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BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 March 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales and revenue rose: Fourth-quarter net sales were $5,445.6 million, up 5.5%, and total revenues were $5,575.4 million, up 5.6%. Fiscal 2025 net sales were $20,957.5 million, up 4.6%. Source
  • Diluted EPS of $0.96: Diluted EPS and adjusted EPS were each $0.96 in the fourth quarter, against $0.92 and $0.93 a year earlier. Fiscal 2025 diluted EPS was $4.38 and adjusted EPS $4.40. Source
  • Comparable sales rose 1.6%: Comparable club sales rose 1.6% in the fourth quarter and 1.0% for fiscal 2025. Excluding gasoline sales, comparable club sales rose 2.6% in both periods. Source
  • Membership fee income up 10.9%: Membership fee income rose 10.9% to $129.8 million in the fourth quarter. Fiscal 2025 membership fee income was $499.8 million, up 9.5%. Source
  • Merchandise margin down about 50 basis points: Merchandise gross margin rate, excluding gasoline and membership fees, fell about 50 basis points in the fourth quarter. Management attributed the decline to changes in merchandise mix. Source
  • SG&A up to $818.2 million: SG&A was $818.2 million in the fourth quarter, against $758.2 million a year earlier, and $3,153.6 million for fiscal 2025, against $2,963.9 million. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 comparable sales range: Fiscal 2026 comparable club sales excluding gasoline are guided to rise 2.0% to 3.0% year-over-year. The third quarter release gave the same range for fiscal 2025. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS range: Fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS is guided to $4.40 to $4.60, against a fiscal 2025 range of $4.30 to $4.40 given in the third quarter release. Source

“As we reflect on the year, our results demonstrate the strength of our transformation and disciplined execution of our long‑term priorities.”

Bob Eddy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, BJ’s Wholesale Club

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Comparable club sales excluding gasoline SourceFiscal 20262.0% to 3.0%New
Adjusted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$4.40 to $4.60New
Capital expenditures SourceFiscal 2026approximately $800 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fiscal 2026 guidance was given for comparable club sales excluding gasoline, adjusted EPS and capital expenditures. The third quarter release had given fiscal 2025 guidance only. Source

Fourth quarter and full-year results

  • Net sales and revenue rose: Fourth-quarter net sales were $5,445.6 million, up 5.5%, and total revenues were $5,575.4 million, up 5.6%. Fiscal 2025 net sales were $20,957.5 million, up 4.6%. Source
  • Diluted EPS of $0.96: Diluted EPS and adjusted EPS were each $0.96 in the fourth quarter, against $0.92 and $0.93 a year earlier. Fiscal 2025 diluted EPS was $4.38 and adjusted EPS $4.40. Source
  • Comparable sales rose 1.6%: Comparable club sales rose 1.6% in the fourth quarter and 1.0% for fiscal 2025. Excluding gasoline sales, comparable club sales rose 2.6% in both periods. Source

Membership and digital growth

  • Membership fee income up 10.9%: Membership fee income rose 10.9% to $129.8 million in the fourth quarter. Fiscal 2025 membership fee income was $499.8 million, up 9.5%. Source
  • Membership growth drivers named: Management linked membership fee growth to membership acquisition, retention and higher tier penetration, and to the annual fee increase effective January 2025. Source
  • Renewal rate held at 90%: The company continued to achieve a 90% tenured member renewal rate during fiscal 2025. Source
  • Digitally enabled sales up 31%: Digitally enabled comparable sales grew 31% in the fourth quarter, reflecting two-year stacked comparable sales growth of 57%. Source

“Our focus on enhancing our assortment, investing in value, and expanding our footprint continues to resonate, and I’m proud of the progress we made this year.”

Bob Eddy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, BJ’s Wholesale Club

Merchandise margin and mix

  • Merchandise margin down about 50 basis points: Merchandise gross margin rate, excluding gasoline and membership fees, fell about 50 basis points in the fourth quarter. Management attributed the decline to changes in merchandise mix. Source
  • Full-year merchandise margin flat: Merchandise gross margin rate was flat for fiscal 2025 against fiscal 2024. Management said it continues to manage for profitable growth across the broader merchandise assortment. Source
  • Gross profit up to $1.01 billion: Gross profit was $1.01 billion in the fourth quarter, against $949.0 million a year earlier. Fiscal 2025 gross profit was $4.00 billion, against $3.76 billion. Source

