Core Insights - The TJX Companies, Inc. is expected to report growth in both revenue and earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2026, with revenues estimated at $14.1 billion, reflecting a 4.5% increase year-over-year [1] - The consensus estimate for earnings per share is stable at $1.01, indicating a 5.2% rise compared to the same period last year [2] Group 1: Business Performance - The company has been focusing on providing an exceptional shopping experience and unmatched value, leading to increased customer transactions and loyalty [3] - The apparel and home categories are performing well, with HomeGoods' net sales estimated at $2.2 billion for the fiscal second quarter, up 4.8% year-over-year [3] - TJX anticipates consolidated comparable sales growth of 2-3% and consolidated sales between $13.9 billion and $14 billion for the second quarter [5][10] Group 2: Growth Strategies - The company is benefiting from an aggressive expansion strategy and a growing e-commerce presence, which are contributing to sustained growth [4] - TJX has a strong inventory position, allowing it to capitalize on market opportunities and introduce new product assortments both in stores and online [4] Group 3: Financial Outlook - Earnings per share for the second quarter are projected to be in the range of $0.97 to $1.00, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 1-4% [5][10] - The management has projected a pretax profit margin between 10.4% and 10.5%, which represents a decline of 40-50 basis points from the previous year's margin of 10.9% [6]

Core Insights - European Wax Center (EWCZ) and Sally Beauty Holdings (SBH) target different segments within the beauty and personal care industry, with EWCZ focusing on a service-driven model through franchised waxing centers, while SBH emphasizes retailing professional-grade beauty products [1][2] European Wax Center (EWCZ) - EWCZ is developing a data-rich, digital-first marketing platform to enhance guest acquisition, introducing new tools in Q1 2025 to measure advertising effectiveness and reduce cost per acquisition [3] - The company is enhancing franchisee profitability and operational support by expanding the franchisee support team and increasing engagement with the learning management system by 50% [4] - EWCZ is adopting a disciplined expansion strategy, targeting underpenetrated areas for new center openings in 2026, supported by improved market planning tools and a rigorous site approval process [5] - Despite strategic advancements, EWCZ faces rising SG&A costs and elevated interest expenses, leading to a projected net reduction in center count for 2025 [6] - EWCZ's stock gained 54.8% over three months, outperforming SBH's 27.2% gain, reflecting strength in its digital and franchise model [9][16] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EWCZ's 2025 earnings per share (EPS) indicates a year-over-year growth of 35.6%, with estimates remaining unchanged at 61 cents [12] Sally Beauty Holdings (SBH) - SBH is focused on enhancing customer centricity, accelerating high-margin owned brand growth, and improving operational efficiency, with global e-commerce sales reaching $94 million in Q2 fiscal 2025, a 6% increase [7] - The company is executing a brand refresh starting May 2025 to enhance its position as a beauty destination, with positive feedback from initial store updates in Orlando [8] - Operational excellence is a priority for SBH, with the Fuel for Growth program delivering $20 million in pre-tax savings in the first half of fiscal 2025, and adjusted SG&A declining by $11 million in Q2 [10] - Despite these efforts, SBH is navigating a challenging macro environment with cautious consumer spending and softness in hair care categories [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SBH's fiscal 2025 EPS suggests a year-over-year growth of 3.6%, with estimates remaining unchanged at $1.75 [14] Comparative Analysis - EWCZ's forward P/E ratio is 7.51X, higher than SBH's 5.52X, indicating a market premium for EWCZ's growth potential [17] - EWCZ is better positioned for long-term growth due to its franchise-based model and digital marketing execution, while SBH's strengths in owned brands and cost control may be limited by softer category trends [19]

Core Insights - European Wax Center, Inc. (EWCZ) is undergoing a significant marketing transformation, showing early signs of improvement in guest trends after implementing a new advertising effectiveness platform in Q1 FY25 [1][7] - The company is focusing on data-driven, digital-first marketing strategies, which include enhanced measurement tools that connect media impressions to in-center behavior, leading to smarter marketing spend and reduced acquisition costs [2][7] - EWCZ's marketing efforts are closely integrated with franchisee operations, utilizing new support tools and communication platforms, with plans for a major ad campaign during the summer to boost traffic recovery [3] Marketing Efficiency Comparison - Coty Inc. (COTY) is shifting its marketing strategy towards high-ROI categories while reducing focus on lower-return segments, facing challenges from inconsistent demand and global channel fragmentation [4] - Helen of Troy Limited (HELE) is simplifying its marketing execution and prioritizing high-return investments, reporting success in influencer-backed launches despite facing tariff disruptions and pricing pressures [5] Financial Performance - EWCZ shares have increased by 64.6% over the past three months, outperforming the industry growth of 50.1% [6] - The company has a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 8.61X, significantly lower than the industry average of 27.7X, indicating potential undervaluation [8] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate predicts EWCZ's earnings growth of 35.6% for fiscal 2025 and 8.2% for fiscal 2026 [9]

Investor Presentation European Wax Center We include in this Presentation statements regarding factors that have impacted our industry. Such statements are statements of belief and are based on industry data and forecasts that we have obtained from internal company surveys, publicly available information, industry publications and surveys and third-party studies. Industry publications, surveys and forecasts generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be ...

