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Macy's, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 June 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Comparable sales rose 3.0%: Macy’s, Inc. comparable sales rose 3.0%, with go-forward comparable sales up 3.1%. Comparable sales were positive at each nameplate. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose to $0.23: GAAP diluted EPS was $0.23 against $0.13 a year earlier. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.13 against $0.11 a year earlier. Source
  • Bloomingdale’s comparable sales up 10.2%: Bloomingdale’s comparable sales rose 10.2%, its seventh consecutive quarter of gains. Bluemercury comparable sales rose 6.4% in the same quarter. Source
  • Macy’s fourth straight quarter of gains: Macy’s comparable sales rose 1.6%, with Reimagine 200 locations up 2.4%. This was the fourth consecutive quarter of comparable sales gains at Macy’s. Source
  • Gross margin rate fell 30 basis points: Gross margin rate was 38.9%, down 30 basis points. Excluding a 30 basis point tariff impact, gross margin was even with last year. Source
  • Buybacks and dividends in quarter: The company repurchased 2.6 million shares for $50 million and paid $50 million in dividends. About $1.1 billion remains under the $2.0 billion authorization. Source
  • Tariff impact weighted to first half: Guidance assumes a larger tariff impact in the first half than the second half, and does not include any potential refunds from tariffs. Source
  • Bold New Chapter gaining momentum: Management said the Bold New Chapter strategy continues to build momentum, with customers responding across the nameplates. Source

“Customers are responding - driving comparable sales growth at Macy’s and another standout quarter at Bloomingdale’s, underscoring its leadership in modern luxury.”

Tony Spring, chairman and chief executive officer of Macy’s, Inc.

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceFiscal 2026$21.5 billion to $21.75 billionRaised from $21.4 billion to $21.65 billion
Comparable sales change SourceFiscal 20260.5% to 1.2%Raised from (0.5%) to 0.5%
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFiscal 2026$2.00 to $2.20Raised from $1.90 to $2.10

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Net sales, comparable sales and adjusted diluted EPS guidance raised compared with the March 18, 2026 guidance. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Comparable sales rose 3.0%: Macy’s, Inc. comparable sales rose 3.0%, with go-forward comparable sales up 3.1%. Comparable sales were positive at each nameplate. Source
  • Net sales rose 1.8% to $4.7 billion: Net sales including store closures rose 1.8% to $4.7 billion. Fiscal 2025 store closures contributed about $40 million of net sales in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose to $0.23: GAAP diluted EPS was $0.23 against $0.13 a year earlier. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.13 against $0.11 a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell to $290 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $290 million, or 5.9% of total revenue, against $304 million, or 6.3%, a year earlier. Source
  • Net income rose to $63 million: GAAP net income was $63 million, or 1.3% of total revenue. Adjusted net income was $35 million, or 0.7%, against $31 million a year earlier. Source

Nameplate performance

  • Bloomingdale’s comparable sales up 10.2%: Bloomingdale’s comparable sales rose 10.2%, its seventh consecutive quarter of gains. Bluemercury comparable sales rose 6.4% in the same quarter. Source
  • Macy’s fourth straight quarter of gains: Macy’s comparable sales rose 1.6%, with Reimagine 200 locations up 2.4%. This was the fourth consecutive quarter of comparable sales gains at Macy’s. Source

“We’re operating with discipline and focusing on what matters most - our customers. With the power of our multi-brand, multi-category, multi-generational portfolio, we’re confident in our path to sustainable, profitable growth.”

Tony Spring, chairman and chief executive officer of Macy’s, Inc.

Other revenue and credit card

  • Other revenue rose 8.2%: Other revenue reached $210 million, up $16 million. Credit card net revenues rose to $172 million within that total. Source
  • Credit card revenue rose 11.7%: Credit card net revenues rose $18 million, or 11.7%, which management attributed to the health of the credit portfolio. Source
  • Media Network revenue slipped 5%: Macy’s Media Network net revenue fell $2 million to $38 million, which management tied to the timing of advertising spend. Source

Costs, gross margin and SG&A

  • Gross margin rate fell 30 basis points: Gross margin rate was 38.9%, down 30 basis points. Excluding a 30 basis point tariff impact, gross margin was even with last year. Source
  • SG&A expense rose $39 million: SG&A expense was $2.0 billion, up $39 million, reflecting investments in Reimagine 200, Bloomingdale’s and digital, partly offset by cost management. As a share of total revenue it was unchanged at 39.9%. Source

Inventory, cash and debt

  • Inventory up 3.6% year over year: Merchandise inventories rose 3.6% year over year to $4.8 billion. Management said the composition and level are positioned for summer 2026. Source
  • Operating cash flow was $292 million: Net cash provided by operating activities was $292 million, against a use of $64 million a year earlier. Cash and cash equivalents were $1.3 billion at quarter end. Source
  • Liquidity and debt position: Cash was $1.3 billion, with $2.0 billion of asset-based facility capacity available. Total debt was $2.4 billion, with no material long-term maturities until 2030. Source

Shareholder returns

  • Buybacks and dividends in quarter: The company repurchased 2.6 million shares for $50 million and paid $50 million in dividends. About $1.1 billion remains under the $2.0 billion authorization. Source
  • Quarterly dividend held at 19.15 cents: The board declared a regular quarterly dividend of 19.15 cents per share on May 15, 2026, the same rate declared in February. Source

2026 guidance assumptions

  • Tariff impact weighted to first half: Guidance assumes a larger tariff impact in the first half than the second half, and does not include any potential refunds from tariffs. Source
  • Luxury and Reimagine investment included: Guidance reflects investments in Reimagine 200 locations and luxury nameplates intended to support long-term top-line growth. Source
  • Guidance described as prudent: Management said the company takes a prudent approach to guidance, with flexibility within its business model. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Bold New Chapter gaining momentum: Management said the Bold New Chapter strategy continues to build momentum, with customers responding across the nameplates. Source
  • Reimagine 200 expansion described in March: The March release described Reimagine 200 as expanding strategic initiatives to 75 additional stores for 2026.

Coming up, as management said on 3 June 2026

  • Second-quarter guidance in presentation: Full 2026 guidance, including the second quarter, is in the presentation posted to the company's investor website. Source
  • Fourth of July anniversary celebrations: Management said the year includes celebrations at Macy’s, including the 50th anniversary of Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable sales, Macy’s, Inc. Source+3.0%
Comparable sales, Macy’s Source+1.6%
Comparable sales, Bloomingdale’s Source+10.2%
Comparable sales, Bluemercury Source+6.4%
Merchandise inventory Source$4,833 million, up 3.6% year over year
Gross margin rate Source38.9%, down 30 basis points
Store closures contribution SourceAbout $40 million of net sales in Q1 2025

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management cited macroeconomic and geopolitical factors that could influence discretionary spend. Source
  • Financial: Tariff costs reduced the gross margin rate by 30 basis points in the quarter. Source
  • External: Management said the business model provides flexibility to respond to competitive and external changes. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said comparable sales exceeded the company's guidance for the quarter. Source
  • Ahead: Adjusted diluted EPS of $0.13 was above the company's guidance for the quarter. 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.