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Abercrombie & Fitch Co.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 March 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 12 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth quarter net sales rose 5%: Fourth quarter net sales were $1.67 billion, up 5%, with comparable sales up 1%. Operating income was $236 million against $256 million a year earlier. Source
  • Full year net sales reached $5.27 billion: Full year net sales were $5.27 billion, up 6%, with comparable sales up 3%. Management described the result as record full year net sales. Source
  • Full year EPS and margin reported: Full year diluted EPS was $10.46 reported and $9.86 adjusted, the difference being a $38.6 million favorable litigation settlement. Operating margin was 13.3% reported and 12.5% adjusted. Source
  • Hollister drove full year growth: Hollister brand net sales rose 15% to $2.74 billion, with comparable sales up 13%. Abercrombie brand net sales fell 1% to $2.52 billion, with comparable sales down 7%. Source
  • Fourth quarter operating margin fell: Fourth quarter operating margin was 14.1% against 16.2%, with operating income of $236 million against $256 million. Source
  • Repurchases of 5.4 million shares: The company repurchased 5.4 million shares for $450 million in the year, reducing shares outstanding by 11%. Fourth quarter repurchases were 0.9 million shares for about $100 million. Source

“We delivered record net sales with 6% growth and achieved our third straight year of double-digit operating margins”

Fran Horowitz, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales growth Sourcefiscal 2026 full yearIn The Range of 3% to 5%New
Operating margin Sourcefiscal 2026 full yearIn the Range of 12.0% to 12.5%New
Net income per diluted share Sourcefiscal 2026 full yearIn The Range of $10.20 to $11.00New
Net sales growth Sourcefirst quarter fiscal 2026In The Range of 1% to 3%New
Operating margin Sourcefirst quarter fiscal 2026Around 7.0%New
Net income per diluted share Sourcefirst quarter fiscal 2026In The Range of $1.20 to $1.30New
Effective tax rate Sourcefirst quarter and full year fiscal 2026Around 26% first quarter; Around 29% full yearNew
Share repurchases Sourcefirst quarter and full year fiscal 2026At least $100 million first quarter; Around $450 million full yearNew
Diluted weighted average shares Sourcefirst quarter and full year fiscal 2026Around 46 million first quarter; Around 45 million full yearNew
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2026In The Range of $200 to $225 millionNew
Net store openings and remodels Sourcefiscal 2026~30 net store openings; 55 openings, 25 closures; 70 remodels and right-sizesNew
Tariff impact on net sales Sourcefirst quarter fiscal 2026 and full year fiscal 2026Approximately 290 basis points first quarter; 70 basis points full yearNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full year fiscal 2026 guidance was issued for net sales growth, operating margin and diluted EPS. The documents contain no earlier fiscal 2026 figures. Source
  • New guidance: First quarter fiscal 2026 guidance was issued for net sales growth, operating margin, diluted EPS, tax rate and share repurchases. Source
  • New: The tariff assumption now reflects a 15% tariff on goods imported into the United States, assumed effective February 24, 2026 for all of fiscal 2026. The prior fiscal 2025 guidance assumed about $90 million of tariff expense, or 170 basis points. Source

Fourth quarter and full year results

  • Fourth quarter net sales rose 5%: Fourth quarter net sales were $1.67 billion, up 5%, with comparable sales up 1%. Operating income was $236 million against $256 million a year earlier. Source
  • Fourth quarter EPS reached $3.68: Fourth quarter diluted EPS was $3.68 compared with $3.57 last year. Net income attributable to A&F was $172 million, against $187 million a year earlier. Source
  • Full year net sales reached $5.27 billion: Full year net sales were $5.27 billion, up 6%, with comparable sales up 3%. Management described the result as record full year net sales. Source
  • Full year EPS and margin reported: Full year diluted EPS was $10.46 reported and $9.86 adjusted, the difference being a $38.6 million favorable litigation settlement. Operating margin was 13.3% reported and 12.5% adjusted. Source

Segments, brands and regions

  • Hollister drove full year growth: Hollister brand net sales rose 15% to $2.74 billion, with comparable sales up 13%. Abercrombie brand net sales fell 1% to $2.52 billion, with comparable sales down 7%. Source
  • Full year growth across all regions: Full year net sales grew in Americas (7%), EMEA (6%) and APAC (5%). Comparable sales were up 4% in Americas, flat in EMEA and down 3% in APAC. Source
  • Fourth quarter brand split: Fourth quarter Hollister net sales were $863.3 million, up 6%, with comparable sales up 3%. Abercrombie brand net sales were $806.5 million, up 4%, with comparable sales down 1%. Source
  • EMEA and APAC fourth quarter: Fourth quarter EMEA net sales rose 8% to $241.4 million, with comparable sales down 3%. APAC net sales rose 9% to $44.5 million, with comparable sales flat. Source

