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Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 7 lowered, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Sales up 5.5%, comparable sales down 1.2%: Net sales were $1,179.5 million, up 5.5%. Comparable store sales decreased 1.2% in the quarter, a fall shown alongside the higher total. Source
  • Diluted EPS up 10.4% in quarter: Quarterly diluted EPS was $0.53 against $0.48, up 10.4%. Quarterly net income was $57.3 million, up 10.8%. Nine-month diluted EPS was $1.56, up 6.8%. Source
  • Comparable sales fell 1.2% in quarter: Comparable store sales decreased 1.2% in the quarter. Quarterly operating income rose 8.6% over the same period, while comparable store sales were negative. Source
  • Demand described as persistently soft: Management described demand in the hard surface flooring industry as persistently soft during the quarter. Source
  • Store operating costs rose as share: Selling and store operating expense was $363.8 million, up 7.3%, and 30.8% of net sales against 30.3%. Nine-month ratio was 31.2% against 30.3%. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell year on year: Nine-month net cash from operations was $257.8 million against $501.8 million. The cash flow statement shows trade payables down $73.8 million and inventories up $31.6 million. Source

“During the third quarter, we opened five new stores, bringing our fiscal 2025 total to 12 openings.”

Tom Taylor, Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceFiscal year ending December 25, 2025$4,660 million to $4,710 millionLowered from $4,660 million to $4,750 million
Comparable store sales SourceFiscal year ending December 25, 2025(2.0)% to (1.0)%Lowered from (2.0)% to flat
Diluted EPS SourceFiscal year ending December 25, 2025$1.87 to $1.97Raised from $1.75 to $2.00
Adjusted EBITDA SourceFiscal year ending December 25, 2025$530 million to $545 millionRaised from $520 million to $550 million
Depreciation and amortization expense SourceFiscal year ending December 25, 2025approximately $240 millionLowered from approximately $245 million
Interest expense, net SourceFiscal year ending December 25, 2025approximately $4 millionLowered from approximately $5 million
Tax rate SourceFiscal year ending December 25, 2025approximately 21%Lowered from 21% to 22%
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding SourceFiscal year ending December 25, 2025approximately 108.5 million sharesLowered from approximately 109 million shares
New warehouse stores SourceFiscal year 202520Kept
Capital expenditures SourceFiscal year ending December 25, 2025$280 million to $300 millionLowered from $280 million to $320 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Full-year net sales guidance top end cut from $4,750 million to $4,710 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year comparable store sales guidance top end moved from flat to (1.0)%. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year diluted EPS guidance now $1.87 to $1.97, from $1.75 to $2.00; midpoint higher. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance now $530 million to $545 million, from $520 million to $550 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year capital expenditure guidance now $280 million to $300 million, from $280 million to $320 million. Source
  • New: A new distribution center opened during the third quarter, alongside five new warehouse stores. Source

Quarter results and growth drivers

  • Sales up 5.5%, comparable sales down 1.2%: Net sales were $1,179.5 million, up 5.5%. Comparable store sales decreased 1.2% in the quarter, a fall shown alongside the higher total. Source
  • Diluted EPS up 10.4% in quarter: Quarterly diluted EPS was $0.53 against $0.48, up 10.4%. Quarterly net income was $57.3 million, up 10.8%. Nine-month diluted EPS was $1.56, up 6.8%. Source
  • Operating margin up 20 basis points: Quarterly operating income was $72.0 million, up 8.6%. Operating margin reached 6.1% of net sales, 20 basis points higher than a year earlier. Source
  • Nine-month sales and EPS grew: Nine-month net sales were $3,554.4 million, up 6.2%. Nine-month comparable store sales decreased 0.8%, and nine-month operating income was $218.1 million, up 10.8%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA up 4.4% in quarter: Quarterly adjusted EBITDA was $138.8 million, up 4.4%. Nine-month adjusted EBITDA was $418.7 million, up 6.6%. Source

Store openings and count

  • Five stores opened in quarter: During the third quarter the company opened five stores, bringing the fiscal 2025 total to 12 openings. Source
  • Twelve store openings year to date: Nine-month openings were 12 new warehouse stores, and one warehouse store was closed in the same period. Source
  • Store count up to 262: The company ended the quarter with 262 stores, against 241 in the same period last year. Source

