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National Vision Holdings, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 12 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 lowered, 4 narrowed, 1 new, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net revenue rose 4.8% to $510.5 million: Net revenue increased on Adjusted Comparable Store Sales Growth and new stores, partly offset by closed stores and a 0.8% negative timing effect from unearned revenue. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin up 320 basis points: Adjusted Operating Income rose 87.4% to $37.1 million. Adjusted Operating Margin reached 7.3%, up from 4.1%. Excluding $4.7 million of one-time IEEPA tariff refunds, the margin was 6.4%. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS more than doubled: Net income was $19.2 million against $3.4 million, and diluted EPS was $0.24 against $0.04. Adjusted Diluted EPS was $0.30 against $0.13. Source
  • SG&A fell 340 basis points: SG&A decreased 2.1% to $247.1 million, or 48.4% of net revenue, driven by store labor efficiency, lower variable incentive compensation and cost optimization. Source
  • Comparable sales range cut to 2-3%: Adjusted comparable store sales growth is now 2.0% to 3.0%, down from 3.0% to 5.0%. New store count narrowed to about 30 from 30-35. Source
  • Operating income range $119-131 million: Adjusted Operating Income range is $119 million to $131 million, with the top end lowered from $139 million. Source
  • Store openings accelerate ahead of plan: Year to date the company opened 25 America's Best stores and closed eight America's Best stores, one Military store and one Eyeglass World store. Source

“Our strategy continues to deliver profitable growth as we execute the commercial transformation of the business,”

Alex Wilkes, National Vision’s CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
New stores SourceFiscal 2026 (52 weeks ending January 2, 2027)~30Narrowed, top end cut from 30-35
Adjusted comparable store sales growth SourceFiscal 20262.0% - 3.0%Lowered from 3.0% - 5.0%
Net revenue SourceFiscal 2026$2.019 billion - $2.038 billionLowered from $2.037 billion - $2.076 billion
Adjusted Operating Income SourceFiscal 2026$119 million - $131 millionNarrowed, top end cut from $119 million - $139 million
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$0.95 - $1.03Narrowed from $0.94 - $1.09
Capital expenditures SourceFiscal 2026$72 million - $74 millionNarrowed, top end cut from $72 million - $76 million
Depreciation and amortization SourceFiscal 2026$92 million - $93 millionKept
Interest expense SourceFiscal 2026$11 million - $13 millionKept
Tax rate SourceFiscal 2026~30%Kept
Share count assumption SourceFiscal 2026approximately 81 millionKept
Share repurchases SourceThrough December 28, 2030up to $100 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Fiscal 2026 guidance was updated from the August 12, 2026 version. Comparable sales, net revenue, the top end of operating income and EPS, and capital expenditure ranges were reduced. Source
  • New: A $100 million share repurchase authorization replaces the prior authorization, which had $10.0 million of remaining capacity when it was replaced. Source
  • New: Management is accelerating new store openings to one year ahead of plan while continuing investment in long-term capabilities. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net revenue rose 4.8% to $510.5 million: Net revenue increased on Adjusted Comparable Store Sales Growth and new stores, partly offset by closed stores and a 0.8% negative timing effect from unearned revenue. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin up 320 basis points: Adjusted Operating Income rose 87.4% to $37.1 million. Adjusted Operating Margin reached 7.3%, up from 4.1%. Excluding $4.7 million of one-time IEEPA tariff refunds, the margin was 6.4%. Source
  • Adjusted diluted EPS more than doubled: Net income was $19.2 million against $3.4 million, and diluted EPS was $0.24 against $0.04. Adjusted Diluted EPS was $0.30 against $0.13. Source
  • Year-to-date operating income up 46%: Nine-month Adjusted Operating Income rose 46.3% to $124.2 million, and nine-month net revenue rose 4.7% to $1,553.2 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 11.7%: Adjusted EBITDA was $59.6 million, an 11.7% margin against 8.6% a year earlier. The nine-month Adjusted EBITDA margin was 12.4% against 10.2%. Source

Comparable sales and store network

  • Comparable store sales grew 3.6%: Comparable store sales rose 3.6% in the quarter, and Adjusted Comparable Store Sales Growth was 2.8%, after an adjustment for unearned and deferred revenue. Source
  • Brand comparable sales varied widely: Quarter comparable store sales were 3.4% for America's Best, (2.5)% for Eyeglass World, 1.9% for Military and 3.2% for Fred Meyer. Source
  • Managed care traffic and ticket grew: Management said positive traffic and ticket in the managed care cohort meaningfully contributed to profitability in the quarter. Source
  • Higher-value mix lifted average ticket: Average ticket rose, which management said primarily reflects a favorable mix shift toward higher-value products. Source
  • Eight America's Best stores opened: The company opened eight America's Best stores and closed three America's Best stores and one Eyeglass World store, ending at 1,285 stores, with store count up 3.5%. Source
  • Military channel added 20 stores: Year to date the company added 20 Military stores, expanding its presence in the military channel. Source

“We are updating our outlook to reflect the current consumer environment, and through continued disciplined execution, we expect to deliver full year profitability in line with our long-term algorithm.”

