greeksoup/ stock research

Burlington Stores, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 27 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 raised, 2 lowered, 6 new, 6 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales rose 11% on 2% comps: Total sales were $2,998 million, up 11%. Comparable store sales rose 2% on top of 5% last year, and management cited a two-year stack of 7%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 38% excluding refunds: Adjusted EPS, excluding the tariff refund benefit and bankruptcy-acquired lease expenses, was $2.37 against $1.72, an increase of 38%. Source
  • Reconciliation table shows different EPS: The reconciliation table lists Adjusted EPS of $2.96 and has no line for the tariff refund, while the text gives $2.37 excluding that refund. Source
  • Gross margin rose 250 basis points: Gross margin was 46.2% of net sales against 43.7%. Excluding the $55 million refund benefit, merchandise margin rose 70 basis points and freight expense rose 10 basis points. Source
  • $55 million refunds received in Q2: The company received $55 million of tariff refunds in the second quarter and recognized them in that quarter. The Q2 adjusted figures exclude their $41 million after-tax benefit. Source
  • Inventory rose 9%: Merchandise inventories were $1,541 million, up 9%, driven by 149 net new stores and a comparable store inventory increase of 11%. Source
  • Full-year Adjusted EPS guidance raised: Full-year Adjusted EPS guidance is $11.77 to $11.97, up from $11.45 to $11.80, against $10.17 in Fiscal 2025. Source
  • Third-quarter guidance issued: For Q3, total sales are expected up 9% to 11%, comparable sales up 1% to 3%, Adjusted EBIT margin down 80 to 60 basis points, and Adjusted EPS $1.60 to $1.70 against $1.80. Source

“We are pleased with our strong financial performance in the second quarter, Total sales grew 11% on top of a strong 10% increase last year.”

Michael O’Sullivan, CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Total sales growth SourceFiscal 2026 (52 weeks ending January 30, 2027)10% to 11%Raised from 9% to 11%
Comparable store sales growth SourceFiscal 20263% to 4%Raised from 2% to 4%
Adjusted EBIT margin change SourceFiscal 2026 versus Fiscal 202520 to 40 basis pointsRaised from 10 to 30 basis points
Underlying EBIT margin change excluding refund reinvestment SourceFiscal 2026 (fall assumptions)10 to 30 basis pointsKept
Underlying EPS growth excluding refund reinvestment SourceFiscal 2026 (fall assumptions)7% to 10%Kept
Capital expenditures, net of landlord allowances SourceFiscal 2026approximately $875 millionKept
Net new stores SourceFiscal 2026approximately 115Kept
Depreciation and amortization SourceFiscal 2026approximately $460 millionLowered from approximately $465 million
Net interest expense SourceFiscal 2026approximately $55 millionLowered from approximately $60 million
Adjusted effective tax rate SourceFiscal 2026approximately 25%Kept
Adjusted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$11.77 to $11.97Raised from $11.45 to $11.80
Adjusted EPS growth SourceFiscal 202616% to 18%Raised from 13% to 16%
Fully diluted share count SourceFiscal 2026approximately 64 million sharesKept
Tariff refund reinvestment SourceQ3 and Q4 of Fiscal 2026approximately 40% in Q3 and approximately 60% in Q4 of the $55 million refundsNew
Total sales growth SourceThird quarter of Fiscal 2026 (13 weeks ending October 31, 2026)9% to 11%New
Comparable store sales growth SourceThird quarter of Fiscal 20261% to 3%New
Adjusted EBIT margin change SourceThird quarter of Fiscal 2026 versus third quarter of Fiscal 2025decrease 80 to 60 basis pointsNew
Adjusted effective tax rate SourceThird quarter of Fiscal 2026approximately 26%New
Adjusted EPS SourceThird quarter of Fiscal 2026$1.60 to $1.70New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year Adjusted EPS guidance raised to $11.77 to $11.97 from $11.45 to $11.80. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year sales and comparable store sales ranges moved up, and EPS growth now 16% to 18% from 13% to 16%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year Adjusted EBIT margin change raised to 20 to 40 basis points from 10 to 30 basis points. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Net interest expense estimate lowered to about $55 million from about $60 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Depreciation and amortization estimate lowered to about $460 million from about $465 million. Source
  • New guidance: Third-quarter Fiscal 2026 guidance given for sales, comparable store sales, EBIT margin, tax rate and Adjusted EPS. Source
  • Guidance kept: Capex, net new stores, tax rate and share count stated as unchanged; underlying fall assumptions unchanged versus prior guidance. Source
  • New: Tariff refunds of $55 million received in the second quarter and recognized in that quarter. Source
  • New: Guidance includes reinvestment of tariff refunds, about 40% in Q3 and 60% in Q4. Source
  • New: Corporate headquarters relocation is being evaluated and is excluded from capex guidance. Source

