second quarter of fiscal 2026
Filed Aug 21, 2026The Buckle, Inc. reported second-quarter fiscal 2026 net income of $44.4 million, or $0.87 per diluted share, as net sales increased 4.6 percent to $319.8 million and comparable store net sales increased 2.1 percent.
Sales, comparable store sales, online sales, and 26-week net income increased, but second-quarter net income, diluted EPS, gross profit, and income from operations were below the prior-year quarter.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net sales, 13-week fiscal quarterGAAP | $319,816 | – | 4.6 percent |
| Comparable store net sales, 13-week fiscal quarterGAAP | increased 2.1 percent | – | 2.1 percent |
| Online sales, 13-week fiscal quarterGAAP | $44.6 million | – | 2.3 percent |
| Cost of sales, 13-week fiscal quarterGAAP | $166,795 | – | – |
| Gross profit, 13-week fiscal quarterGAAP | $153,021 | – | – |
| Selling expenses, 13-week fiscal quarterGAAP | $81,231 | – | – |
| General and administrative expenses, 13-week fiscal quarterGAAP | $15,988 | – | – |
| Income from operations, 13-week fiscal quarterGAAP | $55,802 | – | – |
| Other income, net, 13-week fiscal quarterGAAP | $3,019 | – | – |
| Income before income taxes, 13-week fiscal quarterGAAP | $58,821 | – | – |
| Income tax expense, 13-week fiscal quarterGAAP | $14,411 | – | – |
| Net income, 13-week fiscal quarterGAAP | $44,410 | – | – |
| Basic earnings per share, 13-week fiscal quarterGAAP | $0.88 | – | – |
| Diluted earnings per share, 13-week fiscal quarterGAAP | $0.87 | – | – |
| Basic weighted average shares, 13-week fiscal quarterGAAP | 50,619 | – | – |
| Diluted weighted average shares, 13-week fiscal quarterGAAP | 51,007 | – | – |
| Net sales, 26-week fiscal periodGAAP | $608,551 | – | 5.3 percent |
| Comparable store net sales, 26-week fiscal periodGAAP | increased 3.5 percent | – | 3.5 percent |
| Online sales, 26-week fiscal periodGAAP | $92.2 million | – | 2.5 percent |
| Gross profit, 26-week fiscal periodGAAP | $286,497 | – | – |
| Income from operations, 26-week fiscal periodGAAP | $115,255 | – | – |
| Net income, 26-week fiscal periodGAAP | $91,292 | – | – |
| Basic earnings per share, 26-week fiscal periodGAAP | $1.80 | – | – |
| Diluted earnings per share, 26-week fiscal periodGAAP | $1.79 | – | – |
| Retail stores at end of fiscal quarterother | 446 stores in 42 states | – | – |
What drove it
- Net sales for the 13-week fiscal quarter increased 4.6 percent to $319.8 million.
- Comparable store net sales for the 13-week fiscal quarter increased 2.1 percent.
- Online sales increased 2.3 percent to $44.6 million for the 13-week fiscal quarter.
- Net sales for the 26-week fiscal period increased 5.3 percent to $608.6 million.
- Comparable store net sales for the 26-week period increased 3.5 percent.
- Online sales increased 2.5 percent to $92.2 million for the 26-week period.
Concerns
- Second-quarter income from operations was $55,802, compared with $56,341 for the prior-year 13-week fiscal quarter.
- Second-quarter net income was $44,410, compared with $45,006 for the prior-year 13-week fiscal quarter.
- Second-quarter diluted earnings per share was $0.87, compared with $0.89 for the prior-year 13-week fiscal quarter.
- Selling expenses were $81,231 for the 13-week fiscal quarter, compared with $73,900 for the prior-year 13-week fiscal quarter.
- General and administrative expenses were $15,988 for the 13-week fiscal quarter, compared with $14,768 for the prior-year 13-week fiscal quarter.
What to watch
- Comparable store net sales following the 2.1 percent increase in the 13-week fiscal quarter.
- Online sales following the 2.3 percent increase to $44.6 million in the 13-week fiscal quarter.
- Income from operations following the decline to $55,802 from $56,341 in the prior-year quarter.
- Inventory, which was $161,403 at August 1, 2026.
- Store count, which was 446 stores in 42 states as of the end of the fiscal quarter.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- Cash and cash equivalents were $264,778 at August 1, 2026, compared with $249,461 at January 31, 2026 and $297,811 at August 2, 2025.
- Short-term investments were $22,402 at August 1, 2026, compared with $24,698 at January 31, 2026 and $22,118 at August 2, 2025.
- Long-term investments were $35,729 at August 1, 2026, compared with $32,393 at January 31, 2026 and $29,630 at August 2, 2025.
- Inventory was $161,403 at August 1, 2026, compared with $139,504 at January 31, 2026 and $142,486 at August 2, 2025.
- Total assets were $1,094,707 at August 1, 2026, compared with $991,279 at January 31, 2026 and $1,028,632 at August 2, 2025.
- Total liabilities were $605,755 at August 1, 2026, compared with $566,636 at January 31, 2026 and $552,477 at August 2, 2025.
- Total stockholders' equity was $488,952 at August 1, 2026, compared with $424,643 at January 31, 2026 and $476,155 at August 2, 2025.
Analysis
Buckle delivered top-line growth in the second quarter of fiscal 2026. Net sales increased 4.6 percent to $319.8 million, supported by a 2.1 percent increase in comparable store net sales. Online sales increased 2.3 percent to $44.6 million. The 26-week period showed similar momentum, with net sales up 5.3 percent to $608.6 million, comparable store net sales up 3.5 percent, and online sales up 2.5 percent to $92.2 million.
Quarterly profitability did not track sales growth. Gross profit was $153,021 versus $145,009 in the prior-year quarter, while selling expenses increased to $81,231 from $73,900 and general and administrative expenses increased to $15,988 from $14,768. Income from operations was $55,802, below $56,341 in the prior-year quarter. Other income, net was also lower at $3,019 versus $3,270.
Net income for the quarter was $44,410, compared with $45,006 a year earlier. Basic earnings per share was $0.88 versus $0.90, and diluted earnings per share was $0.87 versus $0.89. For the 26-week period, however, net income increased to $91,292 from $80,199, while diluted earnings per share increased to $1.79 from $1.59. The reported results therefore show stronger first-half earnings despite lower second-quarter operating income and net income.
The balance sheet reported $264,778 of cash and cash equivalents, $22,402 of short-term investments, and $35,729 of long-term investments at August 1, 2026. Inventory was $161,403. The company had total assets of $1,094,707 and total liabilities of $605,755. No debt, operating cash flow, free cash flow, dividend, share repurchase, or forward guidance figures were provided in the filing.
Store operations expanded on the disclosed comparison, with 446 stores in 42 states at the end of the fiscal quarter compared with 440 stores in 42 states at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2025. The principal reported items to monitor are the progression of comparable store and online sales, expense growth relative to gross profit, inventory levels, and whether the first-half improvement in net income is sustained in future quarters.
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Forward guidance for revenue, gross margin, operating expenses, tax rate, and other metrics
- Previous-release outlook for comparison with actual results
- Non-GAAP financial measures
- Gross margin
- Prior-quarter comparisons for reported operating metrics
- Operating cash flow
- Free cash flow
- Debt balances
- Dividends
- Share repurchases
- Named executive commentary or executive quotes
- Segment revenue disclosure
AlphaAI analysis generated from the company’s SEC earnings filing (Form 8-K Item 2.02, or Form 6-K for a foreign private issuer). Every figure was cross-checked against the filing text; consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.