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Bark, Inc.: Q1 FY2027 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2027, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue fell 23.4% year-over-year: Total revenue was $78.8 million, down from $102.9 million, at the high end of the $77.0 million to $79.0 million guidance range. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA within guidance range: Adjusted EBITDA was $0.6 million, within the $0.0 million to $1.0 million guidance range, and up from $0.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • DTC revenue fell 25.2%: DTC revenue was $66.7 million, including $3.2 million from BARK Air. Management attributed the focus to bottom-line durability over near-term growth. Source
  • Normalized gross margin 63.4%: Excluding the benefit, normalized consolidated gross margin was 63.4%, compared with a record 63.8% in the same period last year. Source
  • Advertising and marketing spend fell: Advertising and marketing expense was $9.5 million, against $15.2 million, about 37% lower year-over-year. Source
  • Operating cash outflow of $3.5 million: Net cash used in operating activities was $3.5 million, against $5.4 million a year earlier. Free cash flow was $(3.7) million, after $0.1 million of capital expenditures. Source
  • Smaller subscriber base drives Q2 decline: Management said the second-quarter year-over-year revenue decline reflects a smaller DTC subscriber base entering fiscal 2027 after the marketing pullback. Source

“The quarter reflected improving health across the business.”

Matt Meeker, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total revenue SourceFiscal second quarter 2027$83.0 million to $85.0 millionNew
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFiscal second quarter 2027$1.0 million to $3.0 millionNew
Total revenue SourceFiscal 2027 full year$325.0 million to $340.0 millionKept
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFiscal 2027 full year$7.0 million to $10.0 millionKept
Commerce and BARK Air revenue SourceFiscal 2027 full yearover $100 million combinedKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Second-quarter revenue and Adjusted EBITDA guidance was provided. The prior release had said no fourth-quarter guidance would be given.
  • Guidance kept: Full-year fiscal 2027 revenue and Adjusted EBITDA guidance was reiterated in this release. Source

Quarter results and profit

  • Revenue fell 23.4% year-over-year: Total revenue was $78.8 million, down from $102.9 million, at the high end of the $77.0 million to $79.0 million guidance range. Source
  • Net income includes tariff refunds: Net income was $0.75 million, against a $7.0 million loss a year earlier. Net income includes $7.4 million of tariff refunds allocable to fiscal 2026. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA within guidance range: Adjusted EBITDA was $0.6 million, within the $0.0 million to $1.0 million guidance range, and up from $0.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Operating income near breakeven: Income from operations was $66 thousand, compared with a loss of $8.4 million a year earlier. Interest income was $263 thousand. Source
  • Diluted EPS of $0.08: Net income per basic and diluted share was $0.08, compared with a loss of $(0.83) per share in the prior-year quarter. Source

Direct to consumer results

  • DTC revenue fell 25.2%: DTC revenue was $66.7 million, including $3.2 million from BARK Air. Management attributed the focus to bottom-line durability over near-term growth. Source
  • Toys and consumables both declined: Toys & Accessories revenue was $39.1 million, against $51.8 million. Consumables revenue was $24.4 million, against $35.0 million. Source
  • DTC gross profit lower: DTC gross profit was $50.2 million, against $59.7 million a year earlier, on DTC revenue of $66.7 million against $89.2 million. Source

“Subscriber retention improved, average order value increased and subscriber lifetime value reached its highest level since we became a public company.”

Matt Meeker, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Commerce and BARK Air

  • Commerce revenue fell 11.4%: Commerce revenue was $12.1 million. Management said BARK continued to expand with both new and existing retail partners across wholesale and marketplaces. Source
  • Commerce gross profit higher: Commerce gross profit was $7.2 million, against $4.3 million, on revenue of $12.1 million against $13.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • BARK Air revenue up 37%: BARK Air revenue was $3.2 million, a 37% increase year-over-year, reported within DTC revenue. Source

Gross margin and tariff refund

  • Reported margin includes one-time benefit: Reported gross margin was 72.7%, against 62.3%. Management said the result includes a one-time benefit from recognizing fiscal 2026 tariff refunds. Source
  • Normalized gross margin 63.4%: Excluding the benefit, normalized consolidated gross margin was 63.4%, compared with a record 63.8% in the same period last year. Source
  • DTC margin includes $5.2M refund: Direct to Consumer gross margin was 79.4%, against 69.3%, and includes a $5.2 million tariff refund related to fiscal 2026. Source
  • Tariff refund removed from Adjusted EBITDA: The Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation deducts $7.4 million (7,363 thousand) of IEEPA Tariffs Phase II refunds from net income. Source

“We still have work to do, but these results reinforce confidence in our ability to accelerate growth and deliver a meaningful step-up in Adjusted EBITDA and cash flow this year.”

