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Best Buy Co., Inc.: Q2 FY2027 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2027, from the documents filed with the SEC on 27 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 2 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Comparable sales rose 4.1%: Enterprise comparable sales rose 4.1% against 1.6% a year earlier. Diluted EPS was $1.48, up from $0.87; adjusted diluted EPS was $1.47 versus $1.28. Source
  • Domestic revenue and online grew: Domestic revenue rose 4.3% to $9.07 billion on 4.5% comparable sales growth. Domestic online revenue of $3.00 billion grew 5.1% comparable. Source
  • Domestic gross margin rose on Ads: Domestic gross profit rate was 24.0% against 23.4%, driven by Marketplace and Best Buy Ads growth and about $34 million of IEEPA tariff refunds. Source
  • Operating margin rose on restructuring: Operating income rate was 4.3% against 2.7%. The prior-year quarter carried $114 million of restructuring charges, against a $6 million reduction this quarter. Source
  • Management credits actions and demand: Management attributed Q2 results to deliberate actions taken to position the business for growth and to a healthy demand environment for the category. Source
  • $239 million returned in Q2: Q2 shareholder returns were $239 million: $203 million of dividends and $36 million of share repurchases. Year-to-date returns were $441 million. Source
  • Barry in final months as CEO: Corie Barry said she is in her remaining months as CEO. Jason Bonfig is the incoming CEO. Source

“We are very pleased to report we outperformed expectations in the second quarter with comparable sales growth of 4.1%”

Corie Barry, Best Buy CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFY27$42.3 billion to $42.8 billionRaised from $41.2 billion to $42.1 billion
Comparable sales % change SourceFY271.9% to 3.0%Raised from (1.0%) to 1.0%
Adjusted operating income rate SourceFY274.4% to 4.5%Raised from 4.3% to 4.4%
Adjusted effective income tax rate SourceFY27approximately 25.5%Kept
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFY27$6.70 to $6.90Raised from $6.30 to $6.60
Capital expenditures SourceFY27approximately $750 millionKept
Comparable sales % change SourceQ3 FY271.0% to 3.0%New
Adjusted operating income rate SourceQ3 FY274.1% to 4.2%New
Share repurchases SourceFY27approximately $300 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year FY27 guidance was raised on revenue, comparable sales, adjusted operating income rate and adjusted diluted EPS, citing first-half performance. Source
  • Guidance kept: Adjusted effective tax rate and capital expenditure guidance were not changed. Source
  • New guidance: Third-quarter FY27 comparable sales and adjusted operating income rate ranges were given for the first time. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Comparable sales rose 4.1%: Enterprise comparable sales rose 4.1% against 1.6% a year earlier. Diluted EPS was $1.48, up from $0.87; adjusted diluted EPS was $1.47 versus $1.28. Source
  • Growth spread across most categories: Management said growth came across almost all major product categories, with Best Buy Ads and Marketplace also performing well. Source
  • Computing and home theater led: The largest weighted contributors were computing, home theater and emerging categories such as AI glasses and trading cards. Source

Segment and regional results

  • Domestic revenue and online grew: Domestic revenue rose 4.3% to $9.07 billion on 4.5% comparable sales growth. Domestic online revenue of $3.00 billion grew 5.1% comparable. Source
  • International revenue and comparable sales fell: International revenue fell 4.2% to $709 million. Comparable sales declined 1.8% after a 7.6% rise a year earlier, and foreign exchange reduced revenue. Source
  • International gross margin improved: International gross profit rate rose to 22.3% from 21.8%. Adjusted operating income was $13 million, against $18 million a year earlier. Source

“The strength of our Q2 results reflects both the deliberate actions we have taken to position the business for growth and a healthy demand environment for our category”

Jason Bonfig, Best Buy Chief Customer, Product and Fulfillment Officer, and incoming CEO

Products and customers

  • Computing and mobile phones led mix: Computing and mobile phones was 46% of Domestic revenue, with comparable sales up 6.8%. Consumer electronics was 27% of revenue, with comparable sales up 5.6%. Source
  • Traditional gaming declined: Domestic entertainment, 6% of revenue, had comparable sales down 6.3%. International entertainment comparable sales fell 25.2%. Source
  • Appliances flat, services higher: Domestic appliances comparable sales were 0.2% against a 9.2% decline a year earlier. Domestic services comparable sales rose 6.4%. Source
  • Services now includes credit card revenue: From Q1 FY27, credit card and digital content revenue sit in services. Prior periods were recast to match. Source