Demand and comparable sales

  • Comparable sales fell 1.2% in quarter: Comparable store sales decreased 1.2% in the quarter. Quarterly operating income rose 8.6% over the same period, while comparable store sales were negative. Source
  • Demand described as persistently soft: Management described demand in the hard surface flooring industry as persistently soft during the quarter. Source
  • Prior quarter comparable sales rose: Second-quarter comparable store sales rose 0.4%, the first quarterly increase since the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. The third quarter reversed that result.
  • Full-year comparable range negative: The full-year comparable store sales estimate is between (2.0)% and (1.0)%, all negative. Source

Costs and operating expenses

  • Gross margin edged lower: Gross margin was 43.4% of net sales against 43.5% a year earlier. Cost of sales was 56.6% of net sales, and gross profit rose 5.4% to $512.0 million. Source
  • Store operating costs rose as share: Selling and store operating expense was $363.8 million, up 7.3%, and 30.8% of net sales against 30.3%. Nine-month ratio was 31.2% against 30.3%. Source
  • G&A fell as share of sales: General and administrative expense was $67.6 million, down 0.2%, and 5.7% of net sales against 6.1%. Source
  • Pre-opening costs fell 32%: Pre-opening expense was $8.6 million against $12.7 million, a 32.2% decline, as a share of sales 0.8% against 1.2%. Source

Margins and tax

  • Nine-month gross margin rose: Nine-month gross margin was 43.7% of net sales against 43.2%, and gross profit rose 7.3%. Source
  • Net margin rose to 4.9%: Quarterly net income was 4.9% of net sales against 4.6% a year earlier. Source
  • Tax expense slightly lower: Quarterly income tax expense was $14.2 million, down 1.9%, and quarterly interest expense, net, was $0.6 million against $0.2 million. Source

Products, channels and footprint

  • Broad in-stock flooring assortment: The company sells laminate, vinyl, tile, wood and natural stone flooring, installation materials and decorative accessories, plus adjacent categories, at everyday low prices. Source
  • Store footprint across 38 states: The company operated 262 warehouse-format stores and five design studios across 38 states at quarter end. Source
  • Online and design sales run through stores: E-commerce, regional account manager and design studio sales are fulfilled by stores and count toward comparable store sales only when the fulfilling store qualifies. Source
  • Spartan sales excluded from comps: Sales through the Spartan Surfaces subsidiary do not involve company stores and are excluded from the comparable store sales calculation. Source

Cash, capital and inventory

  • Operating cash flow fell year on year: Nine-month net cash from operations was $257.8 million against $501.8 million. The cash flow statement shows trade payables down $73.8 million and inventories up $31.6 million. Source
  • Capital spending lower year to date: Nine-month purchases of fixed assets were $238.8 million against $349.4 million a year earlier. Source
  • Inventory up from year-end: Inventories were $1,164.2 million at September 25, 2025, against $1,132.6 million at December 26, 2024, and $1,211.4 million at June 26, 2025. Source
  • Term loan and cash balances: Cash was $204.5 million against $187.7 million at year-end. Current term loan portion was $2.1 million and the long-term term loan was $194.2 million; the cash flow statement shows no revolver borrowings in the nine months. Source
  • Diluted share count edged up: Quarterly diluted weighted average shares were 108.5 million against 108.3 million a year earlier. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Twenty openings planned for fiscal 2025: The company remains on track for 20 new stores in fiscal 2025. Twelve openings are complete to date, so eight more are needed. Source
  • Agile growth strategy credited for Q2: Management attributed second-quarter earnings to the disciplined execution of agile growth strategies and the prudent management of expenses and profitability.
  • Distribution center added in quarter: A new distribution center opened in the quarter, and the company now operates five distribution centers alongside 262 warehouse stores and five design studios. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 October 2025

  • Eight openings left for fiscal 2025: The company plans 20 new stores in fiscal 2025. With 12 opened to date, eight further openings remain in the fourth quarter. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable store sales Sourcedecreased 1.2% (quarter); decreased 0.8% (39 weeks)
Gross margin Source43.4% of net sales (quarter); 43.5% prior year
Store count Source262 at quarter end, from 241 a year earlier
Store openings Source5 in quarter; 12 year to date; 1 closed year to date
Inventory Source$1,164.2 million at September 25, 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited persistently soft demand in the hard surface flooring industry as a condition for the quarter. Source
  • Demand: The full-year comparable store sales estimate is negative at both ends of the range, between (2.0)% and (1.0)%. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said quarterly diluted EPS exceeded the high end of its guidance. Source
  • Met: Management said second-quarter diluted EPS reached the high end of its expectations.
  • On track: Management said it remains on track to open 20 new stores in fiscal 2025. 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.