Inc. fourth quarter 2025 earnings conference call. At this time, all participants are on a listen-only mode. A question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentation. If anyone should require operator assistance during the conference, please press star zero on your telephone keypad. As a reminder, this call is being recorded. I would now like to turn the call over to Pam Quintiliano, Vice ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net income for Q4 2025 was $80.8 million or $1.59 per share, compared to $77.2 million or $1.53 per share in Q4 2024, representing a year-over-year increase of 4.7% in net income and 3.9% in earnings per share [3] - For the full fiscal year 2025, net income was $209.7 million or $4.14 per share, up from $195.5 million or $3.89 per share in the previous year, indicating a 7.2% increase in net income and a 6.4% increase in earnings per share [3] - Gross margin for Q4 was 52.6%, consistent with the previous year, while full-year gross margin increased to 49%, up 30 basis points from 48.7% [5][6] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Women's business saw a 12% increase in merchandise sales for Q4, representing approximately 46% of total sales, up from 43% the previous year [11] - Men's merchandise sales decreased by about 0.5%, accounting for approximately 54% of total sales, down from 57% a year ago [13] - Accessory sales increased by approximately 3.5%, while footwear sales decreased by about 3%, with both categories maintaining similar proportions of total sales as the previous year [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Comparable store sales for Q4 increased by 3.9%, while online sales rose by 6.4% to $74.2 million [4] - For the full fiscal year, comparable store sales increased by 5.6%, and online sales grew by 9.8% to $217.1 million [4] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to open 12-14 new stores and complete 12-14 full remodel projects in fiscal 2026, with a focus on relocating to outdoor shopping centers [9] - The strategy includes expanding the women's denim category and enhancing the selection of youth products to capture a younger demographic [11][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted the strong performance of the women's denim category, driven by new fashion trends and a diverse selection of products [11] - The company remains optimistic about growth opportunities in the youth category, which has shown strong performance [14] Other Important Information - Inventory increased by 15.5% year-over-year to $139.5 million, while total cash and investments amounted to $306.6 million after paying $225.1 million in dividends [8] - Capital expenditures for the quarter were $10.9 million, with full-year capital spending totaling $45.4 million [9] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you tell us about the strategy behind the accelerated store expansion plan? - Management indicated that the store openings are based on opportunities, particularly in premium and outlet locations, and are driven by success in several markets [20] Question: What is driving the strong performance in the denim category? - Management noted that the growth in women's denim is attributed to new fashion trends and a diverse selection of products, including various styles and sizes [21] Question: Do all stores carry youth products? - The majority of stores have a good selection of youth products, with a small number not carrying them due to space constraints [22]

Core Insights - Stitch Fix, Inc. (SFIX) reported second-quarter fiscal 2026 results that exceeded both top and bottom line estimates, with year-over-year growth in both metrics [1][4] Financial Performance - The company reported an adjusted loss of 2 cents per share, better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a 5-cent loss, and narrower than the 5-cent loss from the previous year [4][11] - Net revenues reached $341.3 million, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $339 million, and reflecting a 9.4% increase from the year-ago quarter [4][11] - The number of active clients was 2,288,000, a decline of 3.5% year-over-year, while the average net revenues per active client (RPAC) increased by 7.4% to $577, marking the highest RPAC since the company went public [5][6][11] Operational Highlights - The average order value (AOV) increased by 9.8% year-over-year, driven by a 7.7% rise in average unit retail, marking six consecutive quarters of growth [7] - Category performance showed significant growth, with outerwear up 26%, denim up 17%, activewear and athleisure combined up 37%, special-occasion styles up 46%, footwear up 33%, and accessories up 51% [8] Margins and Expenses - Gross profit increased by 7.3% to $148.9 million, but gross margin decreased by 90 basis points to 43.6% [9] - Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) rose by 3.9% to $153.7 million, with SG&A as a percentage of net revenues decreasing to 45% [10] Future Outlook - For fiscal 2026, Stitch Fix raised its revenue guidance to between $1.33 billion and $1.35 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 5-6.5% [19] - The company expects adjusted EBITDA to be between $42 million and $50 million, with a margin of 3.2-3.7% [19] - The fiscal third quarter is projected to have net revenues of $330-$335 million, reflecting year-over-year growth of 1.5-3.1% [16]

Q4 Results Presentation March 10, 2026 1 Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This presentation contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company intends forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "anticipates," "plans," or similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the information under "2026 O ...