Matt Meeker, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Operating expenses and litigation

  • Advertising and marketing spend fell: Advertising and marketing expense was $9.5 million, against $15.2 million, about 37% lower year-over-year. Source
  • G&A expenses declined: G&A expenses were $47.8 million, against $57.3 million, a decline of about 17%. Source
  • Executive transition costs recorded: Other items in Adjusted EBITDA included executive transition costs, including recruiting costs, of $0.2 million this quarter. Source
  • Shareholder litigation costs rose: Litigation expenses were $1.3 million, against $0.2 million a year earlier, related to a shareholder class action complaint. Source

Cash, inventory and balance sheet

  • Operating cash outflow of $3.5 million: Net cash used in operating activities was $3.5 million, against $5.4 million a year earlier. Free cash flow was $(3.7) million, after $0.1 million of capital expenditures. Source
  • Cash balance lower, debt-free: Cash and cash equivalents were $16.1 million at June 30, 2026, against $19.3 million at March 31, 2026. Management attributed the decrease to seasonal working capital and buybacks. Source
  • Inventory down year-over-year: Inventory was $72.4 million, which the release describes as $25.7 million lower than the prior year. The balance sheet shows $75.5 million at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Receivables rose to $20.4 million: Accounts receivable were $20.4 million at June 30, 2026, up from $12.3 million at March 31, 2026. The cash flow statement shows an $8.1 million outflow for receivables. Source

Capital and share repurchases

  • Buyback continues under $40M program: Management said BARK continued repurchasing shares under its $40 million program. Payments to repurchase common stock were $0.2 million, against $1.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • $2.0 million of stock proceeds: The cash flow statement shows $2.0 million of proceeds from issuance of common stock this quarter. The documents do not describe the transaction. Source
  • Share count differs from prior release: Shares outstanding were 9,925,385 at June 30, 2026, against 172,807,204 shown at December 31, 2025 in the prior release. The documents do not explain the difference. Source

Subscribers and demand

  • Smaller subscriber base drives Q2 decline: Management said the second-quarter year-over-year revenue decline reflects a smaller DTC subscriber base entering fiscal 2027 after the marketing pullback. Source
  • Total orders down 27.9%: DTC total orders were 2,031 thousand, against 2,819 thousand. Average order value rose to $31.25 from $30.80. Source
  • Retention up over 170 basis points: Subscriber retention was 92.8%, against 91.1%. Average order value increased by $0.45 compared with the prior year. Source

Strategy and management view

  • Quarter reflected improving health: Management said the quarter reflected improving health across the business and continued execution against the June priorities. Source
  • Fall launches and partnerships ahead: Management said some of its most exciting products and partnerships come to market this fall, across DTC, Commerce and BARK Air. Source
  • Work remains on growth and cash: Management said the results reinforce confidence in accelerating growth and a meaningful Adjusted EBITDA and cash flow step-up this year, while work remains. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 August 2026

  • Fall product and partner launches: Management said some of its most exciting products and partnerships come to market this fall across DTC, Commerce and BARK Air. Source
  • Commerce share of revenue to rise: Management expects Commerce to grow as a percentage of total revenue as it expands across wholesale and marketplace channels. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA and cash flow step-up: Management said it expects a meaningful step-up in Adjusted EBITDA and cash flow later this fiscal year. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Traffic (total orders) Source2,031 thousand vs 2,819 thousand
Average ticket (AOV) Source$31.25 vs $30.80
Subscriber retention Source92.8% vs 91.1%
Inventory Source$72.4 million at June 30, 2026
Gross margin Source72.7% reported; 63.4% normalized
DTC gross margin Source79.4% vs 69.3%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited a smaller DTC subscriber base entering fiscal 2027 after reduced marketing spend as the reason for the second-quarter revenue decline. Source
  • Regulatory: Legal expenses related to a shareholder class action complaint were $1.3 million this quarter, against $0.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Financial: Cash and cash equivalents declined to $16.1 million, with operating cash used and share repurchases continuing during the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it continued to execute against the priorities it outlined in June. Source
  • Not stated: Management referred to the $40 million repurchase program as previously announced and said buybacks continued during the quarter. 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.