“Our goals for 2026 are to grow net sales, deliver another year of double-digit operating margin and grow earnings per share”

Fran Horowitz, Chief Executive Officer

Customers and brand positioning

  • Thirteenth straight quarter of growth: Management described the record fourth quarter as the thirteenth consecutive quarter of net sales growth. Source
  • Two brands aimed at kids to millennials: The company describes itself as catering to kids through millennials across two brand families, Abercrombie and Hollister, with assortments for specific lifestyle needs. Source
  • Stores and e-commerce sites both sell: The company sells through its stores and through the abercrombie.com, abercrombiekids.com and HollisterCo.com e-commerce sites. Source

Costs, margins and adjusted items

  • Fourth quarter operating margin fell: Fourth quarter operating margin was 14.1% against 16.2%, with operating income of $236 million against $256 million. Source
  • Cost of sales rose as share of sales: Cost of sales was 40.5% of net sales in the fourth quarter, against 38.5% a year earlier. Selling expense was 34.4% against 33.2%, and general and administrative expense 10.9% against 12.3%. Source
  • Litigation settlement excluded from adjusted results: Full year results include a favorable payment card interchange litigation settlement of $38.6 million, net of legal fees, which is excluded from adjusted figures. Source

“Supported by $619 million in operating cash flow, we repurchased 5.4 million shares, representing 11% of shares outstanding at the beginning of the year”

Fran Horowitz, Chief Executive Officer

Stores and inventory

  • Store count at 889 year end: At January 31, 2026 the company had 889 stores: 829 company-owned, of which 306 Abercrombie and 523 Hollister, and 60 franchise. Source
  • 62 stores opened in fiscal 2025: Fiscal 2025 new stores totaled 62, of which 36 were Abercrombie and 26 Hollister. 22 stores were permanently closed during the year. Source
  • Inventory rose modestly: Inventories were $601 million at January 31, 2026, against $575 million a year earlier. Source

Cash, capital and returns

  • Operating cash flow of $619 million: Net cash provided by operating activities was $619 million for the year, against $710 million a year earlier. Source
  • Repurchases of 5.4 million shares: The company repurchased 5.4 million shares for $450 million in the year, reducing shares outstanding by 11%. Fourth quarter repurchases were 0.9 million shares for about $100 million. Source
  • $850 million left on authorization: The company has $850 million remaining on the share repurchase authorization set in March 2025. Source
  • Cash and liquidity about $1.2 billion: Cash and equivalents were $760 million at year end. Liquidity, including borrowing available under the ABL Facility, was about $1.2 billion, unchanged from a year earlier. Source
  • Capital spending increased: Capital expenditures were $240.8 million for the year, up from $182.9 million. Net cash used for investing activities was $151 million, partly offset by marketable securities maturities. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Fiscal 2026 goals stated: For fiscal 2026 management set goals to grow net sales, deliver another year of double-digit operating margin and grow earnings per share, while making strategic investments. Source
  • Investment in marketing, stores and digital: Management said the business continued to be strengthened through investment in marketing, stores, people and digital capabilities. Source
  • Brands, model and team cited: Management cited two brands, a proven operating model, a robust balance sheet and a world class team as the base entering fiscal 2026. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 March 2026

  • Investor materials posted at 7:30 AM: An investor presentation and unaudited quarterly financial information were to be posted in the Investors section at about 7:30 AM ET the same day. Source
  • Repurchase timing depends on conditions: The timing and amount of fiscal 2026 repurchases will depend on market conditions, the share price, legal requirements and other factors. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable sales Source3% full year; 1% fourth quarter
Inventory Source$601 million at January 31, 2026
Store openings and closings Source62 opened and 22 permanently closed in fiscal 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Fiscal 2026 guidance excludes any possible refunds or recoveries of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and the tariff assumption is based on a 15% rate. Source
  • Financial: The effective tax rate assumption depends on the jurisdictional mix and level of income, and excludes possible future tax policy or legislative changes. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said fourth quarter operating margin and EPS were at the high end of expectations it had shared in early January. Source
  • Met: The earlier release said the company was on track for record fiscal 2025 net sales; the current release states that it delivered record net sales.
  • Not stated: The earlier release aimed for fourth quarter brand net sales approximately flat to last year's record. The current release reports Abercrombie brand fourth quarter net sales up 4%, with no status stated.

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.