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Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 10 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 12 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Q4 sales rose 0.6%: Fourth-quarter net sales were $953 million, up 0.6%, with Sally up 1.6% and BSG down 0.8%. Full-year net sales were $3.73 billion, up 0.9%. Source
  • Q4 operating earnings rose 15%: GAAP operating earnings were $92 million, up 15.3%, with a GAAP operating margin of 9.7%, up 130 basis points. Adjusted operating earnings were $95 million, a 10.0% margin. Source
  • Q4 adjusted EPS rose 13%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.62, up 13%. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.60, up 22% from $0.49 a year earlier. Source
  • BSG Q4 sales fell 0.8%: BSG Q4 net sales were $402.2 million, down 0.8%, with a flat 40.0% gross margin, operating earnings of $51.9 million, up 1.2%, and a 12.9% operating margin, up 30 basis points. Source
  • Gross margin fell 30 basis points: Q4 GAAP gross margin was 51.9%, down from 52.2%. Sally gross margin was 60.6%, down 70 basis points; BSG gross margin was 40.0%, flat. Source
  • Full-year free cash flow reached $210M: Full-year operating cash flow was $323 million, up 17.4%, with capital expenditures of $112 million and free cash flow of $210 million, down 2.8%. Source
  • Fiscal 2027 net sales range: Management guided fiscal 2027 consolidated net sales to $3.77 billion to $3.81 billion, with comparable sales growth of 1% to 2%. Source
  • Fiscal 2027 earnings and EPS range: Adjusted operating earnings of $334 million to $347 million and adjusted diluted EPS of $2.20 to $2.30 for fiscal 2027. Source

“We finished fiscal 2026 with positive momentum, delivering fourth quarter sales, operating earnings and double-digit adjusted EPS growth,”

Denise Paulonis, president and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Consolidated net sales Sourcefiscal 2027$3.77 billion to $3.81 billionNew
Comparable sales growth Sourcefiscal 20271% to 2%New
Adjusted operating earnings Sourcefiscal 2027$334 million to $347 millionNew
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefiscal 2027$2.20 to $2.30New
Capital expenditures Sourcefiscal 2027Approximately $140 millionNew
Free cash flow Sourcefiscal 2027Approximately $200 millionNew
Share repurchases Sourcefiscal 202750% of free cash flowNew
Consolidated net sales Sourcefirst quarter of fiscal 2027$945 million to $955 millionNew
Comparable sales growth Sourcefirst quarter of fiscal 20270.5% to 1.5%New
Adjusted operating earnings Sourcefirst quarter of fiscal 2027$75 million to $80 millionNew
Adjusted diluted EPS Sourcefirst quarter of fiscal 2027$0.48 to $0.52New
Foreign currency impact Sourcefirst quarter of fiscal 2027Approximately 30 basis points unfavorableNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Initial fiscal 2027 guidance given for the full year, described as in line with the financial algorithm. Source
  • New guidance: First-quarter fiscal 2027 guidance given for net sales, comparable sales, adjusted operating earnings and adjusted diluted EPS. Source

Fourth quarter and full-year results

  • Q4 sales rose 0.6%: Fourth-quarter net sales were $953 million, up 0.6%, with Sally up 1.6% and BSG down 0.8%. Full-year net sales were $3.73 billion, up 0.9%. Source
  • Q4 operating earnings rose 15%: GAAP operating earnings were $92 million, up 15.3%, with a GAAP operating margin of 9.7%, up 130 basis points. Adjusted operating earnings were $95 million, a 10.0% margin. Source
  • Q4 adjusted EPS rose 13%: Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.62, up 13%. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.60, up 22% from $0.49 a year earlier. Source
  • Full-year EPS grew 7% GAAP, 9% adjusted: Full-year GAAP diluted EPS was $2.02, up 7%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $2.08, up 9%. Full-year GAAP net earnings were $200.1 million, up 2.1%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 13.2%: Q4 adjusted EBITDA was $126.0 million, up 7.3%, a 13.2% margin, up 80 basis points. Full-year adjusted EBITDA was $458.7 million, a 12.3% margin. Source

Segments and comparable sales

  • Sally comparable sales rose 2.0%: Sally Q4 net sales were $550.3 million, up 1.6%, with operating earnings of $88.4 million, up 2.6%, and a 16.1% operating margin. Comparable sales rose 2.0% from 1.2%. Source
  • BSG Q4 sales fell 0.8%: BSG Q4 net sales were $402.2 million, down 0.8%, with a flat 40.0% gross margin, operating earnings of $51.9 million, up 1.2%, and a 12.9% operating margin, up 30 basis points. Source
  • BSG full-year comparable sales fell 0.8%: Full-year comparable sales were 1.5% for Sally and (0.8)% for BSG, against 0.4% and 0.2% in fiscal 2025. Source
  • Consolidated comparable sales rose 0.9%: Consolidated Q4 comparable sales grew 0.9%, against 1.3% a year earlier. Full-year consolidated comparable sales were 0.5%. Source

“We generated $323 million of cash from operations, strengthened our balance sheet, and returned significant capital to shareholders while continuing to invest in our future.”

