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Williams Sonoma Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 26 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 1 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net revenue and comparable growth rose: Net revenues rose 6.7% to $1.96 billion, and comparable brand revenue grew 6.2%, against 3.7% a year earlier. Source
  • Operating income and margin rose: GAAP operating income was $449 million, a 22.9% margin, up from 17.9%. Non-GAAP operating income was $338 million, a 17.3% margin, against 17.9% a year earlier. Source
  • Every brand delivered comparable growth: Management said every brand delivered in the quarter, driven by execution across brands, channels and the team. All named brands posted positive comparable growth. Source
  • GAAP gross margin rose on refunds: GAAP gross margin was 51.6%, up 450 basis points. Tariff refunds net of vendor concessions added 610 basis points. Source
  • Non-GAAP gross margin fell on tariff costs: Non-GAAP gross margin was 45.5%, down 160 basis points. Merchandise margins fell 230 basis points on tariff costs, partly offset by supply chain and occupancy gains. Source
  • Non-GAAP SG&A rate fell on employment: Non-GAAP SG&A rate was 28.2%, down 100 basis points, with employment expense leverage of 120 basis points as the main driver. Source
  • Current tariffs assumed to stay: Guidance assumes all tariffs in place remain through fiscal 2026, including the new Section 301 tariffs announced July 23rd and the latest Canada-United States tariffs. Source

“We delivered a very strong second quarter. In Q2, our comp came in at 6.2%, with total revenue growth of 6.7%, and we drove an operating margin of 17.3% with earnings per share of $2.10.”

Laura Alber, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net revenue growth Sourcefiscal 2026+4.7% to +7.2%Raised from +2.7% to +6.7%
Comparable brand revenue growth Sourcefiscal 2026+4.0% to +6.5%Raised from +2.0% to +6.0%
Operating margin, non-GAAP Sourcefiscal 202617.8% to 18.2%Raised from 17.5% to 18.1%
Net revenue growth, long term Sourcelong termmid-to-high single-digit annualKept
Interest income, non-GAAP Sourcefiscal 2026approximately $25 millionKept
Effective tax rate, non-GAAP Sourcefiscal 2026approximately 26%Raised from approximately 25.5%
Deferred tariff refund income in cost of goods sold Sourcethird quarter of fiscal 2026$29.3 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 net revenue, comparable revenue and non-GAAP operating margin guidance were all raised, citing year-to-date performance. Source
  • Guidance kept: Long-term targets were kept from the first-quarter release. Source
  • New: Tariff refund income was recognized this quarter. The first-quarter guidance had assumed no refund of tariffs paid. Source
  • New: Tariff assumptions now name the new Section 301 tariffs announced July 23rd and Canada-United States tariffs. The first-quarter assumptions named Section 122 tariffs. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net revenue and comparable growth rose: Net revenues rose 6.7% to $1.96 billion, and comparable brand revenue grew 6.2%, against 3.7% a year earlier. Source
  • Operating income and margin rose: GAAP operating income was $449 million, a 22.9% margin, up from 17.9%. Non-GAAP operating income was $338 million, a 17.3% margin, against 17.9% a year earlier. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose on GAAP and non-GAAP: GAAP diluted EPS rose 42.0% to $2.84. Non-GAAP diluted EPS rose 5.0% to $2.10, against $2.00 in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Six-month EPS figures reported: For the twenty-six weeks, GAAP diluted EPS was $4.77 and non-GAAP was $4.03, against $3.86 a year earlier. Source

Brands and channels

  • Every brand delivered comparable growth: Management said every brand delivered in the quarter, driven by execution across brands, channels and the team. All named brands posted positive comparable growth. Source
  • West Elm and Williams Sonoma accelerated: Comparable growth was 6.4% at West Elm, up from 3.3%, and 7.6% at Williams Sonoma, up from 5.1%. Pottery Barn rose to 5.1% from 1.1%. Source
  • Other brands and franchise grew: Other includes Rejuvenation, Mark and Graham, international franchise operations, GreenRow and Dormify, with net revenues of $126 million, up from $108 million. Source

“We gained market share, continued to outperform the industry, and raised our annual outlook on both the top and bottom lines.”