Alex Wilkes, National Vision’s CEO

Costs, SG&A and margins

  • Costs applicable to revenue fell to 41.1%: Costs fell 60 basis points as a share of revenue, reflecting the $4.7 million tariff refund and leverage of optometrist-related costs on higher exam revenue. Source
  • Costs rose 40 basis points before refund: Excluding the refund, costs applicable to revenue rose 40 basis points as a share of revenue, reflecting higher-value product mix that generates higher gross profit dollars. Source
  • SG&A fell 340 basis points: SG&A decreased 2.1% to $247.1 million, or 48.4% of net revenue, driven by store labor efficiency, lower variable incentive compensation and cost optimization. Source
  • Adjusted SG&A down 250 basis points: Adjusted SG&A was $241.2 million, flat-to-lower in dollars, and represented 47.2% of net revenue. Source
  • Lower product margin rate on mix: Product margin rate was lower, which management attributed to a strategic mix shift toward higher-value product offerings. Source

Fiscal 2026 guidance update

  • Comparable sales range cut to 2-3%: Adjusted comparable store sales growth is now 2.0% to 3.0%, down from 3.0% to 5.0%. New store count narrowed to about 30 from 30-35. Source
  • Net revenue range lowered: Net revenue range is $2.019 billion to $2.038 billion, against $2.037 billion to $2.076 billion previously. Source
  • Operating income range $119-131 million: Adjusted Operating Income range is $119 million to $131 million, with the top end lowered from $139 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS range narrowed: Adjusted diluted EPS range is $0.95 to $1.03, against $0.94 to $1.09 previously, on about 81 million shares. Source
  • Capital expenditures range narrowed: Capital expenditures range is $72 million to $74 million, with the top end reduced from $76 million. Source
  • Depreciation, interest and tax unchanged: Depreciation and amortization of $92 million to $93 million, interest of $11 million to $13 million and a tax rate of about 30% were kept. Source

“These lower value transactions represent only a high single digit share of sales and an even smaller share of gross profit - a distinction that matters as we focus on growth that translates into stronger earnings.”

Alex Wilkes, National Vision’s CEO

Cash, debt and share repurchases

  • Cash balance $60.0 million: Cash was $60.0 million at quarter end. There were no borrowings under the $300.0 million revolving credit facility, excluding $6.7 million of letters of credit. Source
  • Total debt $233.6 million: Total debt consisted of first lien term loans and finance lease obligations, net of unamortized discounts. Source
  • Quarter buybacks of $20.0 million: The company repurchased about 1.1 million shares for $20.0 million in the quarter, with $10.0 million of capacity remaining before the new authorization. Source
  • Nine-month operating cash flow $134.9 million: Nine-month net cash from operating activities was $134.9 million against $133.1 million, with $55.5 million of property and equipment purchases. Source

Strategy and new store plans

  • Commercial transformation continues: Management said the strategy continues to deliver profitable growth as the company executes its commercial transformation. Source
  • Actions aimed at a durable business: Management said current actions are intended to build a more durable business that can gain share and grow profitably. Source
  • Store openings accelerate ahead of plan: Year to date the company opened 25 America's Best stores and closed eight America's Best stores, one Military store and one Eyeglass World store. Source

Coming up, as management said on 12 November 2026

  • Repurchase program has no set end: The company has no obligation to repurchase shares under the new authorization, which may be suspended or discontinued at any time. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Stores at quarter end Source1,285
America's Best stores opened in quarter Source8
Military stores added year to date Source20

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Lower self-pay customer traffic partly offset managed care traffic and ticket gains in the quarter. Source
  • Demand: Management cited industry headwinds concentrated in lower-value transactions, offset by growth in higher-value transactions. Source
  • Financial: Net change in unearned revenue margin reduced net income by $2.2 million and Adjusted Operating Income by $2.9 million in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said new store growth is expected to accelerate in 2027, one year ahead of the prior plan. 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.