Denise Paulonis, president and chief executive officer

Channels, stores and e-commerce

  • E-commerce reached 12% of sales: Global e-commerce sales rose 8% to $113 million in Q4 and 10% to $441 million for the year, each representing 12% of net sales. Source
  • Store count fell by 32: Consolidated stores numbered 4,390 at September 30, 2026, against 4,422 a year earlier. Sally had 3,062 stores, down 34; BSG had 1,328, including 135 franchise stores. Source
  • BSG consultant count fell 36: BSG salon business consultants numbered 547 at September 30, 2026, against 591 a year earlier, including 185 employed by franchisees. Source

Gross margin and costs

  • Gross margin fell 30 basis points: Q4 GAAP gross margin was 51.9%, down from 52.2%. Sally gross margin was 60.6%, down 70 basis points; BSG gross margin was 40.0%, flat. Source
  • Full-year adjusted gross margin expanded 40bps: Full-year GAAP gross margin was 52.0%, up 40 basis points. Adjusted gross margin was 52.1%, up from 51.7% in fiscal 2025. Source
  • Adjusted SG&A fell $5M in Q4: Q4 adjusted SG&A was $400 million, or 42.0% of net sales, against 42.8% a year earlier. Full-year adjusted SG&A rose $25 million to $1.61 billion. Source
  • Q4 effective tax rate rose: Q4 effective tax rate was 26.3%, against 23.2%. Full-year effective tax rate was 25.9%, against 25.6%. Source

“As we enter fiscal 2027, we are focused on scaling the capabilities and growth platforms we have built, deepening customer engagement, and generating profitable growth,”

Denise Paulonis, president and chief executive officer

Cash, balance sheet and inventory

  • Q4 free cash flow fell to $47M: Q4 operating cash flow was $75 million, against $121 million, with capital expenditures of $28 million. Free cash flow was $47 million, against $78 million. Source
  • Full-year free cash flow reached $210M: Full-year operating cash flow was $323 million, up 17.4%, with capital expenditures of $112 million and free cash flow of $210 million, down 2.8%. Source
  • Repurchases and term loan repayments: In Q4 the company repurchased 2.6 million shares for $42 million and repaid $20 million of term loan B. Full-year repurchases were $113 million and term loan repayments $80 million. Source
  • Net debt leverage 1.4x: Cash and cash equivalents were $158 million at September 30, with no borrowings under the asset-based revolving line of credit. Net debt leverage ended the quarter at 1.4x. Source
  • Inventory rose 1% year over year: Inventory was $1.00 billion at September 30, up 1% from a year earlier and up from $996 million at June 30. Source

Fiscal 2027 guidance

  • Fiscal 2027 net sales range: Management guided fiscal 2027 consolidated net sales to $3.77 billion to $3.81 billion, with comparable sales growth of 1% to 2%. Source
  • Fiscal 2027 earnings and EPS range: Adjusted operating earnings of $334 million to $347 million and adjusted diluted EPS of $2.20 to $2.30 for fiscal 2027. Source
  • Fiscal 2027 capex and free cash flow: Capital expenditures are expected at about $140 million and free cash flow at about $200 million, with 50% of free cash flow assumed for share repurchases. Source
  • First-quarter fiscal 2027 sales and EPS range: First-quarter net sales of $945 million to $955 million, comparable sales growth of 0.5% to 1.5%, adjusted operating earnings of $75 million to $80 million, and adjusted diluted EPS of $0.48 to $0.52. Source
  • First-quarter currency impact assumed unfavorable: Management assumed about 30 basis points of unfavorable impact from expected foreign currency rates in first-quarter guidance. Source

Strategy and corporate

  • Focus set on scaling growth platforms: The CEO said the fiscal 2027 focus is scaling capabilities and growth platforms, deepening customer engagement and generating profitable growth. Source
  • Growth drivers cited for fiscal 2026: Management cited disciplined execution, new customer growth, digital and omnichannel expansion and product innovation as drivers through the year. Source
  • Corporate HQ relocation duplicate rent: Relocation costs for the year were mainly duplicate rent on the new office before leaving the Denton headquarters. These costs were excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Guidance described as in line: Management described its fiscal 2027 guidance as in line with its financial algorithm. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable sales SourceQ4 consolidated 0.9%; full year 0.5%
Inventory Source$1.00 billion, up 1%
Store count Source4,390 consolidated, down 32
E-commerce share Source12% of net sales
Gross margin Source51.9% GAAP, Q4

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: BSG comparable sales declined in Q4 and for the full year, while Sally comparable sales rose. Source
  • Operational: Fuel for Growth costs were excluded from adjusted results: $2.5 million in Q4 and $5.9 million for the year, against $7.2 million and $23.7 million a year earlier. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management described the fiscal 2027 guidance as in line with its financial algorithm. 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.