Core Viewpoint - Best Buy Co Inc reported disappointing first-quarter 2026 earnings, with sales and adjusted earnings falling short of analyst expectations [1][2]. Financial Performance - First-quarter sales decreased by approximately 1% year-over-year to $8.77 billion, missing the analyst consensus estimate of $9.22 billion [1]. - Adjusted earnings were reported at $1.15, below the consensus of $1.31 [2]. - The gross profit margin remained stable at 23%, while the operating margin declined from 3.5% to 2.5% [2]. Guidance and Outlook - The company updated its full-year guidance, expecting annual comparable sales growth to range from a decline of 1% to an increase of 1%, with an adjusted operating income rate similar to last year at approximately 4.2% [2][4]. - For Q2 FY26, comparable sales are expected to be slightly down compared to last year, with an adjusted operating income rate projected at approximately 3.6% [3]. - Fiscal 2026 adjusted earnings guidance was lowered from a range of $6.20-$6.60 per share to $6.15-$6.30 per share, compared to the consensus of $6.13 per share [3]. - Sales guidance was also reduced from $41.4 billion to $42.2 billion down to a new range of $41.1 billion to $41.9 billion, with the consensus around $41.44 billion [3]. Revenue Breakdown - Domestic revenue of $8.13 billion decreased by 0.9%, primarily due to a 0.7% decline in comparable sales [4]. - The decline in comparable sales was driven by decreases in home theater, appliances, and drones, partially offset by growth in computing, mobile phone, and tablet categories [4]. - Domestic online revenue increased by 2.1% on a comparable basis to $2.58 billion, representing 31.7% of total domestic revenue compared to 30.8% last year [4].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported Q1 revenue of $8.8 billion, slightly below last year, with an adjusted operating income rate of 3.8%, flat year over year [7][39] - Adjusted diluted earnings per share decreased by 4% to $1.15, primarily due to lower investment income [39] - The gross profit rate improved by approximately 10 basis points to 23.4% compared to last year [41] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Comparable sales growth was driven by computing, mobile phones, and tablets, while home theater, appliances, and drones saw declines, resulting in a domestic comparable sales decline of 0.7% [8][39] - The combined computing and tablet categories achieved 6% comparable sales growth [8] - Online sales grew year over year for the second consecutive quarter, accounting for nearly 32% of total domestic sales [9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Domestic revenue decreased by 0.9% to $8.1 billion, with international revenue of $640 million also down by 0.6% [40] - The revenue decrease included a negative foreign currency impact of approximately 450 basis points [40] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to strengthen its position as a leading omnichannel destination for technology while building new profit streams, including Best Buy Marketplace and Best Buy Ads [19][26] - Strategic priorities include improving omnichannel experiences, launching new profit streams, and driving operational effectiveness [19][31] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that consumers remain resilient despite persistent inflation, focusing on value and thoughtful spending on big-ticket items [9][68] - The company updated its annual outlook, lowering the full-year comparable sales range to down 1% to up 1% and expecting an adjusted operating income rate of approximately 4.2% [18][44] Other Important Information - The company is actively managing the impact of tariffs, with China now representing approximately 30% to 35% of product COGS, down from 55% [12][52] - The company continues to target roughly 60 days of forward supply for inventory management [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you help us understand the changes in China sourcing? - Management explained that China sourcing has decreased to 30-35% of COGS, with mitigation efforts from vendors and Best Buy helping to manage costs [52][53] Question: Did you see any pull forward in demand? - Management noted that while there may have been some pull forward in demand, it was difficult to quantify due to the Easter shift [60][61] Question: How is the advertising initiative performing? - Management indicated that incremental advertising revenue is expected to show up in gross margin, with plans to add more to revenue as the initiative develops [76][78] Question: What is the outlook for the marketplace launch? - Management confirmed that the marketplace is on track for a mid-year launch and is expected to be accretive overall despite potential cannibalization [93] Question: Are there other product launches to be excited about? - Management highlighted excitement around upcoming innovations in gaming, computing, and wearable technology, indicating strong consumer interest [95][96]