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GAP Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 March 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 14 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Full year sales up 2%: Full-year net sales were $15.4 billion, up 2%, the second consecutive year of topline growth; comparable sales rose 3%, the eighth consecutive quarter of positive comparable sales. Source
  • Full year operating margin 7.3%: Full-year operating income was $1.1 billion, a 7.3% operating margin that management said exceeded the company's prior guidance. Source
  • Gap brand comparable sales up 7%: Gap fourth quarter net sales were $1.1 billion, up 8%, with comparable sales up 7%; full-year net sales were $3.5 billion, up 5%. Source
  • Q4 gross margin down 80 basis points: Fourth quarter gross margin was 38.1%; merchandise margin fell 90 basis points on an estimated net tariff impact of about 200 basis points, while rent, occupancy and depreciation leveraged 10 basis points. Source
  • Full-year tariff impact about 120 basis points: Full-year gross margin was 40.8%, down 50 basis points; merchandise margin fell 80 basis points, reflecting an estimated net tariff impact of about 120 basis points. Source
  • Free cash flow $823 million: Free cash flow was $823 million for the year, against $1,039 million a year earlier, after capital expenditures of $470 million. Source
  • Next phase of transformation: Management said the next phase centers on growing the core apparel business while seeding growth accelerators that scale over time. Source

“The execution of our playbook is driving consistent results, as we achieved our second consecutive year of topline growth and eighth consecutive quarter of positive comparable sales.”

Richard Dickson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceFiscal 2026 full yearUp 2% to 3% year-over-yearNew
Gross margin SourceFiscal 2026 full yearFlat to up slightly year-over-yearNew
Adjusted operating expense (% of net sales) SourceFiscal 2026 full yearAbout flat year-over-yearNew
Adjusted operating margin SourceFiscal 2026 full yearAbout 7.3% to 7.5%New
Net interest income SourceFiscal 2026 full yearApproximately $10 million to $15 millionNew
Effective tax rate SourceFiscal 2026 full yearApproximately 27%New
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFiscal 2026 full yearApproximately $2.20 to $2.35New
Reported diluted EPS SourceFiscal 2026 full year$2.71 to $2.86New
Capital expenditures SourceFiscal 2026 full yearApproximately $650 millionNew
Net store closures (company-operated) SourceFiscal 2026 full yearAbout flatNew
Net sales SourceFirst quarter fiscal 2026Up 1% to 2% year-over-yearNew
Gross margin SourceFirst quarter fiscal 2026Down approximately 150bps to 200bps including an estimated 200 bps of net tariff impactNew
Adjusted operating expense (% of net sales) SourceFirst quarter fiscal 2026About 35%New
Charitable donation SourceFirst quarter fiscal 2026$50 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Expected $313 million net gain from a legal settlement in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, alongside a $50 million charitable donation pledge. Source
  • New: Board approved a new $1 billion share repurchase authorization, superseding the authorization dated February 26, 2019. Source
  • New: First quarter fiscal 2026 dividend set at $0.175 per share, about 6% above the $0.165 paid for the fourth quarter. Source

Fourth quarter and full year results

  • Fourth quarter sales rose 2%: Fourth quarter net sales were $4.2 billion, up 2%; operating income was $229 million, an operating margin of 5.4%, and diluted EPS $0.45. Source
  • Full year sales up 2%: Full-year net sales were $15.4 billion, up 2%, the second consecutive year of topline growth; comparable sales rose 3%, the eighth consecutive quarter of positive comparable sales. Source
  • Full year operating margin 7.3%: Full-year operating income was $1.1 billion, a 7.3% operating margin that management said exceeded the company's prior guidance. Source
  • Full year diluted EPS $2.13: Net income was $816 million and diluted EPS was $2.13 for the year; fourth quarter diluted EPS was $0.45. Source