Core Insights - The Gap, Inc. reported fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 results that met both revenue and earnings estimates, with a year-over-year increase in net sales but a decline in earnings per share [2][4]. Financial Performance - Net sales reached $4.23 billion, a 2% increase year over year, aligning with estimates, while comparable sales rose 3% [7][9]. - Earnings per share for the fourth quarter were 45 cents, down 16.7% from the previous year, but in line with expectations [4][9]. Brand Performance - The company's brand momentum was strong, with notable growth in Old Navy, Gap, and Banana Republic, particularly driven by improved product relevance and cultural marketing [3][9]. - Old Navy's net sales increased 3% to $2.3 billion, with comparable sales also up 3% [10]. - Gap brand sales surged 8% with 7% comparable sales growth, marking the ninth consecutive quarter of positive comparable growth [9][11]. - Banana Republic saw a 1% increase in net sales to $549 million, while Athleta's sales fell 11% to $354 million [12][13]. Margins and Costs - The gross margin decreased by 80 basis points year over year to 38.1%, while the adjusted operating margin fell to 5.4% [14][15]. - Operating expenses rose 2.4% year over year to $1.4 billion [15]. Financial Health - The company ended the quarter with $3 billion in cash and cash equivalents, a 28.4% increase from the previous year [16]. - Merchandise inventory increased by 7% year over year to $2.2 billion [16]. - Gap repurchased 7 million shares for $155 million during fiscal 2025 and returned $402 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases [19]. Future Outlook - For fiscal 2026, Gap expects net sales growth of 2% to 3% year over year, with comparable sales growth across its major brands, while Athleta sales are projected to decline in the mid- to high-single-digit range [20]. - The company anticipates a flat to slightly higher gross margin compared to fiscal 2025, with adjusted operating margins projected between 7.3% and 7.5% [21][23]. - Capital expenditures are expected to be around $650 million, focusing on store upgrades and technology [23].

Core Insights - Gap Inc. reported fourth-quarter net sales of $4.2 billion, a 2% increase year-over-year, with comparable sales up 3%, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of positive comps [2][4] - The company highlighted strong performance in its Old Navy and Gap brands, while Athleta experienced double-digit declines [4][5] - Management emphasized a multi-year transformation strategy focusing on building momentum rather than just fixing fundamentals [2][4] Financial Performance - For fiscal 2025, Gap Inc. achieved net sales of $15.4 billion, up 2% year-over-year, with comparable sales also increasing by 3% [8] - Gross margin for the fourth quarter was reported at 38.1%, down 80 basis points year-over-year, while operating margin was 5.4%, also down 80 basis points [7] - The company ended the year with a cash balance of nearly $3 billion, the highest in nearly two decades, and generated $1.3 billion in net cash from operating activities [9] Tariff Impact - Changes in global tariff rates negatively impacted fiscal gross and operating margins by approximately 120 basis points, with a more significant effect of about 200 basis points in Q4 [4][6] - Management expects a 150 basis point headwind in gross margin for the first half of 2026, which will turn into a tailwind in the second half [11] Capital Returns and Investments - The board approved a $1 billion share repurchase and raised the quarterly dividend by approximately 6% to $0.175 per share [3][14] - The company plans to invest around $650 million in 2026, focusing on stores, technology, and supply chain improvements [3][14] Growth Initiatives - Gap Inc. is expanding into beauty, accessories, and AI-driven technology, with a pilot beauty collection at Old Navy showing positive consumer interest [16][17] - The company aims to enhance its loyalty program, which has nearly 40 million active members, by shifting to a broader engagement platform [18]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved a 2% increase in full-year net sales, reaching $15.4 billion, with comparable sales up 3%, marking the second consecutive year of top-line growth [6][25] - Gross margin for the full year was 40.8%, a decline of 50 basis points year-over-year, primarily due to tariff impacts [32][25] - Operating income for the year was $1.1 billion, resulting in an operating margin of 7.3%, with a 10 basis point decline attributed to tariffs [33][25] - The company ended 2025 with a cash balance of $3 billion, the highest in nearly two decades, and generated $823 million in free cash flow [7][26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Old Navy reported net sales of $2.3 billion, up 3% year-over-year, with comparable sales also increasing by 3% [29][25] - Gap brand saw net sales of $1.1 billion, an 8% increase, with comparable sales up 7%, marking its ninth consecutive quarter of positive comps [29][25] - Banana Republic's net sales were $549 million, up 1% year-over-year, with comparable sales increasing by 4% [30][25] - Athleta's net sales decreased by 11% to $354 million, with comparable sales down 10% [30][25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Old Navy ranked as a top 3 brand in 9 of the 10 largest apparel categories, gaining share in all 5 of the largest categories [10] - The company noted that the beauty category represents a significant growth opportunity, with potential