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Macy's, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 10 September 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 2 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 1.1%: Net sales were $4.9 billion. Excluding the effect of fiscal 2025 store closures, which contributed about $35 million in the second quarter of 2025, net sales grew 1.9%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 14% excluding tariff benefit: GAAP diluted EPS was $0.62, up 100%. Adjusted diluted EPS of $0.63 included a $0.23 net tariff refund benefit. Excluding that benefit, adjusted EPS was $0.40 against $0.35 a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year guidance raised across four measures: Management raised full-year guidance for net sales, comparable sales, adjusted EBITDA as a percent of total revenue, and adjusted diluted EPS. Figures appear in the guidance list. Source
  • Bloomingdale’s double-digit comparable sales growth: Bloomingdale’s comparable sales rose 11.3%, its second consecutive double-digit quarter. The brand had its highest second-quarter sales volume in its history. Source
  • Gross margin rate and dollars rose: Gross margin rate was 41.5%, and gross margin dollars were $2,018 million against $1,912 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin widened: Adjusted EBITDA was $457 million, or 9.0% of total revenue, against $373 million, or 7.5%, a year earlier. Source

“Our second-quarter performance builds on the progress our colleagues have consistently delivered through our Bold New Chapter strategy,”

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

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales Sourcefiscal 2026 (full year)$21.675 billion to $21.825 billionRaised from $21.5 billion to $21.75 billion
Comparable sales change Sourcefiscal 2026 (full year)1.0% to 1.5%Raised from 0.5% to 1.2%
Adjusted EBITDA as a percent of total revenue Sourcefiscal 2026 (full year)7.8% to 8.0%Raised from 7.7% to 7.9%
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefiscal 2026 (full year)$2.15 to $2.35Raised from $2.00 to $2.20
Tariff refunds flowing through to adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefull year 2026approximately $0.05 per shareNew
Tariff reinvestment in second half Sourcesecond half of 2026approximately $0.18 per shareNew
Net sales contribution of fiscal 2025 store closures Sourcefiscal 2026 (full year)roughly $145 million of annual net salesKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year guidance was raised for net sales, comparable sales, adjusted EBITDA as a percent of total revenue, and adjusted diluted EPS. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose 1.1%: Net sales were $4.9 billion. Excluding the effect of fiscal 2025 store closures, which contributed about $35 million in the second quarter of 2025, net sales grew 1.9%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose 14% excluding tariff benefit: GAAP diluted EPS was $0.62, up 100%. Adjusted diluted EPS of $0.63 included a $0.23 net tariff refund benefit. Excluding that benefit, adjusted EPS was $0.40 against $0.35 a year earlier. Source
  • Operating income rose to $244 million: Operating income was $244 million, or 4.8% of total revenue, against $149 million, or 3.0%, a year earlier. Total revenue was $5,059 million. Source
  • Full-year guidance raised across four measures: Management raised full-year guidance for net sales, comparable sales, adjusted EBITDA as a percent of total revenue, and adjusted diluted EPS. Figures appear in the guidance list. Source
  • First-half net sales and EPS rose: For the 26 weeks, net sales were $9,548 million against $9,411 million. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.85 against $0.44. Adjusted diluted EPS on the company's non-GAAP basis was $0.75 against $0.46. Source

Nameplate and demand trends

  • Macy’s comparable sales rose fifth quarter: Macy’s comparable sales grew 1.1%, the fifth consecutive quarter of gains. Reimagine 200 locations, led by the increase, rose 1.9%. Source
  • Bloomingdale’s double-digit comparable sales growth: Bloomingdale’s comparable sales rose 11.3%, its second consecutive double-digit quarter. The brand had its highest second-quarter sales volume in its history. Source
  • Bluemercury and all nameplates positive: Bluemercury comparable sales rose 6.2%. Macy’s, Inc. comparable sales were positive at each nameplate. Source
  • Go-forward comparable sales rose 2.8%: Go-forward comparable sales, which include go-forward locations and digital across the three nameplates, increased 2.8%. Source

“The investments we're making are driving results across our portfolio, from the continued outperformance of our Reimagine 200 Macy’s stores, to meaningful double-digit growth at Bloomingdale’s and another solid quarter at Bluemercury.”

