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Abercrombie & Fitch Co.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 26 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 1 lowered, 4 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 5%, comparable sales flat: Net sales were $1.27 billion, up from $1.21 billion a year earlier. Comparable sales were flat. Management called this the 15th consecutive quarter of sales growth. Source
  • IEEPA refunds lifted operating income: Operating income was $253 million, including about $100 million of IEEPA tariff refunds recorded as a reduction of cost of sales. Last year's reported operating income was $207 million. Source
  • Diluted EPS of $4.17 includes refunds: Diluted EPS was $4.17, against $2.91 reported and $2.32 adjusted last year. The company estimated the tariff refunds added $1.75 per diluted share. Source
  • Second-quarter buybacks of $177 million: The company repurchased 2.0 million shares for about $177 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Full-year operating margin range raised: Full-year operating margin is now 14.5% to 15.0%, compared with 12.0% to 12.5% previously. Source
  • Full-year diluted EPS range raised: Full-year diluted EPS is now $13.10 to $13.60, compared with $10.20 to $11.00 previously. Source
  • Adding partnerships, channels and categories: Management said it is adding incremental growth levers across partnerships, distribution channels and product categories, alongside continued investment in stores, digital, technology and marketing. Source

“We delivered record second quarter net sales and our 15 th consecutive quarter of growth, reflecting our teams’ continued focus on serving customers with compelling product, marketing, and experiences.”

Fran Horowitz, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Operating margin SourceFull fiscal 2026In The Range of 14.5% to 15.0%Raised from In The Range of 12.0% to 12.5%
Net income per diluted share SourceFull fiscal 2026In The Range of $13.10 to $13.60Raised from In The Range of $10.20 to $11.00
Share repurchases SourceFull fiscal 2026At least $500 millionRaised from Around $450 million
Capital expenditures SourceFull fiscal 2026Around $250 millionRaised from Around $225 million
Effective tax rate SourceFull fiscal 2026Around 29%Lowered from Around 30%
Net sales growth SourceThird quarter of fiscal 2026In The Range of 5% to 6%New
Operating margin SourceThird quarter of fiscal 2026In The Range of 13.0% to 14.0%New
Net income per diluted share SourceThird quarter of fiscal 2026In The Range of $2.90 to $3.20New
Share repurchases SourceThird quarter of fiscal 2026At least $100 millionNew
Net store openings SourceFull fiscal 2026~30 Net Store OpeningsKept
Store openings, closures and remodels SourceFull fiscal 202650 openings, 20 closures, 80 remodels and right-sizesKept
Diluted weighted average shares SourceFull fiscal 2026Around 44 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year operating margin range moved from 12.0% to 12.5% to 14.5% to 15.0%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year diluted EPS range moved from $10.20 to $11.00 to $13.10 to $13.60. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year share repurchases increased from around $450 million to at least $500 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year capital expenditures increased from around $225 million to around $250 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year effective tax rate assumption moved from around 30% to around 29%. Source
  • New: Tariff assumption updated to an effective rate of 10% to 12.5% for the rest of fiscal 2026, from 15% previously. Source
  • New guidance: Third-quarter guidance was issued for net sales, tariff refund impact, operating margin, EPS, share repurchases and diluted shares. Source
  • Guidance kept: Store openings, closures and remodel plans for fiscal 2026 are unchanged from the prior release. Source

Quarter results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose 5%, comparable sales flat: Net sales were $1.27 billion, up from $1.21 billion a year earlier. Comparable sales were flat. Management called this the 15th consecutive quarter of sales growth. Source
  • Best-ever second-quarter sales across brands: Management reported record second-quarter net sales for both brands, with Abercrombie brands up 8% and Hollister up 2%. Source
  • IEEPA refunds lifted operating income: Operating income was $253 million, including about $100 million of IEEPA tariff refunds recorded as a reduction of cost of sales. Last year's reported operating income was $207 million. Source
  • Diluted EPS of $4.17 includes refunds: Diluted EPS was $4.17, against $2.91 reported and $2.32 adjusted last year. The company estimated the tariff refunds added $1.75 per diluted share. Source

Segments and regions

  • Americas up 5% on 1% comparable sales: Americas net sales were $1.02 billion, up 5%, with comparable sales up 1%. Americas accounted for most of the company's net sales in the quarter. Source
  • APAC up 19%, EMEA up 2%: APAC net sales rose 19%, with comparable sales up 13%. EMEA net sales rose 2%, with comparable sales down 4%. Management said EMEA trends were improving. Source

“Growth was balanced across our brands and regions, highlighted by accelerating momentum in the Americas and improving trends in EMEA.”