Brands and customers

  • Old Navy sales and comparable sales up 3%: Old Navy fourth quarter net sales were $2.3 billion, up 3%, with comparable sales up 3%; full-year net sales were $8.7 billion, up 3%. Source
  • Gap brand comparable sales up 7%: Gap fourth quarter net sales were $1.1 billion, up 8%, with comparable sales up 7%; full-year net sales were $3.5 billion, up 5%. Source
  • Banana Republic comparable growth continues: Banana Republic fourth quarter net sales were $549 million, up 1%, with comparable sales up 4%; full-year net sales were $1.9 billion, down 1%. Source
  • Athleta sales down 11% in quarter: Athleta fourth quarter net sales were $354 million, down 11%, with comparable sales down 10%; full-year net sales were $1.2 billion, down 10%. Source

“Our aspirations remain high and our teams are energized as we continue to drive toward becoming a high performing house of iconic American brands that delivers long-term value for our shareholders.”

Richard Dickson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Products and pricing

  • Lower discounting lifted unit retail: Average unit retail grew in the fourth quarter because of lower discounting, as the company stated alongside the merchandise margin decline. Source
  • Gap customer base widening: Management said the Gap brand is building momentum as it expands its customer base across generations. Source

Gross margin, tariffs and costs

  • Q4 gross margin down 80 basis points: Fourth quarter gross margin was 38.1%; merchandise margin fell 90 basis points on an estimated net tariff impact of about 200 basis points, while rent, occupancy and depreciation leveraged 10 basis points. Source
  • Full-year tariff impact about 120 basis points: Full-year gross margin was 40.8%, down 50 basis points; merchandise margin fell 80 basis points, reflecting an estimated net tariff impact of about 120 basis points. Source
  • Occupancy costs leveraged 30 basis points: Rent, occupancy and depreciation as a percent of sales leveraged 30 basis points for the full year. Source
  • Operating expense reached $5.2 billion: Full-year operating expense was $5.2 billion; fourth quarter operating expense was $1.4 billion. Source

“Financial and operational rigor combined with the strength of our platform drove one of our highest gross margins in the last 25 years and further strengthened our balance sheet.”

Richard Dickson, President and Chief Executive Officer

Inventory, cash and capital returns

  • Inventory up 7% on tariff costs: Ending inventory was $2.2 billion, up 7%, mainly from higher cost due to tariffs. Source
  • Cash rose to $3.0 billion: Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments ended the year at $3.0 billion, up $414 million; operating cash flow was $1.3 billion. Source
  • Free cash flow $823 million: Free cash flow was $823 million for the year, against $1,039 million a year earlier, after capital expenditures of $470 million. Source
  • $402 million returned to shareholders: Dividends and share repurchases returned $402 million in fiscal 2025, including 7 million shares repurchased for $155 million; 372 million shares were outstanding at year end. Source

Strategy and growth initiatives

  • Next phase of transformation: Management said the next phase centers on growing the core apparel business while seeding growth accelerators that scale over time. Source
  • Beauty and accessories expansion: Management listed beauty and accessories expansion, including a fragrance assortment returning to Gap in 2026. Source
  • Technology and Fashiontainment platform: Management listed advancing the Fashiontainment platform and technology capabilities, including AI, to build scale, relevance and revenue. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 March 2026

  • Holiday accessory line launch: Management said it will launch an expanded accessory line for the 2026 holiday season. Source
  • Accelerated Gap store formats: Management said it is accelerating new store formats for the Gap brand in 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable sales Sourceup 3% (fourth quarter and full year)
E-commerce share of net sales Source42% fourth quarter; 39% full year
Gross margin Source38.1% fourth quarter; 40.8% full year
Inventory Source$2.2 billion, up 7%
Company-operated stores Source2,474 stores
Net store closures Source32 in fiscal 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said the Athleta rebuild is a long-term effort rather than a near-term one. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said fiscal 2025 net sales finished at the high end of the prior guidance. Source
  • Ahead: Management said fiscal 2025 operating margin exceeded the 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.