Highlights for First Quarter Fiscal 2026 as compared to First Quarter Fiscal 2025:
- Net sales increased by 3.6% to
$1.17 billion . - Comparable store sales declined by 1.0%.
- Gross margin was 29.6% compared to 30.4% last year, a decline of 80 basis points, including a 50 basis point impact from inventory markdowns and write-offs associated with restructuring activities.
- Operating loss was
$178.0 million , which included$158.0 million in non-cash goodwill impairment and$18.2 million in restructuring charges. - Net loss was
$180.3 million , or$(1.83) per diluted share, compared to net loss of$23.3 million , or$(0.24) per diluted share last year. Adjusted net income(1) was$4.6 million , or$0.05 diluted adjusted earnings per share(1), compared to$13.0 million , or$0.13 diluted adjusted earnings per share(1) last year. - Adjusted EBITDA(1) was
$43.1 million , representing 3.7% of net sales.
“We delivered first quarter results consistent with our guidance, as our work to strengthen the business drove sequential improvements in comp-store sales throughout the quarter,” said
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(1) Adjusted net income, diluted adjusted earnings per share, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin are non-GAAP financial measures, which exclude the impact of certain special items. Please note that our non-GAAP financial measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. See the "Non-GAAP Financial Information" section of this release as well as the respective reconciliations of our non-GAAP financial measures below for additional information about these items.
First Quarter Fiscal 2026 Financial Summary
Net sales increased 3.6% to
Gross profit increased
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 4.8% to
Operating loss was
Net loss was
Cash Flow & Capital Spending:
- Net cash provided by operating activities during the first quarter of fiscal 2026 was
$52.6 million compared with$58.9 million for the first quarter last year. The decrease in operating cash flow was driven primarily by changes in working capital including inventory and accrued liabilities, partially offset by a lower net loss in the current quarter, after adjusting for non-cash charges. - Capital expenditures for the first quarter of fiscal 2026, before tenant improvement allowances, were
$56.8 million , a decrease of$8.5 million over the first quarter of fiscal 2025 due to fewer new store openings. Capital expenditures, net of tenant improvement allowances, for the first quarter this year, were$53.9 million compared with$57.3 million for the same period last year, due to fewer new store openings partially offset by the timing of tenant improvement billings.
Optimization Plan:
To strengthen long-term profitability and cash flow generation, improve operational execution, optimize our existing store footprint and align with our disciplined new store growth strategy, in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 we conducted a strategic, financial and operational analysis of our store fleet. Following that review, during the quarter, our Board of Directors adopted a business optimization plan (the "Optimization Plan") that provides for the closure of 36 financially underperforming stores ("Closure Stores"), including the termination, sublease or assignment of the applicable store leases, the termination, sublease or assignment of a lease for a distribution center facility that we are no longer utilizing (together with the store leases, the "Lease Exits"), and the termination of operator agreements with independent operators ("IOs") for the Closure Stores as well as certain other store locations (the "Operator Agreement Terminations").
Following the Board adoption of the Optimization Plan, during the first quarter of fiscal 2026, we closed 27 stores and initiated the closure process at the remaining 9 stores associated with the Lease Exits. In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, we completed the closure of the remaining 9 stores. During the first quarter of fiscal 2026, we also completed or initiated the Operator Agreement Terminations for the Closure Stores as well as certain other store locations. In addition, we increased the provision for IO notes and IO receivables reserves and wrote off uncollectible IO notes and IO receivables associated with these store locations.
In connection with the Optimization Plan, we estimate we will incur between
Outlook:
The Company reaffirms the following key guidance figures for fiscal 2026:
| Current | |
| New store openings, net(1) | 30-33 |
| Net sales | |
| Comparable store sales increase / decrease | -2.0% to 0.0% |
| Gross margin | 29.7%-30.0% |
| Adjusted EBITDA | |
| Diluted adjusted earnings per share | |
| Capital expenditures (net of tenant improvement allowances) |
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(1) Excludes store closures related to the Optimization Plan.
Conference Call Information:
A conference call to discuss the first quarter fiscal 2026 financial results is scheduled for today,
A taped replay of the conference call will be available within three hours of the conclusion of the call and can be accessed both online and by dialing (844) 512-2921 and entering access code 13759283. The telephone dial-in replay will be available for approximately two weeks after the call. The webcast replay will be available for approximately one year after the call.