Operating costs and tax

  • SG&A up to $818.2 million: SG&A was $818.2 million in the fourth quarter, against $758.2 million a year earlier, and $3,153.6 million for fiscal 2025, against $2,963.9 million. Source
  • Labor, occupancy and openings lifted costs: Management said SG&A rose on labor, occupancy and operational costs, mainly from new club and gas station openings, in both comparative periods. Source
  • Prior-year legal settlement benefit: Fiscal 2024 SG&A benefited from about $20 million of net legal settlements, which contributed to the year-over-year increase. Source
  • Tax expense down in quarter: Income tax expense was $41.6 million in the fourth quarter, against $43.7 million, mainly from a gain on transferable tax credits, partly offset by lower stock-compensation tax benefits. Source

“As we enter fiscal 2026, we remain confident in our long‑term strategy and our ability to navigate the environment while driving sustainable, profitable growth.”

Laura Felice, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, BJ’s Wholesale Club

Club and gas station footprint

  • Seven clubs and seven gas stations opened: The company opened 7 new clubs and 7 new gas stations in the fourth quarter. It operates 263 clubs and 199 BJ’s Gas locations in 21 states, up from 257 and 194 in the third quarter release. Source
  • Pre-opening expenses rose: Pre-opening expenses were $13.3 million in the fourth quarter, against $12.4 million, and $29.4 million for fiscal 2025, against $28.3 million. Source
  • Owned clubs raise depreciation: The number of owned clubs is up, which management linked to higher depreciation expense year-over-year. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Adjusted free cash flow rose: Adjusted free cash flow was $189.9 million in the fourth quarter, against $111.5 million, and $331.0 million for fiscal 2025, against $312.9 million. Source
  • Capital expenditures rose in fiscal 2025: Additions to property and equipment, net of disposals, were $702.0 million in fiscal 2025, against $588.0 million, and $201.1 million in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose to $1.03 billion: Net cash provided by operating activities was $1,030.1 million for fiscal 2025, against $900.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net debt $472.9 million, 0.4x: Net debt was $472.9 million at January 31, 2026, or 0.4 times LTM adjusted EBITDA, against 0.5 times in the third quarter release. Source

Share repurchases and share count

  • Fourth-quarter buybacks $117.7 million: The company repurchased 1,264,000 shares for $117.7 million, inclusive of associated costs, in the fourth quarter under its existing program. Source
  • Fiscal 2025 buybacks $252.4 million: For fiscal 2025 the company repurchased 2,599,000 shares for $252.4 million, with $749.7 million remaining available under the program. Source
  • Diluted share count declined: Diluted weighted-average shares were 131.1 million in the fourth quarter, against 133.1 million a year earlier, and 132.1 million for fiscal 2025, against 133.6 million. Source

Fiscal 2026 guidance

  • Fiscal 2026 comparable sales range: Fiscal 2026 comparable club sales excluding gasoline are guided to rise 2.0% to 3.0% year-over-year. The third quarter release gave the same range for fiscal 2025. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS range: Fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS is guided to $4.40 to $4.60, against a fiscal 2025 range of $4.30 to $4.40 given in the third quarter release. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 capital expenditures near $800 million: Fiscal 2026 capital expenditures are guided at about $800 million, for new club openings and distribution network enhancements, including the ambient distribution center. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable club sales growth, fourth quarter Source1.6%
Comparable club sales growth excluding gasoline, fourth quarter Source2.6%
Traffic Source16th consecutive quarter of traffic growth
Merchandise inventories at January 31, 2026 Source$1,555,471 thousand
Clubs and gas stations opened, fourth quarter Source7 clubs and 7 gas stations
Digitally enabled comparable sales growth, fourth quarter Source31%
Merchandise gross margin rate change, fourth quarter Sourcedown approximately 50 basis points
Clubs and gas locations operated Source263 clubs and 199 BJ’s Gas locations

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management named rising labor, occupancy and operational costs, tied to new openings, as a driver of higher SG&A. Source
  • Demand: Changes in merchandise mix lowered the fourth-quarter merchandise gross margin rate by about 50 basis points. Source
  • Financial: Growth in owned clubs raises depreciation expense, which management cited as a year-over-year cost driver. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The third quarter release described the seven-club plan as on track. This release reports seven new clubs opened in the fourth quarter.

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.