greeksoup/ stock research

Lifetime 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: 17 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose year-over-year: Constant-currency net sales rose 1.8%, so currency accounted for the rest of reported growth. Source
  • Reported operating result was a loss: Loss from operations was $(2.2) million, compared with income of $1.1 million a year earlier. Adjusted income from operations was $5.4 million, against an adjusted loss of $(0.9) million. Source
  • Home Solutions sales up nearly 23%: Home Solutions growth for the quarter was reported in the same sentence that names the Dolly Parton brand. Source
  • Gross margin rate increased: Gross margin was $54.2 million, or 37.7% of net sales, compared with $50.6 million, or 36.1%, a year earlier. Source
  • SG&A expense grew: SG&A was $36.8 million, up $5.3 million, and the release gives no cause for the increase. Source
  • Operating cash flow increased: Operating cash flow was $33.8 million against $16.7 million, helped by a $46.8 million receivables decline in the cash flow statement. Source
  • Liquidity position at quarter end: Cash and cash equivalents were $13.9 million, with the balance of liquidity coming from ABL availability and the receivables facility. Source
  • Pricing, cost and product choices: Management said it moved first on pricing, took action on its cost structure, and kept investing in new products while peers pulled back. Source

“Our first quarter results validate decisions that carried short-term cost, but were right for the business.”

Rob Kay, Lifetime’s Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceFull year 2026$650 to $700New
Income from operations SourceFull year 2026$12 to $14.5New
Adjusted income from operations SourceFull year 2026$44.5 to $47New
Net loss SourceFull year 2026$(6.5) to $(5)New
Adjusted net income SourceFull year 2026$16 to $17.5New
Diluted loss per common share SourceFull year 2026$(0.30) to $(0.23) per shareNew
Adjusted diluted income per common share SourceFull year 2026$0.73 to $0.80 per shareNew
Weighted-average diluted shares SourceFull year 202622New
Adjusted EBITDA, before limitation SourceFull year 2026$53.5 to $56New
Income tax expense SourceFull year 20260.5 to 1.5New
Interest expense SourceFull year 202618New
Depreciation and amortization SourceFull year 202622New
Acquisition-related intangible amortization SourceFull year 202617New
Restructuring expenses SourceFull year 20267New
Warehouse relocation and redesign expenses SourceFull year 20267New
Mark to market gain on interest rate derivatives SourceFull year 2026(0.5)New
Income tax effect on adjustments SourceFull year 2026(9.5)New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: The prior release said full-year 2026 guidance would come with first quarter results in mid-May, and this release includes it.

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose year-over-year: Constant-currency net sales rose 1.8%, so currency accounted for the rest of reported growth. Source
  • Reported operating result was a loss: Loss from operations was $(2.2) million, compared with income of $1.1 million a year earlier. Adjusted income from operations was $5.4 million, against an adjusted loss of $(0.9) million. Source
  • Adjusted net income turned positive: Adjusted net income was $0.8 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, against an adjusted net loss of $(5.3) million, or $(0.25), a year earlier. Source
  • Net loss widened to $(4.8) million: Net loss was $(4.8) million, or $(0.22) per diluted share, against $(4.2) million, or $(0.19), in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Prior-year quarter included settlement gain: The 2025 quarter included a $6.4 million litigation settlement gain, which was excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Trailing adjusted EBITDA reported: Adjusted EBITDA for the twelve months to March 31, 2026 was $52.7 million, a measure defined in the company's debt agreements. Source

Segments and regions

  • U.S. sales rose 1.7%: U.S. net sales were $130.7 million, up 1.7% both as reported and in constant currency, with a $(15) thousand currency impact. Source
  • International growth shown in both measures: International net sales were $12.8 million, up 2.5% in constant currency and 10.6% as reported, with currency accounting for 8.1 points. Source
  • Currency lifted reported growth: Currency added $933 thousand to total net sales growth, about 0.6 points on the constant-currency table. Source

“The payoff is showing up, as net sales and adjusted EBITDA both grew year-over-year, we believe we outperformed our peers”

Rob Kay, Lifetime’s Chief Executive Officer

Products and customers

  • Home Solutions sales up nearly 23%: Home Solutions growth for the quarter was reported in the same sentence that names the Dolly Parton brand. Source
  • Dolly Parton brand continuing to grow: Management said the Dolly Parton brand continued to build on its trajectory in the quarter. Source
  • Kitchen tools is largest division: Management said kitchen tools, its largest division, produced results in the quarter. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin rate increased: Gross margin was $54.2 million, or 37.7% of net sales, compared with $50.6 million, or 36.1%, a year earlier. Source
  • SG&A expense grew: SG&A was $36.8 million, up $5.3 million, and the release gives no cause for the increase. Source
  • Distribution expenses slightly lower: Distribution expenses were $17.6 million, against $18.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Restructuring and related charges excluded: Restructuring of $2.0 million, acquisition diligence of $1.1 million and warehouse relocation of $0.1 million were excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Pro forma cost reductions projected: Pro forma adjustments of $1.25 million in the trailing twelve months reflect projected operating expense reductions, net of benefits already realized. Source
  • Pricing gains now embedded: Management said the pricing benefit from moving early is now fully embedded and structural. Source

Working capital and inventory

  • Operating cash flow increased: Operating cash flow was $33.8 million against $16.7 million, helped by a $46.8 million receivables decline in the cash flow statement. Source
  • Receivables balance fell: Accounts receivable were $114.9 million at March 31, 2026, down from $161.9 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Payables and inventory declined: Accounts payable were $26.7 million, against $45.8 million at December 31, 2025, while inventory was $190.3 million, against $194.0 million. Source

Capital, liquidity and debt

  • Liquidity position at quarter end: Cash and cash equivalents were $13.9 million, with the balance of liquidity coming from ABL availability and the receivables facility. Source
  • Revolver balance reduced: Net revolver repayments were $17.2 million, and $1.9 million of term loan was repaid, leaving the revolver at $36.6 million. Source
  • Capital spending increased: Purchases of property and equipment were $3.8 million, against $1.6 million a year earlier. Source
  • Dividends and withholding paid: Cash dividends paid were $1.0 million, and $0.2 million was paid in tax withholding on stock compensation. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Pricing, cost and product choices: Management said it moved first on pricing, took action on its cost structure, and kept investing in new products while peers pulled back. Source
  • Growth potential identified: Management said it continues to see growth potential that could strengthen competitive positioning. Source
  • Project Concord cost savings: Pro forma savings include U.S. employee-related reductions and International cost savings tied to Project Concord. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Available ABL borrowing is limited by a Term Loan financial covenant. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the new Hagerstown distribution center is online, on time and favorable to 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.