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Burlington Stores, 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: 15 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth-quarter sales and profit grew: Total sales rose 11% to $3,643 million. Net income was $310 million, or $4.84 per diluted share, against $261 million, or $4.02, a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose to $4.99: Adjusted EPS was $4.99 against $4.13, excluding bankruptcy acquired lease expenses. Adjusted net income was $320 million, against $267 million a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year net income and EPS grew: Fiscal 2025 net income rose to $610 million, or $9.51 per diluted share, from $7.80. Adjusted EPS was $10.17, up 22%. Total sales grew 9% for the year. Source
  • Reconciliation tables show lower adjusted figures: The reconciliation tables show Adjusted EPS of $4.89 for the quarter and $9.76 for the year, and Adjusted EBIT of $434 million and $887 million, below the narrative figures. Source
  • Adjusted EBIT margin rose in both periods: Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBIT margin rose 100 basis points; Adjusted EBIT was $442 million against $364 million, excluding bankruptcy acquired lease expenses. Full-year Adjusted EBIT margin was 8.0%, up 80 basis points. Source
  • Gross margin gained on merchandise and freight: Gross margin rate rose 80 basis points in the quarter. Merchandise margin contributed 60 basis points, and freight expense improved 20 basis points. Source
  • Comparable sales grew in the quarter: Comparable store sales rose in the quarter on top of a prior-year increase. The release cites a two-year comparable stack of 10%. Source
  • Business positioned to chase sales: Management said the business is set up to pursue sales aggressively in fiscal 2026. Source

“These actions were spectacularly successful in driving earnings.”

Michael O’Sullivan, CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total sales growth SourceFiscal 2026 (52 weeks ending January 30, 2027)8% to 10%New
Comparable store sales SourceFiscal 20261% to 3%New
Capital expenditures, net of landlord allowances SourceFiscal 2026approximately $875 millionNew
Net new stores SourceFiscal 2026110New
Depreciation and amortization SourceFiscal 2026approximately $465 millionNew
Adjusted EBIT margin change SourceFiscal 2026 versus 52 weeks ended January 31, 2026increase of 0 to 20 basis pointsNew
Net interest expense SourceFiscal 2026approximately $60 millionNew
Adjusted effective tax rate SourceFiscal 2026approximately 25%New
Adjusted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$10.95 to $11.45New
Fully diluted share count SourceFiscal 2026approximately 64 million sharesNew
Total sales growth SourceFirst quarter of Fiscal 2026 (13 weeks ending May 2, 2026)9% to 11%New
Comparable store sales SourceFirst quarter of Fiscal 20262% to 4%New
Adjusted EBIT margin change SourceFirst quarter of Fiscal 2026 versus first quarter of Fiscal 2025decrease of 60 to 100 basis pointsNew
Adjusted effective tax rate SourceFirst quarter of Fiscal 2026approximately 19%New
Adjusted EPS SourceFirst quarter of Fiscal 2026$1.60 to $1.75New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fiscal 2026 full-year guidance is given here; the prior release gave guidance only for Fiscal 2025. Source
  • New guidance: First-quarter Fiscal 2026 guidance is given; the prior release gave guidance for the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2025. Source
  • New: A new distribution center is planned, with the release naming Savannah, GA as its location. Source

Fourth quarter and full year results

  • Fourth-quarter sales and profit grew: Total sales rose 11% to $3,643 million. Net income was $310 million, or $4.84 per diluted share, against $261 million, or $4.02, a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose to $4.99: Adjusted EPS was $4.99 against $4.13, excluding bankruptcy acquired lease expenses. Adjusted net income was $320 million, against $267 million a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year net income and EPS grew: Fiscal 2025 net income rose to $610 million, or $9.51 per diluted share, from $7.80. Adjusted EPS was $10.17, up 22%. Total sales grew 9% for the year. Source
  • Reconciliation tables show lower adjusted figures: The reconciliation tables show Adjusted EPS of $4.89 for the quarter and $9.76 for the year, and Adjusted EBIT of $434 million and $887 million, below the narrative figures. Source
  • Tax rate and share count: The fourth-quarter effective tax rate was 25.7%, against 25.0%. Diluted weighted average shares were 64.1 million, against 64.8 million a year earlier. Source