Laura Alber, President and Chief Executive Officer

Gross margin and tariffs

  • GAAP gross margin rose on refunds: GAAP gross margin was 51.6%, up 450 basis points. Tariff refunds net of vendor concessions added 610 basis points. Source
  • Non-GAAP gross margin fell on tariff costs: Non-GAAP gross margin was 45.5%, down 160 basis points. Merchandise margins fell 230 basis points on tariff costs, partly offset by supply chain and occupancy gains. Source
  • Refund income and vendor provision: Refund income of $167.8 million reduced cost of goods sold, with $6.3 million of related interest. A $47.5 million provision reimburses vendors for earlier tariff-related concessions. Source
  • Refund receivable nearly fully collected: Substantially all of the initial $197.8 million refund claim had been collected by August 2, leaving a $3.2 million receivable. Source

Operating costs and occupancy

  • Non-GAAP SG&A rate fell on employment: Non-GAAP SG&A rate was 28.2%, down 100 basis points, with employment expense leverage of 120 basis points as the main driver. Source
  • One-time 401(k) contribution excluded: A $10.0 million discretionary 401(k) contribution to all eligible employees, linked to tariffs, was recorded as a one-time cost and excluded from non-GAAP results. Source
  • SG&A dollars rose on both bases: GAAP SG&A was $563 million, up 5.0%, at a 28.7% rate. Non-GAAP SG&A was $553 million, up 3.1%, with advertising and general expenses each adding 10 basis points. Source
  • Occupancy costs rose and gave leverage: Occupancy costs were $208 million, up 3.3%, and occupancy leverage added 40 basis points to gross margin. Source

Inventory and cash

  • Inventory rose 1.0% year on year: Merchandise inventories were $1.45 billion, up 1.0% from the prior-year quarter, net of $29.3 million of deferred tariff refund income. Source
  • Cash rose to $1.0 billion: Cash and cash equivalents were $1.03 billion at August 2, 2026, up from $986 million a year earlier and $652 million at the first-quarter end. Source
  • Operating cash flow includes refunds: Twenty-six week operating cash flow was $696 million, including $200.2 million of tariff refunds and related interest collected in the period. Source

Shareholder returns and capital

  • Quarterly dividends totaled $90 million: Returns to stockholders in the quarter were $90 million, made through dividends. Source
  • Six-month buybacks and dividends: For the twenty-six weeks, stock repurchases were $287.8 million and dividends paid were $175.4 million, against $289.1 million and $156.0 million a year earlier. Source
  • Capital spending rose year on year: Purchases of property and equipment were $116.4 million for the twenty-six weeks, against $110.3 million a year earlier. Source
  • Shares outstanding fell year on year: Shares outstanding were 117.8 million at August 2, 2026, down from 121.8 million a year earlier. Diluted weighted shares were 118.9 million for the quarter. Source

Guidance assumptions

  • Current tariffs assumed to stay: Guidance assumes all tariffs in place remain through fiscal 2026, including the new Section 301 tariffs announced July 23rd and the latest Canada-United States tariffs. Source
  • Oil prices assumed to stay elevated: Guidance assumes oil prices stay elevated for the rest of the year. The first-quarter assumption was elevated oil prices for all of fiscal 2026. Source
  • Interest income and tax rate set: Fiscal 2026 interest income is still expected near $25 million. The effective tax rate is now expected near 26%, up from about 25.5%, both non-GAAP. Source

Management view and strategy

  • Share gains and raised guidance cited: Management said it gained market share, continued to outperform the industry, and raised annual guidance on both the top and bottom lines. Source
  • Long-term targets kept: Long-term targets are mid-to-high single-digit annual net revenue growth and an operating margin in the mid-to-high teens, unchanged from the first quarter. Source
  • Strategies described as gaining momentum: The chief executive said strategies continue to gain momentum and the company is confident in its priorities and plans for 2026 and beyond. Source

Coming up, as management said on 26 August 2026

  • Form 10-Q still to be filed: The company has not yet filed its Form 10-Q for the quarter, so reported results remain preliminary until that filing. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Comparable brand revenue growth Source6.2%
Gross margin, GAAP Source51.6%
Gross margin, non-GAAP Source45.5%
Merchandise inventories Source$1.45 billion, up 1.0%
Store openings and closings Source3 openings, 1 closing; 508 stores

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Tariff costs reduced merchandise margins by 230 basis points this quarter, a continuing cost pressure in the results. Source
  • External: Guidance rests on oil prices staying elevated through the rest of fiscal 2026. Source
  • Regulatory: Guidance excludes any benefit from tariff refunds or related interest. Source
  • Financial: A $47.5 million provision reimburses certain merchandise vendors for earlier tariff-related concessions, reducing the net refund benefit this quarter. Source
  • Demand: Management names the housing market and other macroeconomic events as conditions the results were delivered against. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The first-quarter release reiterated fiscal 2026 and long-term guidance; the second-quarter release later raised the fiscal 2026 figures.
  • Not stated: Management continues to expect the long-term targets, which were also described in the first-quarter release. 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.