Second-quarter results and growth

  • Sales rose 11% on 2% comps: Total sales were $2,998 million, up 11%. Comparable store sales rose 2% on top of 5% last year, and management cited a two-year stack of 7%. Source
  • Net income and EPS both rose: Net income was $184 million, or $2.88 diluted EPS, against $94 million, or $1.47, a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 38% excluding refunds: Adjusted EPS, excluding the tariff refund benefit and bankruptcy-acquired lease expenses, was $2.37 against $1.72, an increase of 38%. Source
  • Reconciliation table shows different EPS: The reconciliation table lists Adjusted EPS of $2.96 and has no line for the tariff refund, while the text gives $2.37 excluding that refund. Source
  • First-half net income rose 53%: For the first six months, total sales rose 12% and net income rose 53% to $299 million, or $4.67 per share, against $3.05. Source

Margins, costs and tax

  • Gross margin rose 250 basis points: Gross margin was 46.2% of net sales against 43.7%. Excluding the $55 million refund benefit, merchandise margin rose 70 basis points and freight expense rose 10 basis points. Source
  • Product sourcing costs rose: Product sourcing costs within SG&A were $226 million, against $209 million a year earlier. The company says these costs cover supply chain processing and buying. Source
  • Adjusted SG&A ratio fell: Reported SG&A was 34.0% of net sales against 35.2%. Adjusted SG&A, excluding bankruptcy-acquired lease expenses, was 26.2% against 26.7%. Source
  • Adjusted EBIT margin up 100 basis points: Adjusted EBIT was $210 million against $162 million, an increase of 100 basis points as a percentage of sales. Adjusted EBITDA was $324 million against $257 million. Source
  • Tax rate lower than last year: The GAAP effective tax rate was 23.9% against 26.0%. The Adjusted Effective Tax Rate was 23.6% against 26.0%. Source

“Rather than taking a one-time boost to earnings, we intend to fully invest these refunds back into the business in the back-half of the year, to deliver even sharper values to our shoppers.”

Michael O’Sullivan, CEO

Tariff refunds and reinvestment

  • $55 million refunds received in Q2: The company received $55 million of tariff refunds in the second quarter and recognized them in that quarter. The Q2 adjusted figures exclude their $41 million after-tax benefit. Source
  • Refunds to fund sharper values: Management plans to use the refunds to make existing deals better for shoppers, rather than recording a one-time earnings boost. Source
  • Refunds neutral to full-year earnings: Reinvestment of about 40% in Q3 and 60% in Q4 means the refunds have a neutral impact on full-year fiscal 2026 earnings guidance. Source

Stores, demand and inventory

  • Store base reached 1,287: The company operated 1,287 stores at quarter end in 47 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, after adding 149 net new stores over the year. Source
  • Inventory rose 9%: Merchandise inventories were $1,541 million, up 9%, driven by 149 net new stores and a comparable store inventory increase of 11%. Source
  • Reserve inventory share fell: Reserve inventory was 43% of total inventory, against 50% a year earlier. Management describes it as opportunistic buys sent to stores in later months or next season. Source

“Given our intent to invest the refunds in sharper values, we expect the direct impact of tariff refunds to be neutral to full year earnings.”