Margin and cost drivers

  • Adjusted EBIT margin rose in both periods: Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBIT margin rose 100 basis points; Adjusted EBIT was $442 million against $364 million, excluding bankruptcy acquired lease expenses. Full-year Adjusted EBIT margin was 8.0%, up 80 basis points. Source
  • Gross margin gained on merchandise and freight: Gross margin rate rose 80 basis points in the quarter. Merchandise margin contributed 60 basis points, and freight expense improved 20 basis points. Source
  • Product sourcing costs rose in dollars: Product sourcing costs, covering supply chain processing and buying, were $232 million against $217 million. They fell 30 basis points as a share of net sales. Source
  • Adjusted SG&A ratio fell: SG&A was $1,052 million against $965 million. Adjusted SG&A, excluding bankruptcy acquired lease expenses, was 22.2% of net sales against 22.6%, a decrease of 40 basis points. Source
  • One-time items excluded from adjusted results: A layaway liability settlement produced a $12.7 million gain, and an $11.7 million security tag write-off went to amortization. Both fell in the fourth quarter and are excluded from adjusted figures. Source
  • Bankruptcy lease expenses rose: Bankruptcy acquired lease expenses excluded from adjusted results were $8 million in the fourth quarter, against $5 million, and $35 million for the year, against $16 million. Source

“There are external and internal factors that are driving this optimism.”

Michael O’Sullivan, CEO

Comparable sales and inventory

  • Comparable sales grew in the quarter: Comparable store sales rose in the quarter on top of a prior-year increase. The release cites a two-year comparable stack of 10%. Source
  • Full-year comparable growth slowed: Full-year comparable store sales growth was lower than the prior year's pace, though total sales still grew. Source
  • Reserve inventory described: Reserve inventory is bought opportunistically and held for later store deliveries or the next season. Its share of total inventory fell from a year earlier. Source

Products, customers and footprint

  • Branded merchandise at up to 60% off: Stores sell in-season, high-quality branded merchandise across women's apparel, menswear, youth, baby, beauty, footwear, accessories, home, toys, gifts and coats. Source
  • Footprint spans 46 states: The company operates stores in 46 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, mainly under the Burlington Stores name. Source
  • Fiscal 2025 net sales reached $11.5 billion: The release reports Fiscal 2025 net sales of $11.5 billion for the company, which is listed on the NYSE and is a Fortune 500 company. Source

“we have positioned the business to aggressively chase sales.”

Michael O’Sullivan, CEO

Cash, debt and shareholder returns

  • Liquidity stood at $2,159 million: Liquidity at year-end was $2,159 million, made up of $1,233 million unrestricted cash and $926 million of ABL availability. No ABL borrowings were outstanding. Source
  • Total debt of $2,082 million: Total debt was $2,082 million, with the term loan and convertible notes making up the balance. The release reports no ABL borrowings. Source
  • Fourth-quarter share buybacks: The company repurchased 223,863 shares for $59 million in the fourth quarter. $385 million remained under the current authorization at year-end, down from $444 million at Q3. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose for the year: Net cash from operating activities was $1,231 million for the fiscal year, against $863 million. Cash paid for property and equipment was $1,060 million, against $880 million. Source
  • Treasury purchases and convertible repayment: Purchases of treasury shares totalled $278 million in Fiscal 2025, against $256 million. Repayment of the 2025 Convertible Notes was $156 million. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Business positioned to chase sales: Management said the business is set up to pursue sales aggressively in fiscal 2026. Source
  • Store growth and new facility planned: The fiscal 2026 plan pairs store growth with a new distribution center, both presented as company expectations in the guidance. Source
  • Property base grew in the year: Property and equipment, net, rose to $3,164 million from $2,370 million at fiscal year-end. Source

Management view of Fiscal 2026

  • Optimism rests on internal and external factors: The CEO cites external and internal factors behind optimism about Fiscal 2026. Source
  • Comparable guidance seen above typical model: Management called its fiscal 2026 comparable store sales guidance slightly ahead of its typical model, reflecting that optimism. Source
  • Possible sales above expectations: Management said it sees potential for sales above its expectations and has set the business up to pursue sales aggressively. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 March 2026

  • First-quarter period closes May 2: The first quarter of Fiscal 2026 runs 13 weeks to May 2, 2026, the period covered by first-quarter guidance. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable store sales Source+4% in Q4; +2% for full year
Merchandise inventory Source$1,312 million, up 5%
Comparable store inventory Sourceup 12%
Reserve inventory share of total Source40%, from 46%
Gross margin rate Source43.7%, from 42.9%
Store count Source1,212 at year-end

Risks management discussed

  • External: Tariffs were introduced in April; management took actions to offset their margin effect, which it describes as successful. Source
  • Operational: Expenses on bankruptcy acquired leases are excluded from adjusted results, with further costs anticipated in Fiscal 2026. Source
  • Operational: A one-time security tag write-off was recorded to amortization in the fourth quarter and is excluded from adjusted results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said the fourth-quarter Adjusted EBIT margin came in above the high end of its expectations. Source
  • Not stated: Fourth-quarter Adjusted EPS of $4.99 is set against the earlier guidance range of $4.50 to $4.70; the release gives no status. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it took actions from April to offset the negative margin impact of tariffs; no status is given. 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.