sales contribution ranging from 5% to 20% for other retailers [19][68] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on growing its core apparel business while seeding growth in new areas such as beauty and accessories [18][49] - The strategy includes expanding into adjacent lifestyle categories and enhancing the Fashiontainment platform to drive engagement and revenue [18][22] - The company plans to invest approximately $650 million in capital expenditures, primarily in stores, technology, and supply chain [43] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to maintain growth despite challenges, including tariff impacts [36][25] - The outlook for 2026 includes expected net sales growth of approximately 2%-3% year-over-year, with continued comp sales growth across major brands [38][42] - Management emphasized the importance of disciplined execution and continuous improvement in product and marketing strategies [48][49] Other Important Information - The company announced a $1 billion share repurchase authorization and an increase in the first quarter dividend by approximately 6% [8][43] - A legal settlement resulted in a pledged charitable donation of $50 million to the Gap Foundation [9][38] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about balancing investments to maintain momentum in the core while also seeding growth in new areas? - Management highlighted the importance of continuous improvement in the core business while thoughtfully seeding growth accelerators like beauty and accessories, with expectations for these to scale in 2027 and beyond [47][49] Question: Can you walk us through some of the other gross margin puts and takes? - Management explained that the Q1 guide includes a 200 basis point tariff impact, with expectations for sequential improvement in gross margin throughout the year [53][55] Question: What do you see as the next leg or opportunity to accelerate market share? - Management noted that Gap brand has gained market share through compelling product assortments and marketing, with plans to accelerate new store formats [58][59]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Gap Inc. achieved a 2% increase in full-year net sales, reaching $15.4 billion, with comparable sales up 3%, marking the eighth consecutive quarter of positive comps [6][28] - The company reported a gross margin of 40.8%, a decline of 50 basis points year-over-year, primarily due to tariff impacts [32] - Operating income for the year was $1.1 billion, resulting in an operating margin of 7.3%, with a slight decline attributed to tariff impacts [26][33] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Old Navy's net sales were $2.3 billion, up 3% year-over-year, with comparable sales also increasing by 3% [29] - Gap brand saw net sales of $1.1 billion, an 8% increase, with comparable sales up 7%, marking its ninth consecutive quarter of positive comps [29][31] - Banana Republic's net sales were $549 million, up 1% year-over-year, with comparable sales increasing by 4% [30] - Athleta's net sales decreased by 11% to $354 million, with comparable sales down 10% [30] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Old Navy ranked as a top three brand in nine of the ten largest apparel categories, gaining share in all five of the largest categories [10] - Gap brand's momentum is reflected in its ability to attract Gen Z while maintaining its core customer base, demonstrating multi-generational appeal [11] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on growing its core apparel business while seeding growth in new categories such as beauty and accessories, which are underdeveloped in its portfolio [18][19] - The strategy includes enhancing the Fashiontainment platform and technology capabilities to drive engagement and revenue [21][22] - The company plans to invest approximately $650 million in capital expenditures, primarily in stores, technology, and supply chain [43] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate challenges, including tariff impacts, while maintaining a strong financial position [36][37] - The outlook for 2026 includes expected net sales growth of approximately 2%-3% year-over-year, with continued comp sales growth across major brands [38][39] - Management highlighted the importance of disciplined execution and continuous improvement in driving growth and shareholder value [41][45] Other Important Information - The company announced a $1 billion share repurchase authorization and a 6% increase in the first quarter dividend [8][43] - A legal settlement resulted in a pledged charitable donation of approximately $50 million to the Gap Foundation [9][38] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about how you're balancing investments to maintain momentum in the core while also seeding growth in these new areas? - Management emphasized the importance of continuous improvement in the core business while thoughtfully seeding growth accelerators like beauty and accessories, which are expected to scale in 2027 and beyond [47][48] Question: Can you walk us through some of the other gross margin puts and takes? - Management explained that the Q1 guidance includes a 200 basis point tariff impact, with expectations for sequential improvement throughout the year [53][54] Question: What do you see as the next leg or opportunity to accelerate market share? - Management noted that Gap brand has consistently gained market share through compelling product assortments and better marketing, with a focus on enhancing brand relevance [58][60]