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Burlington Stores, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 7 raised, 6 new, 5 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales rose 14%, comparable sales 6%: Total sales were $2,852 million, up from $2,500 million a year earlier. Comparable store sales rose 6% over the same period. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 26% to $2.10: Headline adjusted EPS was $2.10 against $1.67, excluding bankruptcy acquired lease expenses. Management called it the 14th consecutive quarter of double-digit EPS growth. Source
  • Release figures differ from reconciliation: Headline text gives adjusted EPS $2.10, adjusted net income $134 million, adjusted EBIT $179 million and adjusted EBITDA $284 million. The reconciliation tables show $2.01, $128.9 million, $171.7 million and $276.3 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBIT margin up 20 basis points: Management attributed the margin increase to sales ahead of plan, higher gross margin and leverage on supply chain expenses. Source
  • Merchandise inventories up 10%: Inventories were $1,444 million at quarter end, up from $1,315 million a year earlier. Source
  • Sales and comparable sales guidance raised: Full-year total sales growth is now 9% to 11%, from 8% to 10%. Comparable sales growth is 2% to 4%, from 1% to 3%. Source
  • Second quarter sales growth 10% to 12%: Second-quarter total sales are guided up 10% to 12%, with comparable store sales up 1% to 3% against the second quarter of fiscal 2025. Source

“We are pleased with our strong performance in the first quarter.”

Michael O’Sullivan, CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total sales growth SourceFiscal 2026 (52 weeks ending January 30, 2027)9% to 11%Raised from 8% to 10%
Comparable store sales SourceFiscal 20262% to 4%Raised from 1% to 3%
Net new stores SourceFiscal 2026approximately 115Raised from 110
Capital expenditures, net of landlord allowances SourceFiscal 2026approximately $875 millionKept
Depreciation and amortization SourceFiscal 2026approximately $465 millionKept
Adjusted EBIT margin change SourceFiscal 2026 versus Fiscal 202510 to 30 basis pointsRaised from 0 to 20 basis points
Net interest expense SourceFiscal 2026approximately $60 millionKept
Adjusted effective tax rate SourceFiscal 2026approximately 25%Kept
Adjusted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$11.45 to $11.80Raised from $10.95 to $11.45
Fully diluted share count SourceFiscal 2026approximately 64 million sharesKept
Bankruptcy acquired lease expenses excluded from adjusted EBIT SourceFiscal 2026$10 millionRaised from $8 million
Bankruptcy acquired lease expenses excluded from adjusted EPS, net of tax SourceFiscal 2026$8 millionRaised from $6 million
Total sales growth Sourcesecond quarter of Fiscal 202610% to 12%New
Comparable store sales Sourcesecond quarter of Fiscal 20261% to 3%New
Adjusted EBIT margin change Sourcesecond quarter of Fiscal 2026 versus second quarter of Fiscal 202530 to 60 basis pointsNew
Adjusted effective tax rate Sourcesecond quarter of Fiscal 2026approximately 23%New
Adjusted EPS Sourcesecond quarter of Fiscal 2026$2.05 to $2.20New
Bankruptcy acquired lease expenses excluded from adjusted EBIT Sourcesecond quarter of Fiscal 2026approximately $3 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year fiscal 2026 sales and earnings guidance raised, with first-quarter gains carried through to the full year. Source
  • New guidance: Second-quarter fiscal 2026 guidance given for sales, comparable sales, adjusted EBIT margin, tax rate and adjusted EPS. Source
  • Guidance kept: Capital expenditures, depreciation, net interest, adjusted tax rate and share count guidance kept at prior levels. Source
  • New: Repurchased $111 million principal of 1.25% convertible notes in privately negotiated transactions, settled with cash and shares. Source

First quarter results

  • Sales rose 14%, comparable sales 6%: Total sales were $2,852 million, up from $2,500 million a year earlier. Comparable store sales rose 6% over the same period. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS rose: Net income was $115 million, or $1.79 per diluted share, against $101 million, or $1.58. Diluted shares were 64.1 million against 64.0 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 26% to $2.10: Headline adjusted EPS was $2.10 against $1.67, excluding bankruptcy acquired lease expenses. Management called it the 14th consecutive quarter of double-digit EPS growth. Source
  • Release figures differ from reconciliation: Headline text gives adjusted EPS $2.10, adjusted net income $134 million, adjusted EBIT $179 million and adjusted EBITDA $284 million. The reconciliation tables show $2.01, $128.9 million, $171.7 million and $276.3 million. Source

Margins and costs

  • Gross margin rate rose 30 basis points: Gross margin was 44.1% of net sales against 43.8%. Merchandise margin rose 20 basis points and freight improved 10 basis points as a percentage of net sales. Source
  • Product sourcing costs rose to $216 million: Product sourcing costs, included in SG&A, were $216 million against $197 million. Reported SG&A was 34.7% of net sales in both periods. Source
  • SG&A ratio flat, adjusted ratio higher: Adjusted SG&A, excluding bankruptcy acquired lease expenses, was 26.8% of net sales against 26.6% a year earlier. Source
  • Tax rate fell to 19.6%: Effective tax rate was 19.6% against 24.1%. The adjusted effective tax rate was 20.1% against 24.1%. Source
  • Adjusted EBIT margin up 20 basis points: Management attributed the margin increase to sales ahead of plan, higher gross margin and leverage on supply chain expenses. Source

“Adjusted EPS grew 26% versus the first quarter of last year, which represented our 14th consecutive quarter of double digit EPS growth.”

