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Lifetime Brands, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 6 lowered, 1 narrowed, 2 new, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 3.4%: Consolidated net sales were $177.7 million, up $5.8 million or 3.4% from $171.9 million; constant currency growth was also 3.4%. Source
  • Operating result was zero: Loss from operations was zero, against income from operations of $6.7 million a year earlier. Adjusted income from operations was $13.8 million, up from $11.5 million. Source
  • Tariff refund lifted nine-month income: Nine-month gross margin was 45.9% and included a $40.1 million tariff refund benefit. Net income was $10.6 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, against a prior-year net loss that included a $33.2 million goodwill impairment. Source
  • International sales up 18.8%: International net sales were $16.4 million, up 18.8% in constant currency from $13.8 million. The segment approached breakeven as Project Concord takes hold. Source
  • Operating and net income guidance cut: Income from operations guidance was lowered to $42.5 to $45 million from $48 to $50.5 million, and net income guidance to $19 to $20.5 million from $23 to $24.5 million. Source
  • Adjusted guidance held: Adjusted EBITDA before limitation, adjusted income from operations and adjusted net income guidance were kept at $90.5 to $93 million, $81.5 to $84 million and $46 to $47.5 million. Source
  • Covenant EBITDA after limitation: Trailing-twelve-month adjusted EBITDA was $92.4 million before limitations and $84.5 million after the permitted non-recurring charge limitation. The reissued release added the before-limitation figure. Source
  • Repurchase authorization raised to $20M: The Board on November 3, 2026 increased the repurchase program so that $20 million of common stock is available, from about $11.1 million before. Source

“We delivered net sales growth of 3.4% and expanded gross margin by 140 basis points in the third quarter as momentum continues across key parts of the business.”

Rob Kay, Lifetime's Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceYear ending December 31, 2026$660 to $700Narrowed, low end up from $650 to $700
Income from operations SourceYear ending December 31, 2026$42.5 to $45Lowered from $48 to $50.5
Adjusted income from operations SourceYear ending December 31, 2026$81.5 to $84Kept
Net income SourceYear ending December 31, 2026$19 to $20.5Lowered from $23 to $24.5
Adjusted net income SourceYear ending December 31, 2026$46 to $47.5Kept
Diluted income per common share SourceYear ending December 31, 2026$0.84 to $0.91 per shareLowered from $1.03 to $1.10 per share
Adjusted diluted income per common share SourceYear ending December 31, 2026$2.04 to $2.11 per shareLowered from $2.06 to $2.13 per share
Weighted-average diluted shares SourceYear ending December 31, 202622.5Raised from 22.3
Adjusted EBITDA, before limitation SourceYear ending December 31, 2026$90.5 to $93Kept
Interest expense, net (guidance reconciliation) SourceYear ending December 31, 202613.5Lowered from 16.5
Income tax expense (guidance reconciliation) SourceYear ending December 31, 20267.5 to 8.5Lowered from 8.5 to 9.5
Warehouse relocation and redesign expenses (excluded from adjusted measures) SourceYear ending December 31, 20269.5Raised from 7
SKU rationalization (excluded from adjusted measures) SourceYear ending December 31, 20263.5New
Loss on extinguishment of debt (guidance reconciliation) SourceYear ending December 31, 20262.5New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Net sales guidance low end raised from $650 million to $660 million; top end kept at $700 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Income from operations guidance lowered to $42.5 to $45 million from $48 to $50.5 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Net income guidance lowered to $19 to $20.5 million from $23 to $24.5 million; diluted income per share lowered to $0.84 to $0.91. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted diluted income per share guidance lowered to $2.04 to $2.11 from $2.06 to $2.13. Source
  • Guidance kept: Adjusted EBITDA before limitation, adjusted income from operations and adjusted net income guidance kept at the prior ranges. Source
  • New: Board increased the share repurchase program so that $20 million of common stock is available for repurchase, from about $11.1 million before. Source
  • New: Management said a refinancing was completed this year, which it said lowered borrowing costs. Source

Third quarter results

  • Net sales rose 3.4%: Consolidated net sales were $177.7 million, up $5.8 million or 3.4% from $171.9 million; constant currency growth was also 3.4%. Source
  • Operating result was zero: Loss from operations was zero, against income from operations of $6.7 million a year earlier. Adjusted income from operations was $13.8 million, up from $11.5 million. Source
  • Adjusted net income rose: Net loss was $(4.2) million, or $(0.19) per diluted share, against $(1.2) million a year earlier. Adjusted net income was $8.4 million, or $0.37 per diluted share. Source

Nine-month results and tariff refund

  • Tariff refund lifted nine-month income: Nine-month gross margin was 45.9% and included a $40.1 million tariff refund benefit. Net income was $10.6 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, against a prior-year net loss that included a $33.2 million goodwill impairment. Source
  • Nine-month sales grew 4.3%: Nine-month net sales were $462.8 million, up 4.3% as reported and 4.0% in constant currency. Source
  • Nine-month adjusted operating income higher: Adjusted income from operations was $59.8 million for the nine months, against $11.5 million in the prior-year period. Source

“International sales grew 18.8% and the segment approached breakeven as Project Concord takes hold.”

