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Ralph Lauren Corp.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 21 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 8 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth quarter revenue up 17%: Revenue reached $2.0 billion, up 17% reported and 12% in constant currency; foreign currency added about 450 basis points. Management said results were ahead of expectations. Source
  • Asia revenue grew 31%: Asia revenue rose 31% reported and 28% in constant currency to $564 million; management linked growth in China to Lunar New Year sales. Source
  • Average unit retail rose mid-teens: AUR increased by mid-teens in the fourth quarter and full year, attributed to product elevation, geographic and channel mix, full-price selling and lower discount rates. Source
  • Adjusted gross margin up 110 basis points: Fourth quarter adjusted gross margin was 69.7%, 110 basis points above the prior year; mix, AUR and lower cotton costs more than offset U.S. tariffs. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin up 70 basis points: Adjusted operating income was $218 million, a margin of 11.0%; adjusted operating expenses rose 17% to $1.2 billion, with the expense rate at 58.6% against 58.4%. Source

“This gives us confidence in introducing an initial Fiscal 2027 outlook consistent with our Next Great Chapter: Drive commitments”

Patrice Louvet, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net revenue, constant currency SourceFiscal 2027, 52-week comparable basismid-single digits, centered around 4% to 5%New
Operating margin, constant currency SourceFiscal 2027expansion of 40 to 60 basis pointsNew
Operating margin, constant currency SourceFirst quarter of fiscal 2027expansion of 80 to 120 basis pointsNew
Margin phasing and tariff assumption SourceFirst half of fiscal 2027stronger margin expansion; tariff rate of 10%New
Effective tax rate SourceFiscal 202721% to 22%New
Effective tax rate SourceFirst quarter of fiscal 2027approximately 22% to 23%New
Capital expenditures SourceFiscal 2027approximately 4% to 5% of revenueNew
53rd week contribution SourceFiscal 2027about 1 point of revenue growthNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: First Fiscal 2027 guidance given as preliminary: constant currency revenue growth and operating margin expansion. Source
  • New guidance: First quarter fiscal 2027 revenue guidance given in constant currency. Source
  • New guidance: Fiscal 2027 tax rate range given at 21% to 22%; prior guidance for fiscal 2026 was 19% to 21%.
  • Guidance kept: Capital expenditure plan of about 4% to 5% of revenue was continued from the prior release for fiscal 2026.
  • New: Board approved a 10% increase in the regular quarterly cash dividend. Source
  • New: Charitable donations of $24.2 million were funded by interchange settlement proceeds and excluded from adjusted results. Source

Fourth quarter and full-year results

  • Fourth quarter revenue up 17%: Revenue reached $2.0 billion, up 17% reported and 12% in constant currency; foreign currency added about 450 basis points. Management said results were ahead of expectations. Source
  • Full-year revenue passed $8 billion: Fiscal 2026 revenue rose 15% reported and 12% in constant currency, to $8.1 billion; foreign currency added about 280 basis points. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose on both bases: Fourth quarter diluted EPS was $2.45 reported and $2.80 adjusted, against $2.03 and $2.27 a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year net income and tax rate: Fiscal 2026 net income was $941 million reported and $1.0 billion adjusted; the effective tax rate was 20%, against 22% a year earlier. Source

Segments and regional performance

  • Asia revenue grew 31%: Asia revenue rose 31% reported and 28% in constant currency to $564 million; management linked growth in China to Lunar New Year sales. Source
  • Europe grew in both channels: Europe revenue rose 18% reported and 6% in constant currency to $620 million; retail comparable store sales rose 5% and wholesale rose 19% reported. Source
  • North America sales up 8%: North America revenue rose 8% to $763 million, with flat wholesale and double-digit direct-to-consumer comparable sales; management cited planned cuts in lower-tier wholesale channels. Source
  • Full-year margins by segment: Asia reached 27.4% for the year, Europe 27.8% and North America 21.8%, with North America 80 basis points above last year. Source
  • Quarter margins diverged by region: Fourth quarter North America operating margin fell to 17.6%, while Europe reached 28.7% and Asia 21.9%; foreign currency added 260 basis points to Europe's rate. Source

“Looking ahead, we remain focused on driving our multiple engines of growth while continuing to lay the groundwork for sustainable growth and value creation into the future.”

