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Kontoor Brands, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 5 raised, 1 lowered, 6 new, 8 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Continuing revenue up 45 percent: Continuing-operations revenue was $613 million, up 45 percent, including Helly Hansen, which was acquired in the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted EPS of $1.55 in total: Reported diluted EPS was $1.65 including discontinued operations; adjusted EPS was $1.55, or $1.06 from continuing operations, against $1.20 a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted gross margin up 470 basis points: Adjusted gross margin from continuing operations was 50.6 percent, on Helly Hansen, Project Jeanius and channel mix, partly offset by product costs net of pricing. Source
  • Tariff reversal cut reported cost of goods sold: Reported cost of goods sold fell about $49 million on reversal of IEEPA tariff expense on inventory sold; $29 million related to 2025 tariffs, excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Competitive sale of Lee started: The company began a competitive process to divest Lee in the first quarter, and says the process has drawn interest from multiple parties. Source
  • Lee EPS effect expected immaterial: The company expects the divestiture to be immaterial to EPS over a 12 to 18 month period, as stated in the release. Source
  • New $750 million buyback program: Board approved up to $750 million of repurchases with no expiration; the program may be suspended, modified or terminated at any time. Source

“Our strong first quarter results reflect the power of our operating model combined with strong execution,”

Scott Baxter, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue including discontinued operations Sourcefull year 2026$3.41 to $3.46 billionRaised from $3.40 to $3.45 billion
Revenue from continuing operations Sourcefull year 2026$2.66 to $2.71 billionRaised from $2.65 to $2.70 billion
Lee revenue in discontinued operations Sourcefull year 2026approximately $750 millionKept
Adjusted EPS including discontinued operations Sourcefull year 2026$6.60 to $6.70Raised from $6.40 to $6.50
Adjusted EPS from continuing operations Sourcefull year 2026$5.15 to $5.25New
Lee EPS in discontinued operations Sourcefull year 2026approximately $0.90 (about $1.45 including $0.55 of reclassified overhead)New
Adjusted gross margin, continuing operations Sourcefull year 202648.3 percent to 48.5 percentNew
Adjusted SG&A growth, continuing operations Sourcefull year 2026increase of approximately 18 percentNew
Adjusted operating income, continuing operations Sourcefull year 2026$411 million to $418 millionNew
Capital expenditures Sourcefull year 2026approximately $40 millionLowered from $45 million
Effective tax rate on adjusted earnings Sourcefull year 2026approximately 20 percentKept
Effective tax rate on adjusted earnings Sourcefirst half of 2026approximately 25 percentRaised from approximately 23 percent
Interest expense Sourcefull year 2026approximately $55 millionKept
Other expense Sourcefull year 2026approximately $15 millionKept
Average shares outstanding Sourcefull year 2026approximately 56 millionKept
Cash from operations Sourcefull year 2026approximately $450 millionRaised from approximately $425 million
Voluntary term loan payments Sourcefull year 2026$225 millionKept
Net leverage ratio, continuing operations Sourceyear-end 2026below 1.5 timesKept
Share repurchase authorization Sourceno expiration dateup to $750 millionNew
Tariff assumption on applicable inventory receipts Sourceremainder of 202615 percent reciprocal tariff rateKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year revenue including discontinued operations raised to $3.41 to $3.46 billion from $3.40 to $3.45 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year adjusted EPS including discontinued operations raised to $6.60 to $6.70 from $6.40 to $6.50. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year cash from operations raised to about $450 million from about $425 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Capital expenditures reduced to about $40 million from about $45 million. Source
  • New: Lee is now presented as discontinued operations, so continuing-operations figures exclude it. Source
  • New: Company announced plans to divest the Lee business and sharpen focus on its largest growth assets. Source
  • New: New $750 million repurchase authorization replaces the program announced December 11, 2023. Source
  • New: Company recognized a $54 million net receivable for IEEPA tariffs it believes it will recover. Source
  • New: Inventory owned before February 24, 2026 is now treated as exempt from reciprocal tariffs; the prior assumption was at least 20 percent. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Continuing revenue up 45 percent: Continuing-operations revenue was $613 million, up 45 percent, including Helly Hansen, which was acquired in the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted EPS of $1.55 in total: Reported diluted EPS was $1.65 including discontinued operations; adjusted EPS was $1.55, or $1.06 from continuing operations, against $1.20 a year earlier. Source
  • Wrangler growth and share gains: Management credited broad-based Wrangler growth and market share gains, and Helly Hansen revenue and profitability above expectations. Source
  • Adjusted operating income up 60 percent: Adjusted operating income from continuing operations was $87 million, up 60 percent; reported operating income was $90 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin widened: Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations was $103 million, or 16.9 percent of revenue, against 14.2 percent a year earlier. Source