Rob Kay, Lifetime's Chief Executive Officer

Segments, products and customers

  • International sales up 18.8%: International net sales were $16.4 million, up 18.8% in constant currency from $13.8 million. The segment approached breakeven as Project Concord takes hold. Source
  • U.S. sales up 2.0%: U.S. net sales were $161.3 million, up 2.0% from $158.1 million. Source
  • Nine-month International growth: Nine-month International net sales were $42.6 million, up 12.3% as reported and 9.3% in constant currency. Source
  • Home décor and Farberware growing: Management said home décor continues to grow and the Farberware relaunch is performing well. Source
  • Dollar General sales near $20 million: The Dollar General partnership, launched in 2024, is expected to approach $20 million in sales this year, according to management. Source

Costs, margins and charges

  • Gross margin rose to 36.5%: Gross margin was $64.9 million, or 36.5%, against $60.4 million, or 35.1%, a year earlier. Source
  • Distribution expenses increased: Distribution expenses were $26.1 million, up from $17.9 million a year earlier. Source
  • SKU rationalization charge of $3.3M: The $3.3 million charge, booked in gross margin and loss from operations, was for inventory reserves; $2.0 million related to the U.S. segment and $1.3 million to International. Source
  • SG&A rose 7.6%: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $38.2 million, up $2.7 million or 7.6%. Source

“This year’s refinancing lowered our borrowing costs and strengthened our financial flexibility, and our new $20 million share repurchase authorization provides additional flexibility to return capital to shareholders.”

Rob Kay, Lifetime's Chief Executive Officer

Guidance revision

  • Operating and net income guidance cut: Income from operations guidance was lowered to $42.5 to $45 million from $48 to $50.5 million, and net income guidance to $19 to $20.5 million from $23 to $24.5 million. Source
  • Adjusted guidance held: Adjusted EBITDA before limitation, adjusted income from operations and adjusted net income guidance were kept at $90.5 to $93 million, $81.5 to $84 million and $46 to $47.5 million. Source
  • Net sales range narrowed: Net sales guidance is $660 to $700 million, with the low end raised from $650 million and the top end kept at $700 million. Source
  • Share count and EPS guidance moved: Weighted-average diluted share guidance rose to 22.5 million from 22.3 million. Diluted income per share guidance is $0.84 to $0.91, from $1.03 to $1.10. Source

Balance sheet, cash and covenant measures

  • Liquidity of $123.3 million: Liquidity at September 30, 2026 was $123.3 million: $5.9 million of cash, $96.4 million of ABL availability and $21.0 million of receivables funding. Source
  • Refinancing lowered borrowing costs: Management said this year's refinancing lowered borrowing costs and strengthened financial flexibility. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose: Nine-month operating cash flow was $56.8 million, against $3.9 million a year earlier. Purchases of property and equipment were $8.7 million. Source
  • Covenant EBITDA after limitation: Trailing-twelve-month adjusted EBITDA was $92.4 million before limitations and $84.5 million after the permitted non-recurring charge limitation. The reissued release added the before-limitation figure. Source

Capital returns

  • Repurchase authorization raised to $20M: The Board on November 3, 2026 increased the repurchase program so that $20 million of common stock is available, from about $11.1 million before. Source
  • Quarterly dividend of $0.0425: The Board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.0425 per share on November 3, 2026. Source
  • Repurchase program has no expiry: The repurchase program has no expiration date and may be amended or terminated by the Board at any time without prior notice. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 November 2026

  • Investor Day on December 1: Management said it will share its capital allocation strategy and its tailwinds for 2027 at its Investor Day on December 1. Source
  • Dividend payment and record dates: The quarterly dividend is payable February 12, 2027 to stockholders of record on January 29, 2027. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: One-time expenses for the East Coast distribution move and SKU rationalization are limited in the trailing-twelve-month covenant calculation. Source
  • Financial: The covenant measure excluding the tariff refund benefit was $44.4 million; the $40.1 million IEEPA tariff refund is excluded from it. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the Dollar General partnership is on track to approach $20 million in sales this year. 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.