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Bath & Body Works, Inc.: 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: 10 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter sales fell 2%: Fourth-quarter net sales were $2,724 million, down 2% from $2,788 million a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS above prior guidance: Full-year 2025 adjusted EPS was $3.21. The prior release had guided to at least $2.87 adjusted, and at least $2.83 reported.
  • Fourth quarter above prior guidance: Management said fourth-quarter net sales and EPS came in above the guidance given in the prior release. Source
  • Amazon launched ahead of plan: Management said the Amazon launch came earlier than planned, alongside a new brand identity, as examples of focused execution. Source
  • Gross profit fell in fourth quarter: Fourth-quarter gross profit was $1,244 million against $1,301 million. Full-year gross profit was $3,189 million against $3,234 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose: Full-year operating cash flow was $1,102 million against $886 million. Capital expenditures were $237 million against $226 million. Source

“Our fourth quarter results exceeded the guidance we provided.”

Daniel Heaf, chief executive officer of Bath & Body Works

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales Sourcefull-year 2026down 4.5% to down 2.5%New
Diluted EPS Sourcefull-year 2026$3.00 to $3.25New
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefull-year 2026$2.40 to $2.65New
Free cash flow Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $600 millionNew
Pre-tax gain from interchange fee settlement, excluded from adjusted results Sourcefirst quarter of fiscal 2026$88 million pre-tax gain ($65 million after tax)New
Tax benefit, excluded from adjusted results Source2026$62 millionNew
Pre-tax loss on early bond redemption, excluded from adjusted results Source2026$9 million pre-tax loss ($7 million after tax)New
Net sales Sourcefirst quarter of fiscal 2026decline between 6% to 4%New
Diluted EPS Sourcefirst quarter of fiscal 2026$0.84 to $0.90New
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefirst quarter of fiscal 2026$0.24 to $0.30New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 guidance was issued for net sales, diluted EPS and adjusted diluted EPS, with no full-year 2026 guidance in the prior release. Source
  • New guidance: First-quarter 2026 guidance was issued for net sales, diluted EPS and adjusted diluted EPS. Source
  • New: The Amazon launch came earlier than planned, and a new brand identity was rolled out during the quarter. Source
  • New: A favorable payment card interchange fee litigation settlement is expected to produce an $88 million pre-tax gain in 2026. Source

Fourth-quarter and full-year results

  • Fourth-quarter sales fell 2%: Fourth-quarter net sales were $2,724 million, down 2% from $2,788 million a year earlier. Source
  • Fourth-quarter EPS and adjusted EPS: Diluted EPS was $1.99 against $2.09. Adjusted EPS was $2.05 after excluding $15 million of transformation costs. Source
  • Full-year sales essentially flat: Full-year net sales were $7,291 million, down 0.2% from $7,307 million. Diluted EPS was $3.11 against $3.61. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS above prior guidance: Full-year 2025 adjusted EPS was $3.21. The prior release had guided to at least $2.87 adjusted, and at least $2.83 reported.
  • Fourth quarter above prior guidance: Management said fourth-quarter net sales and EPS came in above the guidance given in the prior release. Source

Channels and regions

  • Stores sales rose for the year: Stores in the U.S. and Canada: fourth-quarter sales of $2,054 million, down 2.6%; full-year sales of $5,582 million, up 0.9%. Source
  • Direct channel declined: Direct sales in the U.S. and Canada were $579 million in the fourth quarter, down 2.5%, and $1,395 million for the year, down 5.4%. Source
  • International sales grew: International sales, including franchise royalties and wholesale, were $91 million in the fourth quarter, up 8.6%, and $314 million for the year, up 4.9%. Source
  • Company-operated store count rose: Company-operated Bath & Body Works stores ended at 1,927, up from 1,895, after 94 openings and 62 closings. Source
  • Partner-operated international stores grew: Partner-operated international stores ended at 573, up from 529, including 37 travel retail locations. Source

“We are making progress, but transformations of this scale take time.”

Daniel Heaf, chief executive officer of Bath & Body Works

Consumer First Formula progress

  • Amazon launched ahead of plan: Management said the Amazon launch came earlier than planned, alongside a new brand identity, as examples of focused execution. Source
  • Moves since the third-quarter launch: Since the third-quarter launch, management said it moved to accelerate innovation in hero categories, refresh the brand, expand distribution and simplify operations. Source
  • End-to-end evolution underway: Management described a comprehensive, end-to-end evolution of the business aimed at a more innovative, relevant and easier-to-shop company. Source

Costs and margins

  • Gross profit fell in fourth quarter: Fourth-quarter gross profit was $1,244 million against $1,301 million. Full-year gross profit was $3,189 million against $3,234 million. Source
  • Operating income declined: Fourth-quarter operating income was $599 million against $678 million. Full-year operating income was $1,126 million against $1,266 million. Source
  • Transformation costs excluded from adjusted results: The fourth quarter included $15 million pre-tax business transformation costs, which were excluded from adjusted results. Source

“This work lays the foundation for sustained, long-term growth as we reposition the company from a specialty retailer to a premier global brand.”

Daniel Heaf, chief executive officer of Bath & Body Works

Cash, debt and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow rose: Full-year operating cash flow was $1,102 million against $886 million. Capital expenditures were $237 million against $226 million. Source
  • Share repurchases and dividends in 2025: Full-year 2025 share repurchases totaled 15.1 million shares for $400 million. Dividends paid were $167 million. Source
  • Inventories declined year over year: Inventories were $699 million at January 31, 2026, against $734 million at February 1, 2025. Source
  • Stockholders' deficit narrowed: Total equity was a deficit of $1,279 million at January 31, 2026, against a deficit of $1,383 million a year earlier. Source

People and leadership

  • Leadership transition costs in 2025: Full-year 2025 included $15 million pre-tax costs tied to the transition of certain leadership team members, excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Transformation costs mainly severance: The transformation costs were primarily severance benefits, according to the notes to the adjusted results. Source
  • CEO speaks on quarter: Daniel Heaf, chief executive officer, commented on the results and on the Consumer First Formula. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 March 2026

  • Excluded items due in first quarter: Management expects the interchange settlement gain, the tax benefit and the bond redemption loss to be recognized in the first quarter of fiscal 2026. Source
  • Free cash flow expected near $600 million: Management expects fiscal 2026 free cash flow of approximately $600 million. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Inventory Source$699 million at January 31, 2026, against $734 million at February 1, 2025
Store openings and closings Source94 opened and 62 closed, company-operated, in the period to January 31, 2026
Gross margin Sourcegross profit $1,244 million in fourth quarter against $1,301 million; margin percentage not stated

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management said transformation at this scale takes time, so the Consumer First Formula will take time to show in results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management described the Amazon launch as earlier than planned. 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.