Non-GAAP Financial Information:
In addition to reporting financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in
Management defines EBITDA as net income (loss) before net interest expense, income taxes and depreciation and amortization expenses. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA adjusted to exclude share-based compensation expense, asset impairment and gain or loss on disposition, acquisition and integration costs, restructuring and related charges and certain other expenses that may not be indicative of, or are unrelated to, our core operating results, and that may vary in frequency or magnitude. Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated as adjusted EBITDA divided by net sales, expressed as a percentage. Adjusted net income represents net income (loss) adjusted for the previously mentioned adjusted EBITDA adjustments, further adjusted for the amortization of property and equipment purchase accounting asset step-ups and deferred financing costs, tax adjustment to normalize the effective tax rate, and tax effect of total adjustments. Basic adjusted earnings per share is calculated using adjusted net income, as defined above, and basic weighted-average shares outstanding. Diluted adjusted earnings per share is calculated using adjusted net income, as defined above, and diluted weighted-average shares outstanding. Management defines cash-on-cash returns as Four Wall EBITDA divided by total net cash investment. Four Wall EBITDA includes store level costs such as product and distribution costs, commissions, occupancy, marketing and other related costs. A definition of net leverage and a related reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure can be found on the Investor Relations section of our website under "Financial Information—Quarterly Results."
These non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similar measures reported by other companies and have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. We address the limitations of the non-GAAP financial measures through the use of various GAAP measures. In the future we will incur expenses or charges such as those added back to calculate adjusted EBITDA or adjusted net income. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed as an inference that future results will be unaffected by the adjustments used to derive such non-GAAP measures.
We have not reconciled the non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and diluted adjusted earnings per share forward-looking guidance included in this release to the most directly comparable GAAP measures because this cannot be done without unreasonable effort due to the variability and low visibility with respect to taxes and non-recurring items, which are potential adjustments to future earnings. We expect the variability of these items to have a potentially unpredictable, and a potentially significant, impact on our future GAAP financial results. We have also not reconciled the cash-on-cash return forward-looking outlook because such metric includes store-level cash flows and initial capital investment at the individual store level, which are not captured or presented on a GAAP basis. Reconciling this metric to a GAAP measure would require unreasonable efforts and assumptions.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this release other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our future operating results and financial position, our business strategy and plans, the Optimization Plan and its associated activities, costs and benefits, the restructuring plan adopted in fiscal 2025 (the "Restructuring Plan") and its associated benefits, our ability to drive long-term value and business and market trends may constitute forward-looking statements. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "outlook," "plan," "project," "seek," "will," and similar expressions, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements, including the following: failure of suppliers to consistently supply the Company with opportunistic products at attractive pricing; inability to successfully identify trends and maintain a consistent level of opportunistic products or general inventory; failure to maintain or increase comparable store sales; delay or disruption in funding of benefits provided under government-funded assistance programs, such as the
Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment, and new risks emerge from time to time. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, and our expectations based on third-party information and projections are from sources that management believes to be reputable, we cannot guarantee that future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release or as of the date specified herein and we have based these forward-looking statements on current expectations and projections about future events and trends. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this release or to conform these statements to actual results or revised expectations.
About
Based in
INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACTS:
(510) 244-3703
iferry@cfgo.com
(646) 776-0886
ron@ellipsista.com