Michael O’Sullivan, CEO

Full-year and third-quarter guidance

  • Full-year Adjusted EPS guidance raised: Full-year Adjusted EPS guidance is $11.77 to $11.97, up from $11.45 to $11.80, against $10.17 in Fiscal 2025. Source
  • Full-year sales and comp ranges updated: Full-year total sales growth is now 10% to 11%, from 9% to 11%. Comparable store sales growth is 3% to 4%, from 2% to 4%. Source
  • Full-year margin range raised: Adjusted EBIT margin now expected to rise 20 to 40 basis points, from 10 to 30. Underlying margin improvement excluding refund reinvestment is unchanged at 10 to 30 basis points. Source
  • Third-quarter guidance issued: For Q3, total sales are expected up 9% to 11%, comparable sales up 1% to 3%, Adjusted EBIT margin down 80 to 60 basis points, and Adjusted EPS $1.60 to $1.70 against $1.80. Source
  • Interest and D&A estimates lowered: Net interest expense is now about $55 million, from about $60 million. Depreciation and amortization is about $460 million, from about $465 million. Source
  • Capex and store plans held: Capex net of landlord allowances stays at about $875 million, with about 115 net new stores, a 25% adjusted tax rate and about 64 million diluted shares. Source

Cash, debt and share repurchases

  • Liquidity of $1,646 million: Liquidity was $1,646 million, made up of $704 million unrestricted cash and $942 million available on the ABL facility, with no ABL borrowings. Source
  • Total debt of $1,914 million: Total debt was $1,914 million, including $1,712 million on the Term Loan facility and $186 million of Convertible Notes. Source
  • Repurchases of $87 million in quarter: The company repurchased 270,279 shares for $87 million in the quarter, leaving $218 million remaining under the authorization at quarter end. Source
  • Operating cash flow higher for six months: Net cash provided by operating activities was $334,624 thousand for the six months, against $150,532 thousand a year earlier. Cash paid for property and equipment was $532,384 thousand. Source

Headquarters and reporting items

  • Headquarters relocation under evaluation: The company is evaluating relocating its corporate headquarters. Capex guidance excludes any relocation costs, and their timing and amount are uncertain. Source
  • No GAAP reconciliation for guidance: The company did not reconcile forward-looking non-GAAP measures to GAAP, citing estimates that are inherently difficult to predict. Some adjustments could be significant. Source
  • Diluted share count steady: Diluted weighted average shares were 63.9 million in the quarter, the same as in the second quarter of Fiscal 2025. Source

Coming up, as management said on 27 August 2026

  • Refund reinvestment timing set: Reinvestment of tariff refunds is planned as about 40% in the third quarter and about 60% in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Third quarter ends October 31: The third-quarter period ends October 31, 2026, the period for which the company gave the guidance in this release. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 ends January 30, 2027: The Fiscal 2026 period, for which full-year guidance was updated, runs through January 30, 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable store sales Source+2%, on top of +5% last year
Comparable store inventory Source+11% versus Q2 Fiscal 2025
Merchandise inventories Source$1,541 million, from $1,415 million
Reserve inventory share Source43% of total inventory, from 50%
Store openings Source149 net new stores versus Q2 Fiscal 2025
Store count Source1,287 stores at quarter end
Gross margin rate Source46.2%, from 43.7%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said rising cost of living has made life difficult for many customers over the last few years. Source
  • Financial: Adjustments to the GAAP reconciliation may include debt amendment costs, debt extinguishment losses, impairments and tax effects, some of which could be significant. Source
  • Financial: The timing and amount of corporate headquarters relocation expenditures are still uncertain. Source
  • Operational: Anticipated expenses tied to bankruptcy-acquired leases are excluded from adjusted results, at $16 million for Fiscal 2026. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management stated its intent to reinvest the refunds in the back half of the year rather than take a one-time earnings boost. Source
  • Not stated: Underlying EBIT margin and earnings growth assumptions, excluding refund reinvestment, are described as unchanged from prior guidance. 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.