Core Insights - European Wax Center, Inc. (EWCZ) reported a revenue of $51.43 million for the quarter ended March 2025, reflecting a decrease of 0.9% year-over-year, while EPS increased to $0.22 from $0.13 in the same quarter last year [1] - The revenue exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $49.4 million by 4.11%, and the EPS surpassed the consensus estimate of $0.05 by 340% [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Same-store sales increased by 0.7%, outperforming the average estimate of -0.6% from five analysts [4] - System-wide sales reached $225.90 million, exceeding the average estimate of $219.72 million from four analysts [4] - The ending center count was 1,062, slightly above the average estimate of 1,061 based on three analysts [4] - Revenue from marketing fees was $7.20 million, surpassing the average estimate of $6.78 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 1.5% [4] - Revenue from royalty fees was $12.43 million, slightly above the average estimate of $12.26 million, with a year-over-year change of -0.1% [4] - Revenue from product sales was $28.87 million, exceeding the average estimate of $27.69 million, reflecting a year-over-year decrease of 2.1% [4] - Other revenue amounted to $2.93 million, surpassing the average estimate of $2.78 million, with a year-over-year increase of 2.9% [4] Stock Performance - Shares of European Wax Center have returned +20% over the past month, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +9.9% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating potential for outperformance in the near term [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4, system-wide sales increased by 1.1% to $229.3 million, while same-store sales rose by 0.8% [38] - Total revenue decreased by 4.6% to $49.7 million, impacted by softer retail product sales and the removal of a COVID-related surcharge [39] - Q4 gross margin improved by 190 basis points to 74.3%, primarily due to cost savings [40] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 decreased by 1.6% to $19 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin increasing by 390 basis points to 38.1% [41] - Full-year adjusted net income increased by 15.2% to $25.6 million, driven by higher operating income and lower state income taxes [46] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Franchisees opened three net new centers in Q4, resulting in 2.2% net unit growth to 1,067 centers across 45 states for the full year [42] - The company expects 10 to 12 gross new centers to open in fiscal 2025, with an estimated 40 to 60 closures [49] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - System-wide sales for fiscal 2025 are expected to be between $940 million and $960 million, representing flat year-over-year growth at the midpoint [50] - Same-store sales are projected to be flat to positive 2% [51] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to develop a robust data-rich marketing engine, cultivate a more effective service-based infrastructure, and implement a sophisticated development approach [21][28] - The focus is on thoughtful and profitable expansion, with an emphasis on franchisee success and operational excellence [27][29] - The company is committed to providing regular updates on progress and strategy [34] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges the challenges posed by a declining transaction volume and profitability among franchisees, attributing it to a tougher macro environment [17] - The company views 2025 as a transitional year to solidify the foundation for sustainable growth, with expectations to reignite unit growth by the end of 2026 [33][58] Other Important Information - The company has appointed new executives, including a new CFO and Chief Commercial Officer, to strengthen its leadership team [30][31] - The company has a solid cash position with $49.7 million in cash and a fully undrawn $40 million revolver [47] Q&A Session Summary Question: Store closure guidance for 2025 and performance in California - Management is comfortable with the range of 40 to 60 closures and believes that executing on priorities will lead to growth in 2026 [65][66] - California is experiencing more inflationary pressure, impacting franchisee profitability [71][74] Question: Four-wall economics and tax impact on SG&A - Mature units have strong unit economics with average unit volumes over $1 million and cash-on-cash returns around 40% [80] - An adjustment to SG&A related to franchise taxes was largely offset by state taxes, resulting in a net impact of around $60,000 [85] Question: Successful franchisee characteristics and potential for European Wax to buy stores - Successful franchisees are committed to service and detail-oriented, with a strong partnership with the franchisor needed for success [92][96] - The company is open to buying stores in the future but is currently focused on other priorities [99] Question: Pipeline of unopened units and consumer behavior - The pipeline remains unchanged with 10 to 12 new unit openings expected, and management does not see a significant shift in consumer behavior or competitive landscape [114][113] Question: Promotional strategy and pricing - The company is improving its marketing approach and data pipeline to evaluate promotional effectiveness, with a focus on smarter pricing strategies [128][129] Question: Core guest behavior and cost savings - Core guests remain stable in spending and frequency, with opportunities to re-engage lapsed guests [135] - Cost savings have been achieved through negotiations on product costs, with expectations for modest gross margin improvement in 2025 [134]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q4 2024, system-wide sales increased by 1.1% to $229.3 million, while same-store sales rose by 0.8% [38] - Total revenue decreased by 4.6% to $49.7 million, impacted by softer retail product sales and the removal of a COVID-related surcharge [39] - Q4 gross margin improved by 190 basis points to 74.3%, primarily due to cost savings [40] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 decreased by 1.6% to $19 million, but adjusted EBITDA margin increased by 390 basis points to 38.1% [41] - Full-year adjusted net income increased by 15.2% to $25.6 million, driven by higher operating income and lower state income taxes [46] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Franchisees opened three net new centers in Q4, resulting in 2.2% net unit growth to 1,067 centers across 45 states for the full year [42] - The company expects 10 to 12 gross new centers to open in fiscal 2025, with an estimated 40 to 60 closures [18][49] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - System-wide sales for fiscal 2025 are expected to be between $940 million and $960 million, indicating flat year-over-year growth [50] - Same-store sales are projected to be flat to positive 2% [51] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to develop a robust data-rich marketing engine, enhance service-based infrastructure, and implement a sophisticated development approach for profitable expansion [21][28] - The focus is on improving franchisee support and operational excellence to drive sustainable growth [27][29] - The company is committed to transparent communication and regular updates on progress [34] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledges the challenges posed by a declining transaction volume and profitability among franchisees due to a tougher macro environment [17] - The company believes it can adapt to these challenges and has identified opportunities to reignite growth [18][20] - Management expects 2025 to be a transitional year, with a focus on solidifying the foundation for sustainable growth [49][58] Other Important Information - The company has appointed new executives, including a new CFO and Chief Commercial Officer, to strengthen its leadership team [30][31] - The company has a solid cash position with $49.7 million in cash and a fully undrawn $40 million revolver [47] Q&A Session Summary Question: Store closure guidance for 2025 and performance in California - Management is comfortable with the range of 40 to 60 closures and believes that thoughtful execution of priorities will lead to growth in 2026 [65][66] - California is experiencing more inflationary pressure, impacting franchisee profitability [71][74] Question: Four-wall economics and tax impact on SG&A - Mature units still have strong unit economics with average unit volumes over $1 million and cash-on-cash returns around 40% [80] - Adjustments to SG&A related to franchise taxes were largely offset by state taxes, resulting in a net impact of around $60,000 [85] Question: Characteristics of successful franchisees and potential for European Wax to buy stores - Successful franchisees are committed to service and detail-oriented, with a strong partnership needed for growth [92][96] - The company is open to acquiring stores in the future but is currently focused on supporting franchisees [99][100] Question: Pipeline of unopened units and consumer behavior - The pipeline remains intact with 10 to 12 new unit openings planned, and management does not see a significant shift in consumer behavior or competitive landscape [114][112] - The company is taking a top-down approach to real estate site selection to ensure successful growth [120]