Michael O’Sullivan, CEO

Inventory and store base

  • Merchandise inventories up 10%: Inventories were $1,444 million at quarter end, up from $1,315 million a year earlier. Source
  • Comparable store inventory up 11%: Management tied the inventory increase to 127 net new stores and comparable store inventory growth of 11%. Source
  • Reserve inventory share fell to 41%: Reserve inventory is mostly bought opportunistically for later store sends or next season. It was 41% of total inventory against 48% a year earlier. Source
  • Store count reached 1,242: The company operated 1,242 stores at quarter end in 47 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, up from 1,212 at the end of fiscal 2025. Source

Liquidity, debt and buybacks

  • Liquidity of $1,689 million: Liquidity was $1,689 million: $747 million of unrestricted cash and $942 million of ABL facility availability, with no ABL borrowings. Source
  • Total debt of $1,917 million: Total debt was $1,917 million: $1,716 million on the term loan, $186 million of convertible notes and nothing drawn on the ABL facility. Source
  • Repurchases of $81 million: The company bought back 257,906 shares for $81 million; $304 million remained on the current program at quarter end. Source
  • Operating cash flow of $61 million: Net cash from operations was $61 million against negative $29 million a year earlier. Cash paid for property and equipment was $289 million against $410 million. Source

“These numbers underscore our ability to convert incremental comp sales into very strong earnings growth.”

Michael O’Sullivan, CEO

Fiscal 2026 guidance

  • Sales and comparable sales guidance raised: Full-year total sales growth is now 9% to 11%, from 8% to 10%. Comparable sales growth is 2% to 4%, from 1% to 3%. Source
  • Adjusted EBIT margin and EPS raised: Adjusted EBIT margin is now guided up 10 to 30 basis points, from 0 to 20. Adjusted EPS is $11.45 to $11.80, from $10.95 to $11.45. Source
  • Net new stores raised to 115: Net new store openings are guided at approximately 115, up from 110. Source
  • Capex, D&A, interest and tax kept: Capital expenditures about $875 million, D&A about $465 million, net interest about $60 million, adjusted tax rate about 25% and about 64 million diluted shares are unchanged. Source

Second quarter guidance

  • Second quarter sales growth 10% to 12%: Second-quarter total sales are guided up 10% to 12%, with comparable store sales up 1% to 3% against the second quarter of fiscal 2025. Source
  • Second quarter adjusted EBIT margin up: Adjusted EBIT margin is guided up 30 to 60 basis points against the second quarter of fiscal 2025. The adjusted effective tax rate is about 23%. Source
  • Second quarter adjusted EPS $2.05 to $2.20: Adjusted EPS is guided at $2.05 to $2.20, compared with $1.72 in the second quarter of fiscal 2025. Source

Lease expenses and non-GAAP adjustments

  • Non-GAAP adjustments could be significant: Management said adjustments needed to reconcile forward-looking non-GAAP measures cannot be predicted with reasonable certainty and may include debt amendment, extinguishment and impairment items. Source
  • Second quarter lease expense about $3 million: Anticipated expenses tied to bankruptcy acquired leases in the second quarter are about $3 million, about $2 million net of tax. Source

Coming up, as management said on 28 May 2026

  • Buyback authorization remaining: The company has $304 million remaining on its current repurchase authorization; the release gives no timetable. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable store sales Source+6%
Total sales growth Source+14%
Merchandise inventories Source$1,444 million, up 10%
Comparable store inventory Source+11%
Store count Source1,242
Net new stores Source127
Gross margin rate Source44.1% vs 43.8%
Reserve inventory share Source41% vs 48%

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management said adjustments needed to reconcile forward-looking non-GAAP measures, including debt amendment, extinguishment and impairment items, could be significant. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said first-quarter sales and comparable sales were ahead of the 9% to 11% sales and 2% to 4% comparable sales guidance given in March. Source
  • Ahead: Prior guidance for first-quarter adjusted EBIT margin was a decrease of 60 to 100 basis points; management said it increased 20 basis points. Source
  • Ahead: Prior guidance for first-quarter adjusted EPS was $1.60 to $1.75. Source
  • Ahead: Fourth-quarter adjusted EPS was $4.99 against guidance of $4.50 to $4.70 given earlier.

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.