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (in thousands, except per share data) (unaudited) | |||||||
| 13 Weeks Ended | |||||||
2026 | 2025 | ||||||
| Net sales | $ | 1,166,352 | $ | 1,125,567 | |||
| Cost of sales | 821,153 | 783,122 | |||||
| Gross profit | 345,199 | 342,445 | |||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 347,022 | 331,078 | |||||
| Restructuring charges | 18,191 | 33,875 | |||||
| 158,000 | — | ||||||
| Operating loss | (178,014 | ) | (22,508 | ) | |||
| Interest expense, net | 6,369 | 6,520 | |||||
| Loss before income taxes | (184,383 | ) | (29,028 | ) | |||
| Income tax benefit | (4,061 | ) | (5,711 | ) | |||
| Net loss and comprehensive loss | $ | (180,322 | ) | $ | (23,317 | ) | |
| Basic net loss per share | $ | (1.83 | ) | $ | (0.24 | ) | |
| Diluted net loss per share | $ | (1.83 | ) | $ | (0.24 | ) | |
| Weighted-average shares outstanding: | |||||||
| Basic | 98,426 | 97,521 | |||||
| Diluted | 98,426 | 97,521 | |||||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands) (unaudited) | |||||||
2026 | 2026 | ||||||
| Assets | |||||||
| Current assets: | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 58,998 | $ | 69,602 | |||
| Independent operator receivables and current portion of independent operator notes, net of allowance | 14,081 | 16,983 | |||||
| Other accounts receivable, net of allowance | 3,452 | 3,685 | |||||
| Merchandise inventories | 387,109 | 381,961 | |||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 25,613 | 25,409 | |||||
| Total current assets | 489,253 | 497,640 | |||||
| Independent operator notes and receivables, net of allowance | 34,942 | 43,748 | |||||
| Property and equipment, net | 755,562 | 742,961 | |||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | 1,122,250 | 1,089,838 | |||||
| Intangible assets, net | 75,806 | 78,375 | |||||
| 475,835 | 633,835 | ||||||
| Other assets | 4,361 | 4,702 | |||||
| Total assets | $ | 2,958,009 | $ | 3,091,099 | |||
| Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | |||||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||||
| Trade accounts payable | $ | 200,179 | $ | 177,457 | |||
| Accrued and other current liabilities | 44,824 | 54,277 | |||||
| Accrued compensation | 20,428 | 17,841 | |||||
| Current portion of long-term debt | 15,000 | 15,000 | |||||
| Current lease liabilities | 89,881 | 87,324 | |||||
| Income and other taxes payable | 11,545 | 12,097 | |||||
| Total current liabilities | 381,857 | 363,996 | |||||
| Long-term debt, net | 474,254 | 477,905 | |||||
| Deferred income tax liabilities, net | 29,012 | 33,183 | |||||
| Long-term lease liabilities | 1,262,635 | 1,229,473 | |||||
| Other long-term liabilities | 3,155 | 2,879 | |||||
| Total liabilities | 2,150,913 | 2,107,436 | |||||
| Stockholders' equity: | |||||||
| Common stock | 99 | 98 | |||||
| Series A preferred stock | — | — | |||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 830,802 | 827,048 | |||||
| Retained earnings (deficit) | (23,805 | ) | 156,517 | ||||
| Total stockholders' equity | 807,096 | 983,663 | |||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 2,958,009 | $ | 3,091,099 | |||
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
| 13 Weeks Ended | |||||||
2026 | 2025 | ||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
| Net loss | $ | (180,322 | ) | $ | (23,317 | ) | |
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: | |||||||
| Depreciation of property and equipment | 24,920 | 24,977 | |||||
| Amortization of intangible and other assets | 6,236 | 4,920 | |||||
| Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discounts | 228 | 228 | |||||
| Non-cash rent | 463 | 2,163 | |||||
| Impairment of long-lived assets | 645 | 1,728 | |||||
| 158,000 | — | ||||||
| Share-based compensation | 3,755 | 5,458 | |||||
| Provision for independent operator and other accounts receivable reserves | 17,961 | 3,283 | |||||
| Deferred income taxes | (4,171 | ) | (5,828 | ) | |||
| Other | 644 | 143 | |||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||
| Independent operator and other accounts receivable | (3,751 | ) | (2,627 | ) | |||
| Merchandise inventories | (5,148 | ) | 7,982 | ||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | (160 | ) | 448 | ||||
| Income and other taxes payable | (552 | ) | (12 | ) | |||
| Trade accounts payable | 22,475 | 16,916 | |||||
| Accrued and other liabilities | 5,868 | 14,748 | |||||
| Accrued compensation | 2,587 | 2,620 | |||||
| Operating lease liabilities | 2,880 | 5,108 | |||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 52,558 | 58,938 | |||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||
| Advances to independent operators | (3,046 | ) | (4,329 | ) | |||
| Repayments of advances from independent operators | 778 | 931 | |||||
| Purchases of property and equipment | (52,751 | ) | (60,452 | ) | |||
| Investments in intangible assets and licenses | (4,049 | ) | (4,834 | ) | |||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (59,068 | ) | (68,684 | ) | |||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||
| Proceeds from exercise of stock options | — | 53 | |||||
| Proceeds from revolving credit facility | — | 20,000 | |||||
