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Ethan Allen Interiors Inc.: Q1 FY2027 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2027, from the documents filed with the SEC on 9 November 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales fell 11.8% to $129.6 million: Consolidated net sales were $129.6 million, against $147.0 million a year earlier, a decline of 11.8%. Source
  • Diluted EPS $0.07 and adjusted $0.10: Diluted EPS was $0.07 and adjusted diluted EPS $0.10, against $0.41 and $0.43 in the first quarter of fiscal 2026. Source
  • Operating margin fell to 1.3%: Operating margin was 1.3% GAAP and 2.2% adjusted, against 7.2% adjusted a year earlier; the company cites higher tariffs and lower sales. Source
  • Written orders fell 1.2% retail, 1.3% wholesale: Retail and wholesale written orders declined 1.2% and 1.3% year over year, which management ties to design center traffic, housing, global unrest and midterm election uncertainty. Source
  • Cash and investments fell to $92.2 million: Cash, cash equivalents and investments fell $95.3 million from $187.5 million at June 30, reflecting dividend payments and capital expenditures. Source
  • Dividends of $92.2 million paid: The company paid $92.2 million in cash dividends in the quarter, including special dividends of $3.25 per share and a regular quarterly dividend of $0.39 per share. Source
  • Operating activities used $0.8 million: Operating activities used $0.8 million, compared with $16.8 million provided in the prior year period. Source

“Despite these challenges, Retail written orders in the first quarter rose 13.2% sequentially when compared with the Company’s fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 and this momentum carried into the month of October, which saw a 0.3% increase.”

Ethan Allen Interiors Inc., press release

What changed from last quarter

  • New: A special $3.00 per share dividend was declared on August 19, 2026, with a September 3 record date and September 17 payment date. Source
  • New: Aventura and Victoria Gardens Company-operated design centers opened this quarter; both were listed as fiscal 2027 openings in the prior release. Source

Results and segment sales

  • Net sales fell 11.8% to $129.6 million: Consolidated net sales were $129.6 million, against $147.0 million a year earlier, a decline of 11.8%. Source
  • Diluted EPS $0.07 and adjusted $0.10: Diluted EPS was $0.07 and adjusted diluted EPS $0.10, against $0.41 and $0.43 in the first quarter of fiscal 2026. Source
  • SG&A fell 5.8% on lower costs: SG&A expenses decreased 5.8% year over year, which management attributes to lower variable expenses, cost controls, reduced headcount and lower marketing costs. Source
  • Retail net sales were $114.4 million: Retail segment net sales were $114.4 million, against $128.6 million in the prior year period. Source
  • Wholesale sales fell to $79.0 million: Wholesale segment net sales were $79.0 million, against $87.0 million in the prior year period. Source

Products, design centers and integration

  • 172 North American design centers: Design centers ended the quarter at 172 in North America: 142 Company-operated and 30 independently owned and operated. Source
  • Vertically integrated manufacturing model: The company describes itself as vertically integrated and says it manufactures about 75% of its custom-crafted furniture in its North American facilities. Source
  • New products and price increases lifted inventory: Net inventory rose 3.6% since June 30 to $153.8 million, which management attributes to new product introductions and price increases. Source

“Lower sales and tariffs pressured margins, partly offset by operating efficiencies.”

Ethan Allen Interiors Inc., press release

Costs, margins and tariffs

  • Operating margin fell to 1.3%: Operating margin was 1.3% GAAP and 2.2% adjusted, against 7.2% adjusted a year earlier; the company cites higher tariffs and lower sales. Source
  • Gross margin fell to 59.6%: Gross margin was 59.6%, against 61.4%; management cited incremental tariffs, higher designer floor sample sales and lower manufacturing production, partly offset by sales mix, reduced headcount and higher average ticket price. Source
  • Section 301 tariffs replaced Section 122: New Section 301 tariffs of 10% to 12.5% took effect July 24, 2026, replacing the 10% global tariffs imposed under Section 122. Source
  • Marketing spend rose to 3.6% of sales: Marketing spend was $4.7 million, or 3.6% of consolidated net sales, against 3.5% a year earlier. Source

Demand and order book

  • Written orders fell 1.2% retail, 1.3% wholesale: Retail and wholesale written orders declined 1.2% and 1.3% year over year, which management ties to design center traffic, housing, global unrest and midterm election uncertainty. Source
  • Customer deposits rose to $74.3 million: Customer deposits on undelivered written orders rose from $62.7 million at June 30, as incoming Retail written orders improved and outpaced delivered sales. Source
  • Wholesale backlog up 2.7% year over year: Wholesale backlog reached $55.0 million, up 2.7% on the prior year; the prior release reported $44.3 million at June 30, 2026. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Cash and investments fell to $92.2 million: Cash, cash equivalents and investments fell $95.3 million from $187.5 million at June 30, reflecting dividend payments and capital expenditures. Source
  • Dividends of $92.2 million paid: The company paid $92.2 million in cash dividends in the quarter, including special dividends of $3.25 per share and a regular quarterly dividend of $0.39 per share. Source
  • Operating activities used $0.8 million: Operating activities used $0.8 million, compared with $16.8 million provided in the prior year period. Source
  • Capital spending rose to $3.4 million: Capital expenditures were $3.4 million against $2.4 million a year earlier, supporting new design centers, manufacturing equipment and technology. Source
  • No debt; $121.5 million credit available: No debt was outstanding at September 30, 2026, and credit availability was $121.5 million. Source

People, convention and governance

  • Associates down 6.3% to 2,988: The company ended the quarter with 2,988 associates, 6.3% fewer than a year earlier. Source
  • Five directors elected at annual meeting: On November 4, 2026, stockholders elected Douglas G. Bergeron, Maria Eugenia Casar, Kristine E. Miller, Stephen Oblak and Tara I. Stacom to serve until the 2027 annual meeting. Source
  • Annual convention reviewed company initiatives: The annual convention was held at headquarters and livestreamed worldwide; the program reviewed initiatives in manufacturing, logistics, technology, marketing and retail. Source

Coming up, as management said on 9 November 2026

  • Three design centers planned for fiscal 2027: Planned fiscal 2027 design center locations are Burlington (VT), Huntersville (NC) and Naples (FL); Brooklyn no longer appears in the list. Source
  • Marketing expenses to rise in fiscal 2027: Management anticipates higher marketing expenses for the remainder of fiscal 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Retail design centers in North America Source172
Company-operated design centers Source142
Independently owned and operated design centers Source30
Associates Source2,988
Retail written orders change Source-1.2% year over year
Wholesale written orders change Source-1.3% year over year
Wholesale backlog Source$55.0 million
Customer deposits Source$74.3 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited design center traffic, a soft housing market, global unrest and midterm election uncertainty as pressure on written orders. Source
  • Regulatory: New Section 301 tariffs of 10% to 12.5% took effect July 24, 2026, and management cites tariffs as a pressure on margins. Source
  • Operational: Operating margin was affected by higher tariffs and fixed costs spread over lower consolidated net sales. Source
  • Financial: Operating cash flow was negative, with management citing lower net income, restructuring payments and working capital changes, partly offset by insurance proceeds. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Aventura and Victoria Gardens opened this quarter; the current list adds Huntersville and no longer includes Brooklyn.

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.