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e.l.f. Beauty, Inc.: Q2 FY2027 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2027, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 raised, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 51% in quarter: The company reported net sales of $520.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2026, up 51%, its 31st consecutive quarter of net sales growth. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 86%: Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $123.4 million, or 24% of net sales, up 86% year over year; the six-month figure was $291.6 million, or 29% of net sales. Source
  • SG&A up on marketing and people: SG&A rose $69.0 million to $300.1 million in the quarter, which management attributed to marketing, merchandising and distribution, compensation and benefits, and depreciation and amortization. Source
  • Quarter gross margin rose to 71%: Gross margin rose about 160 basis points to 71%, with about 30 basis points from incremental IEEPA tariff refunds in cost of sales; the rest came mainly from lower tariffs and mix. Source
  • GAAP and adjusted earnings per share: GAAP net income was $30.0 million, or $0.50 diluted per share; adjusted net income was $72.7 million, or $1.21 adjusted diluted per share, for the quarter. Source
  • Rhode earnout adjustment $17.7 million: The rhode contingent consideration fair value increase of $17.7 million for the quarter was driven by rhode revenue exceeding earnout thresholds; the six-month figure was $33.8 million. Source
  • Cash rose; total debt eased: At September 30, 2026, the company had $350.8 million of cash and cash equivalents and $826.7 million of total debt. Source
  • Full-year net sales guidance raised: Management raised full-year net sales guidance, and the adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted EPS figures; the tax rate and share count were kept. Source

“I am proud of the e.l.f. Beauty team for delivering our 31st consecutive quarter of net sales growth, with net sales up 51% driven by strength across our portfolio.”

e.l.f. Beauty Chairman and CEO Tarang Amin

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales growth SourceFiscal 202722-24%Raised from 18-20%
Net sales SourceFiscal 2027$2,003-2,029 millionRaised from $1,938-1,968 million
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFiscal 2027$421-427 millionRaised from $401-407 million
Adjusted effective tax rate SourceFiscal 202725-26%Kept
Adjusted net income SourceFiscal 2027$231-233 millionRaised from $212-215 million
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFiscal 2027$3.82-3.86Raised from $3.50-3.55
Weighted average diluted shares SourceFiscal 202760.5 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year net sales growth guidance raised, with management citing current momentum. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted EPS guidance raised in the updated table. Source
  • Guidance kept: Adjusted effective tax rate and weighted average diluted share count guidance unchanged. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose 51% in quarter: The company reported net sales of $520.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2026, up 51%, its 31st consecutive quarter of net sales growth. Source
  • Six-month net sales up 43%: For the six months ended September 30, 2026, net sales reached $1,000.2 million, up 43%, with both retailer and e-commerce channels growing in the US and internationally. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 86%: Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $123.4 million, or 24% of net sales, up 86% year over year; the six-month figure was $291.6 million, or 29% of net sales. Source

Channels and brand portfolio

  • Retailer and e-commerce both grew: Management attributed sales growth to both the retailer and e-commerce channels, in the US and internationally, for the quarter and the six months. Source
  • No segment or regional split: The release gives company-level net sales only; no separate segment, regional or channel sales figures are reported for the quarter. Source
  • Brands listed without separate sales: The company lists e.l.f. Cosmetics, e.l.f. SKIN, e.l.f. Hair, rhode, Naturium and Well People as its brands; no brand-level sales figures are given. Source

“The consistency of our results is powered by our passionate team of owners, deep engagement with our community, and democratizing access to the best of beauty.”

e.l.f. Beauty Chairman and CEO Tarang Amin

SG&A and operating costs

  • SG&A up on marketing and people: SG&A rose $69.0 million to $300.1 million in the quarter, which management attributed to marketing, merchandising and distribution, compensation and benefits, and depreciation and amortization. Source
  • Adjusted SG&A excludes stock compensation: Adjusted SG&A, which excludes stock-based compensation and other non-recurring items, rose $81.9 million to $275.1 million for the quarter. Source
  • Six-month SG&A growth larger: For the six months, SG&A rose $153.5 million to $580.4 million, and adjusted SG&A rose $165.2 million to $535.8 million. Source

Gross margin and tariff refunds

  • Quarter gross margin rose to 71%: Gross margin rose about 160 basis points to 71%, with about 30 basis points from incremental IEEPA tariff refunds in cost of sales; the rest came mainly from lower tariffs and mix. Source
  • Six-month margin up 760 basis points: For the six months, gross margin rose about 760 basis points to 77%, including about 520 basis points from IEEPA tariff refunds. Source
  • Price investments offset part of gain: Management said price investments partly offset the quarter's gross margin gains from lower year-over-year tariffs and favorable mix. Source
  • Compared with first-quarter margin: The first-quarter release reported gross margin of 83%, including about 1,050 basis points from IEEPA tariff refunds, against 71% in the second quarter.

Earnings and non-cash items

  • GAAP and adjusted earnings per share: GAAP net income was $30.0 million, or $0.50 diluted per share; adjusted net income was $72.7 million, or $1.21 adjusted diluted per share, for the quarter. Source
  • Rhode earnout adjustment $17.7 million: The rhode contingent consideration fair value increase of $17.7 million for the quarter was driven by rhode revenue exceeding earnout thresholds; the six-month figure was $33.8 million. Source
  • Other income swung to positive: Other income, net was $0.6 million for the quarter, against $1.9 million of expense a year earlier, on higher foreign currency gains. Source

Cash, debt and share repurchases

  • Cash rose; total debt eased: At September 30, 2026, the company had $350.8 million of cash and cash equivalents and $826.7 million of total debt. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose for six months: Net cash from operating activities was $126.3 million for the six months ended September 30, 2026, against $50.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Six-month buybacks total $50.0 million: Common stock repurchases for the six months were $50.0 million, the same amount shown in the first-quarter cash flow statement. Source

Guidance and leadership

  • Full-year net sales guidance raised: Management raised full-year net sales guidance, and the adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted EPS figures; the tax rate and share count were kept. Source
  • Updated guidance table released: The company issued an updated fiscal 2027 table showing previous and updated figures for net sales, adjusted EBITDA, tax rate, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted EPS and diluted shares. Source
  • Earlier guidance raise cited momentum: The prior quarter's release tied its earlier guidance raise to the same momentum.

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.