Segments and regions

  • Wrangler revenue up 4 percent: Wrangler global revenue was $436 million, up 4 percent; Wrangler U.S. rose 1 percent on direct-to-consumer up 6 percent and wholesale up 1 percent. Source
  • International Wrangler grew faster: Wrangler international revenue rose 20 percent, with direct-to-consumer up 38 percent and wholesale up 17 percent. Source
  • Helly Hansen split into two brands: Helly Hansen global revenue was $176 million, with Sport at $120 million and Workwear at $45 million; Musto revenue was $11 million. Source

“Our planned divestiture of the Lee business is in an advanced state and has attracted interest from multiple parties.”

Joe Alkire, Kontoor Brands’ Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Global Head of Operations

Costs, margins and tariffs

  • Adjusted gross margin up 470 basis points: Adjusted gross margin from continuing operations was 50.6 percent, on Helly Hansen, Project Jeanius and channel mix, partly offset by product costs net of pricing. Source
  • Tariff reversal cut reported cost of goods sold: Reported cost of goods sold fell about $49 million on reversal of IEEPA tariff expense on inventory sold; $29 million related to 2025 tariffs, excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Adjusted SG&A rose on Helly Hansen: Adjusted SG&A was $224 million, or 36.5 percent of revenue; the increase reflected Helly Hansen, higher demand creation and direct-to-consumer spending, partly offset by Project Jeanius. Source

Lee divestiture and reclassification

  • Competitive sale of Lee started: The company began a competitive process to divest Lee in the first quarter, and says the process has drawn interest from multiple parties. Source
  • Lee moved to discontinued operations: Lee revenue of $195 million is reported in discontinued operations, so continuing revenue excludes it; total revenue including Lee was $808 million. Source
  • Lee EPS effect expected immaterial: The company expects the divestiture to be immaterial to EPS over a 12 to 18 month period, as stated in the release. Source

“We remain committed to returning cash to shareholders while maintaining an unrelenting focus on delivering superior total shareholder return over time.”

Scott Baxter, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors

Guidance excludes Lee-funded actions

  • Helly Hansen expense annualization: SG&A growth reflects annualized Helly Hansen expenses and higher demand creation and strategic growth investment, offset by Project Jeanius and the prior year's 53rd week. Source
  • Share count excludes Lee buybacks: Average share guidance excludes any extra repurchases funded by Lee proceeds, per the release. Source
  • Interest excludes Lee-funded repayments: Interest expense guidance excludes possible additional voluntary debt repayments from a portion of Lee sale proceeds. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • New $750 million buyback program: Board approved up to $750 million of repurchases with no expiration; the program may be suspended, modified or terminated at any time. Source
  • Quarter returns and buybacks: The company returned $54 million to shareholders in the quarter through dividends and share repurchases, including $25 million of common stock. Source
  • Cash and debt at quarter end: Cash was $56 million and long-term debt $1.14 billion at quarter end; $493 million remained available under the revolver, and inventory was $464 million. Source

Coming up, as management said on 7 May 2026

  • Definitive Lee agreement expected in 2026: Management anticipates entering a definitive agreement to divest Lee in 2026, after multiple parties expressed interest. Source
  • Repurchases to draw on Lee proceeds: Repurchases are to be funded from operating cash flow and expected proceeds from the Lee sale. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Tariff increases on sourcing countries other than Mexico are included in the figures; Mexico imports remain exempt under USMCA. Source
  • External: Company is evaluating the effect of the United States and Bangladesh reciprocal trade framework, which may affect duty on Bangladesh-sourced products. Source
  • Operational: Overhead previously allocated to Lee depends on mitigation through restructuring and cost actions. Source
  • Financial: Timing and amount of repurchases depend on market conditions and continued compliance with debt covenants. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said continuing-operations revenue exceeded expectations, driven by Wrangler and Helly Hansen growth. Source
  • Not stated: The $0.53 quarterly dividend was announced earlier and is payable June 18, 2026. 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.