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

Other revenue and credit card

  • Other revenue rose 3.2%: Other revenue was $193 million, up $6 million, or 3.2%. It includes credit card and Macy’s Media Network revenue. Source
  • Credit card revenue rose 2.0%: Credit card net revenues rose to $156 million. Management cited a healthy credit portfolio and stable net credit card losses. Source
  • Media network revenue rose 8.8%: Macy’s Media Network net revenue rose to $37 million. Management linked this to partner engagement on the advertising platform. Source

Gross margin and cost of sales

  • Gross margin rate and dollars rose: Gross margin rate was 41.5%, and gross margin dollars were $2,018 million against $1,912 million a year earlier. Source
  • Cost of sales fell as share of sales: Cost of sales was $2,848 million, or 58.5% of net sales, against $2,900 million, or 60.3%, a year earlier. Source
  • Underlying gross margin rose 10 basis points: Excluding a 180 basis point net tariff refund benefit, partially offset by a 10 basis point tariff and fuel headwind, the gross margin rate was up 10 basis points. Source

“Combined with disciplined execution, we expect these efforts to continue to build a durable foundation for sustainable, profitable growth.”

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

SG&A, profitability and tax

  • SG&A dollars rose $16 million: SG&A expense was $1.96 billion. Management attributed the increase to higher variable costs from sales growth and Bold New Chapter investments, partly offset by cost management. Source
  • SG&A ratio fell 20 basis points: SG&A was 38.7% of total revenue, down from 38.9% a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin widened: Adjusted EBITDA was $457 million, or 9.0% of total revenue, against $373 million, or 7.5%, a year earlier. Source
  • Net income and margin rose: GAAP net income was $169 million, against $87 million a year earlier. Adjusted net income was $170 million, against $98 million. Source
  • Tax rate rose on state taxes: The effective tax rate was 25.6% for the quarter against 24.3% a year earlier. The company cited state and local taxes as the main driver. Source

Inventory, cash and debt

  • Inventory rose 2.5% year-over-year: Merchandise inventories were up 2.5% year-over-year. Management says their composition and level are well-positioned for the second half of 2026. Source
  • Cash rose to $1.3 billion: Cash and equivalents were $1.3 billion against $0.8 billion a year earlier. The company had $2.0 billion of available borrowing capacity under its asset-based facility. Source
  • Debt steady with no near maturities: Total debt was $2.4 billion. The company reports no material long-term debt maturities until 2030. Source
  • First-half operating cash flow rose: Operating cash flow was $586 million for the 26 weeks, against $255 million. Property and equipment purchases were $153 million and capitalized software was $171 million. Source

Shareholder returns

  • Quarterly dividends returned cash: Dividends returned $51 million in the second quarter and $101 million in the first half of 2026. Source
  • Share repurchases in the quarter: The company repurchased 2.2 million shares for $50 million in the second quarter. First-half repurchases totaled 4.9 million shares for $100 million. Source
  • Authorization remaining at quarter end: About $1.0 billion remained under the $2.0 billion share repurchase authorization at the end of the second quarter. Source
  • Fewer diluted shares outstanding: Average diluted shares were 271.9 million against 275.9 million. Period-end shares outstanding were 261.8 million against 267.6 million. Source

Strategy and tariff reinvestment

  • Planned investments in Reimagine 200 and luxury: Full-year guidance reflects planned investments in Reimagine 200 locations and the luxury nameplates, which management links to long-term top-line growth. Source
  • Refund benefit split between EPS and investment: About $20 million of tariff refund proceeds will flow to full-year EPS. The rest of the refund proceeds is being invested in the business. Source
  • Remaining refunds invested in 2026: The remaining $96 million of tariff refunds is being invested in 2026 for customers, the Bold New Chapter strategy and long-term growth. Source

Coming up, as management said on 10 September 2026

  • Dividend payable October 1, 2026: The regular quarterly dividend of 19.15 cents per share is payable October 1, 2026 to holders of record at the close of business on September 15, 2026. Source
  • Full-year figures in investor presentation: Full-year figures, including the third quarter, are in the investor presentation posted on the company's website. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable sales Source2.7%
Comparable sales, go-forward Source2.8%
Comparable sales, Macy’s nameplate Source1.1%
Comparable sales, Bloomingdale’s Source11.3%
Gross margin rate Source41.5%
Merchandise inventories Sourceup 2.5% year-over-year
Store closures, sales contribution in second quarter of 2025 Sourceapproximately $35 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said macroeconomic and geopolitical factors could influence discretionary spending, which the full-year guidance takes into account. Source
  • External: Ongoing tariff and fuel costs were a 10 basis point headwind to gross margin in the quarter. Source
  • External: Management said it keeps flexibility in guidance to respond to changes in the competitive landscape and the external environment. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said the company exceeded its expectations across all key metrics and raised full-year guidance. Source
  • Met: The company has received all expected IEEPA tariff refunds, $116 million in total, including $98 million in the second 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.