| Principal payments on revolving credit facility | — | (20,000 | ) | ||||
| Principal payments on senior term loan due 2028 | (3,750 | ) | (1,875 | ) | |||
| Principal payments on finance leases | (344 | ) | (350 | ) | |||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (4,094 | ) | (2,172 | ) | |||
| Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | (10,604 | ) | (11,918 | ) | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 69,602 | 62,828 | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 58,998 | $ | 50,910 | |||
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET LOSS TO ADJUSTED EBITDA (in thousands) (unaudited) | |||||||
| 13 Weeks Ended | |||||||
2026 | 2025 | ||||||
| Net loss | $ | (180,322 | ) | $ | (23,317 | ) | |
| Interest expense, net | 6,369 | 6,520 | |||||
| Income tax benefit | (4,061 | ) | (5,711 | ) | |||
| Depreciation and amortization expenses | 31,156 | 29,897 | |||||
| EBITDA | (146,858 | ) | 7,389 | ||||
| Share-based compensation expense | 3,755 | 5,458 | |||||
| Asset impairment and gain or loss on disposition(1) | 1,303 | 135 | |||||
| Acquisition and integration costs(2) | — | 339 | |||||
| Restructuring and related charges(4) | 19,914 | 33,875 | |||||
| 158,000 | — | ||||||
| Other(5) | 7,002 | 4,689 | |||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 43,116 | $ | 51,885 | |||
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET LOSS TO ADJUSTED NET INCOME (in thousands, except per share data) (unaudited) | |||||||
| 13 Weeks Ended | |||||||
2026 | 2025 | ||||||
| Net loss | $ | (180,322 | ) | $ | (23,317 | ) | |
| Share-based compensation expense | 3,755 | 5,458 | |||||
| Asset impairment and gain or loss on disposition(1) | 1,303 | 135 | |||||
| Acquisition and integration costs(2) | — | 339 | |||||
| Amortization of purchase accounting assets and deferred financing costs(3) | 1,268 | 1,268 | |||||
| Restructuring and related charges(4) | 19,914 | 33,875 | |||||
| 158,000 | — | ||||||
| Other(5) | 7,002 | 4,689 | |||||
| Tax adjustment to normalize effective tax rate(6) | 2,519 | 3,163 | |||||
| Tax effect of total adjustments(7) | (8,830 | ) | (12,603 | ) | |||
| Adjusted net income | $ | 4,609 | $ | 13,007 | |||
| GAAP net loss per share: | |||||||
| Basic | $ | (1.83 | ) | $ | (0.24 | ) | |
| Diluted | $ | (1.83 | ) | $ | (0.24 | ) | |
| Adjusted earnings per share: | |||||||
| Basic | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.13 | |||
| Diluted | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.13 | |||
| Weighted-average shares outstanding: | |||||||
| Basic | 98,426 | 97,521 | |||||
| Diluted(8) | 98,426 | 97,521 | |||||
| Non-GAAP weighted-average shares outstanding: | |||||||
| Basic | 98,426 | 97,521 | |||||
| Diluted(9) | 99,144 | 98,227 | |||||
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(1) Represents non-restructuring asset impairment charges and gains or losses on dispositions of assets.
(2) Represents costs related to the acquisition and integration of
(3) Represents the incremental amortization of an asset step-up resulting from purchase price accounting related to our acquisition in 2014 by an investment fund affiliated with
(4) In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, represents charges associated with the Optimization Plan, including bad debt expense, write-offs of merchandise inventory, costs related to Operator Agreement Terminations, costs associated with lease exits, and legal, professional, and other related expenses. In the first quarter of fiscal 2025, represents charges associated with the Restructuring Plan, including lease termination costs, non-cash impairment and disposal of long-lived assets, employee severance and benefit costs, and legal, professional and other related expenses. All such costs are reflected in Restructuring charges on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, except for write-offs of merchandise inventory, which are included in Cost of sales.
(5) Represents other non-recurring, non-cash or non-operational items, including strategic project costs, certain personnel-related hiring and termination costs, system implementation costs, legal settlements and other legal expenses, costs related to employer payroll taxes associated with equity awards and miscellaneous costs.
(6) Represents adjustments to normalize the effective tax rate for the impact of unusual or infrequent tax items that we do not consider in our evaluation of ongoing performance, including excess tax benefits or shortfalls related to exercise and/or vesting of share-based awards that are recorded in earnings as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur.
(7) Represents the tax effect of the total adjustments. We calculate the tax effect of the total adjustments on a discrete basis excluding any non-recurring and unusual tax items.
(8) There is no difference in the weighted-average shares outstanding used to calculate the basic and diluted GAAP net loss per share due to the Company's net loss.
(9) To calculate diluted adjusted earnings per share, we adjusted the weighted-average shares outstanding for the dilutive effect of all potential shares of common stock.
Source: 