Patrice Louvet, President and Chief Executive Officer

Products, customers and pricing

  • Core and high-potential categories grew: Core business grew mid-teens in the fourth quarter; Women's Apparel, Outerwear and Handbags rose more than 20%, in constant currency. Source
  • Average unit retail rose mid-teens: AUR increased by mid-teens in the fourth quarter and full year, attributed to product elevation, geographic and channel mix, full-price selling and lower discount rates. Source
  • Brand moments drove recruitment: Management cited the Team USA sponsorship at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and the Fall '26 Women's Collection show among drivers of new customer recruitment. Source

Margins, costs and tariffs

  • Adjusted gross margin up 110 basis points: Fourth quarter adjusted gross margin was 69.7%, 110 basis points above the prior year; mix, AUR and lower cotton costs more than offset U.S. tariffs. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin up 70 basis points: Adjusted operating income was $218 million, a margin of 11.0%; adjusted operating expenses rose 17% to $1.2 billion, with the expense rate at 58.6% against 58.4%. Source
  • Full-year operating margin up 200 basis points: Adjusted full-year operating margin was 16.0%; the adjusted operating expense rate was 53.9%, 70 basis points below the prior year. Source
  • Restructuring charges of $118 million: Fiscal 2026 operating expenses included $118 million of restructuring-related and other net charges; reported operating margin was 14.5%. Source

“For nearly 60 years, our brand has stood for optimism, quality, authenticity, and a life well lived,”

Ralph Lauren, Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer

Cash, balance sheet and shareholder returns

  • Cash and investments above $2 billion: Year-end cash and short-term investments were $2.1 billion against total debt of $1.2 billion; a year earlier total debt was $1.1 billion. Source
  • About $500 million repurchased: About $500 million of Class A stock was repurchased in fiscal 2026, with $1.4 billion left on the existing plan; total returns including dividends exceeded $700 million. Source
  • Quarterly dividend raised 10%: The regular quarterly dividend rises to $1.00 per share, $4.00 a year; the next payment is due July 10, 2026. Source
  • Capital expenditures rose to $408 million: Fiscal 2026 capital expenditures were $408 million versus $216 million, driven by select real estate purchases, new stores, renovations, digital and technology. Source
  • Inventory up 7% at year-end: Inventory was $1.0 billion at fiscal year-end, up 7%; the company described year-end inventories as well-positioned. Source

Stores, ecosystems and enablers

  • New stores in key cities: Management listed new stores opened over the year in Chengdu, Sydney, Bangkok, Newport Beach, West Palm Beach, New Delhi and London, among others. Source
  • Five key enablers support the business: Management described the business as supported by teams, operations, technology and AI, resilient partners and materials, and a balance sheet. Source

Coming up, as management said on 21 May 2026

  • Dividend payment date: The next quarterly dividend is expected to be paid July 10, 2026, to holders of record at the close of June 26, 2026. Source
  • Polo Blaze handbag collection debut: Management said Polo Blaze, a new foundational handbag collection, debuts in Fall '26, introduced at Paris Fashion Week. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Global direct-to-consumer comparable store sales, fourth quarter Source17%
New direct-to-consumer customers, fiscal 2026 Source6.5 million
Social media followers Sourceapproximately 70 million
Asia comparable store sales, fourth quarter Source25%

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Management cited increased U.S. tariffs and other non-cotton product costs as cost pressures in fourth quarter gross margin. Source
  • Demand: Management listed consumer spending-related headwinds among factors the fiscal 2027 guidance reflects. Source
  • External: Management said fiscal 2027 guidance is preliminary and may change with macroeconomic developments. Source
  • Financial: Guidance excludes possible future restructuring-related and other net charges, which could affect reported results. Source
  • External: Management cited a highly dynamic global operating environment as the backdrop to fiscal 2026 results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said it exceeded its fiscal 2026 financial commitments, with revenue above $8 billion for the first time. Source
  • Ahead: Fourth quarter adjusted gross and operating margin expansion was above management's prior expectations. Source
  • Ahead: Management said fiscal 2026 gross and operating margins both exceeded its Next Great Chapter: Drive annual targets. Source
  • Not stated: Management said the preliminary fiscal 2027 guidance is consistent with its long-term Investor Day commitments. 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.