Costs, gross margin and operating margin

  • Domestic gross margin rose on Ads: Domestic gross profit rate was 24.0% against 23.4%, driven by Marketplace and Best Buy Ads growth and about $34 million of IEEPA tariff refunds. Source
  • Domestic SG&A rose on pay and ads: Domestic adjusted SG&A was 19.6% of revenue against 19.3%, from incentive pay, Marketplace and Best Buy Ads costs, and advertising. Lower Best Buy Health expense partly offset. Source
  • Operating margin rose on restructuring: Operating income rate was 4.3% against 2.7%. The prior-year quarter carried $114 million of restructuring charges, against a $6 million reduction this quarter. Source
  • International SG&A rose on ads and depreciation: International adjusted SG&A rose to 20.5% of revenue from 19.3%, on higher advertising and depreciation, partly offset by favorable foreign exchange. Source

Demand and guidance momentum

  • Management credits actions and demand: Management attributed Q2 results to deliberate actions taken to position the business for growth and to a healthy demand environment for the category. Source
  • Raise tied to first-half momentum: The annual guidance raise was attributed to first-half performance and momentum entering the second half of the year. Source
  • Third-quarter ranges given: Management gave ranges for Q3 FY27 comparable sales and adjusted operating income rate, detailed in the guidance list. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • $239 million returned in Q2: Q2 shareholder returns were $239 million: $203 million of dividends and $36 million of share repurchases. Year-to-date returns were $441 million. Source
  • Year-to-date buybacks trail last year: Year-to-date share repurchases were $36 million, against $165 million a year earlier. Management expects about $300 million of repurchases in FY27. Source
  • Cash and inventory both higher: Cash and cash equivalents were $2,255 million against $1,456 million. Merchandise inventories were $6,296 million against $5,816 million. Source
  • First-half operating cash flow higher: Six-month cash provided by operations was $1,296 million against $783 million. Accounts payable rose by $1,259 million in the period. Source

Investment and strategy

  • Capital spending running at $344 million: First-half additions to property and equipment were $344 million, against $341 million a year earlier. Source
  • Specialty, vendors and fulfillment investments: Bonfig cited investments in store specialty expertise, vendor partnerships on innovation, and faster fulfillment as the basis for the results. Source
  • Restructuring credit from prior plans: The Q2 restructuring credit mainly reflected subsequent adjustments to previously planned organizational changes. Source

People and leadership

  • Barry in final months as CEO: Corie Barry said she is in her remaining months as CEO. Jason Bonfig is the incoming CEO. Source
  • Employees thanked for execution: Bonfig thanked employees for their commitment to customers and for executing the strategy. Source
  • Barry on the business built: Barry said the team built a stronger, more resilient Best Buy with a unique role at the intersection of technology, services and human connection. Source

Coming up, as management said on 27 August 2026

  • Dividend payable October 8: Regular quarterly dividend of $0.96 per share is payable October 8, 2026, to holders of record at the close of September 17, 2026. Source
  • Bonfig becomes CEO November 1: Jason Bonfig is incoming CEO, effective November 1, 2026, after Corie Barry's remaining months as CEO. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Enterprise comparable sales change Source4.1% (1.6% prior year)
Domestic comparable sales change Source4.5% (1.1% prior year)
International comparable sales change Source(1.8)% (7.6% prior year)
Gross margin Source23.9% (23.2% prior year)
Domestic gross profit rate Source24.0% (23.4% prior year)
International gross profit rate Source22.3% (21.8% prior year)
E-commerce share Source33.1% of Domestic revenue (32.8% prior year)
Inventory Source$6,296 million (prior year $5,816 million)

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Traditional gaming category declined, partly offsetting growth in other categories. Source
  • Demand: International comparable sales declined 1.8% in the quarter. Source
  • Financial: Lower product margin rates partly offset the higher Domestic gross profit rate. Source
  • Operational: Higher compensation, including incentive pay, and Marketplace and Ads expenses raised Domestic adjusted SG&A. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management reported a Q2 adjusted operating income rate of 4.3%, described as higher than expected. Source
  • Not stated: In May management said it still expected about $300 million of repurchases in FY27; the August release repeats that expectation.

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.