Fran Horowitz, Chief Executive Officer

Brand performance

  • Abercrombie brands up 8%: Abercrombie brand net sales were $597 million, up 8%, with comparable sales up 4%. Source
  • Hollister up 2%, comparable sales down 3%: Hollister net sales were $670 million, up 2%, with comparable sales down 3%. Source

Costs and margins

  • Cost of sales fell to 28.9%: Cost of sales was 28.9% of net sales, against 37.4% a year earlier. The IEEPA refund was recorded as a reduction of cost of sales. Source
  • Selling and G&A rose as share of sales: Selling expense was 35.1% of net sales, against 31.1%. General and administrative expense was 16.2%, against 14.5%. Source
  • Operating margin reached 19.9%: Operating margin was 19.9%, against 17.1% reported and 13.9% adjusted last year. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin 23.4%: EBITDA was $296 million, or 23.4% of net sales. Last year's adjusted EBITDA margin was 17.0%, excluding a litigation settlement. Source

“Importantly, we are adding incremental growth levers across partnerships, distribution channels and product categories.”

Fran Horowitz, Chief Executive Officer

Cash, liquidity and capital returns

  • Second-quarter buybacks of $177 million: The company repurchased 2.0 million shares for about $177 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Year-to-date buybacks reached 7% of shares: Year-to-date repurchases were 3.2 million shares for $282 million, a 7% reduction in shares outstanding from the start of the year. Source
  • Cash of $628 million, liquidity about $1.1 billion: Cash and equivalents were $628 million, against $760 million at January 31, 2026. Liquidity including ABL borrowing available was about $1.1 billion. Source
  • Operating cash flow of $313 million: Net cash from operations was $313 million year-to-date. Investing used $114 million, mainly capital expenditures, and financing used $330 million, mainly share repurchases. Source
  • Inventory slightly below last year: Inventories were $592 million at quarter end, against $601 million at January 31, 2026 and $593 million a year earlier. Source

Full-year and third-quarter guidance

  • Full-year operating margin range raised: Full-year operating margin is now 14.5% to 15.0%, compared with 12.0% to 12.5% previously. Source
  • Full-year diluted EPS range raised: Full-year diluted EPS is now $13.10 to $13.60, compared with $10.20 to $11.00 previously. Source
  • Full-year sales growth now around 5%: Full-year net sales growth is around 5%, compared with a 3% to 5% range previously. Planned share repurchases are at least $500 million. Source
  • Third-quarter targets provided: For the third quarter, management gave net sales growth of 5% to 6%, diluted EPS of $2.90 to $3.20, and at least $100 million of share repurchases. Source

Store footprint and growth levers

  • About 850 stores in operation: The company operates about 850 stores, up from about 840 in the first-quarter release. Full-year plans call for around 30 net openings. Source
  • Adding partnerships, channels and categories: Management said it is adding incremental growth levers across partnerships, distribution channels and product categories, alongside continued investment in stores, digital, technology and marketing. Source
  • 80 remodels and right-sizes planned: Full-year plans include 50 openings and 20 closures, plus 80 remodels and right-sizes at owned-and-operated stores. Source

Tariffs, refunds and tax

  • Full-year tax rate around 29%: The effective tax rate is expected around 29%, against around 30% previously. Source

Coming up, as management said on 26 August 2026

  • Third-quarter buybacks planned: Third-quarter share repurchases are planned at at least $100 million, with diluted weighted average shares around 43 million. Source
  • Remaining repurchase authorization: About $568 million remains under the repurchase authorization set in March 2025. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable sales Sourceflat (0%)
Inventory Source$592 million
Store count Sourceapproximately 850
Gross margin Sourcenot stated; cost of sales 28.9% of net sales, against 37.4%

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Timing and amount of share repurchases depend on market conditions, the share price, legal requirements and other factors. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said operating margin and diluted EPS were above the prior second-quarter guidance, in excess of the IEEPA tariff refund benefit. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release planned at least $150 million of repurchases in the second quarter; the release reports $177 million without comparing it to that plan. Source

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.