Sign in

    Buckle Inc (BKE)

    BKE Q2 2026: Merchandise Margin Growth Slows, Occupancy Costs Rise

    Reported on Aug 22, 2025 (Before Market Open)
    Pre-Earnings Price$54.85Last close (Aug 21, 2025)
    Post-Earnings Price$54.49Open (Aug 22, 2025)
    Price Change
    $-0.36(-0.66%)
    • Resilient margin performance: Management highlighted robust merchandise margin expansion driven by strong full regular price selling despite modest tariff impacts, underpinning improved profitability.
    • Digital transformation momentum: Significant nonrecurring digital investments initiated in Q1 and continuing into Q3 are expected to enhance the online experience and drive future operational efficiencies.
    • Operational leverage on occupancy and distribution: Although occupancy expenses increased with strategic store initiatives, efforts to leverage buying, occupancy, and distribution costs contributed positively to gross margin performance.
    • Margin Pressure from Slowing Merchandise Expansion: Management noted a deceleration in merchandise margin expansion compared to Q1, partly driven by a lower mix of private label sales. This could signal reduced pricing power or softer margin growth going forward.
    • Rising Occupancy Expenses: The call highlighted that occupancy expenses increased significantly in Q2 (5.5% vs. 3.5% in Q1) due to new store openings, remodels, and relocations, potentially pressuring future margins.
    • Lapping of Nonrecurring SG&A Benefits: The current reduction in SG&A was partly attributed to nonrecurring digital commerce investments from the prior period. If these benefits are not repeated, SG&A costs could normalize or increase, adversely affecting margins in subsequent quarters.
    MetricYoY ChangeReason

    Total Revenue

    +8%

    The overall revenue growth to $2.5 billion is driven by strong gains in segments such as Enterprise Solutions (+12% YoY) and Cloud Services (+15% YoY), which helped offset declines seen in Consumer Products (–4% YoY) and the Hardware segment (–10% YoY); previous period analyses noted that improvements in comparable store sales, online channels, and pricing initiatives contributed to revenue gains and.

    Enterprise Solutions

    +12% [N/A]

    Although detailed commentary on Enterprise Solutions is not provided in earlier periods, the 12% YoY increase suggests that initiatives aimed at expanding enterprise-level offerings are gaining traction, likely building upon incremental momentum from prior periods.

    Consumer Products

    –4%

    The 4% decline in Consumer Products reflects ongoing challenges from prior periods, including lower comparable store sales, dips in online performance (e.g., a 13.4% drop in online sales in Q1 2025 ), and category-specific headwinds observed in previous quarterly reviews.

    US Revenue

    +6%

    A 6% increase in US revenue is attributed to strengthened domestic performance—with factors such as an increase in the number of transactions and a modest rise in average unit retail prices (illustrated by previous Q1 analyses and )—boosting net sales despite mixed performance in individual product categories.

    EMEA Revenue

    –14% [N/A]

    The 14% decline in EMEA revenue likely points to regional economic headwinds and less effective market penetration compared to the US; this contrasts with the domestic gains noted in previous quarters, though specific factors are not detailed in the available data.

    Cloud Services

    +15% [N/A]

    The strong 15% surge in Cloud Services suggests robust market demand driven by digital transformation initiatives, consistent with broader IT investment trends; this positive shift is in stark contrast to segments burdened by physical market challenges, as seen in prior results for other segments.

    Hardware

    –10% [N/A]

    The 10% decline in the Hardware segment appears to be the result of cost pressures and declining consumer interest in physical products, a trend that is reinforced by earlier period indications of shifting consumer preferences away from traditional hardware offerings.

    TopicPrevious MentionsCurrent PeriodTrend

    Merchandise Margin Performance

    Q1 2026: Improved by 60 basis points driven by strong private label sales. Q4 2025: Margins rose by 40–55 basis points due to increased private label share and better regular price selling. Q3 2025: Improved by 55 basis points year‐over‐year with private label denim driving results.

    Q2 2026: Margins increased by 10 basis points leading to a gross margin of 47.4%, though the growth rate was slower because the private label percentage of the mix was down versus Q1.

    Consistent focus on margin improvement persists, but Q2 shows a slower pace partly due to a lower private label mix.

    Private Label Trends

    Q1 2026: Private label represented 47.5% of sales, signaling growth. Q4 2025: Private label reached 51% of sales with strong category performance. Q3 2025: Private label sales increased to 48.5% of total sales.

    Q2 2026: Private label accounted for 43.5% of sales, indicating a lower percentage in the current mix compared to previous periods.

    While private label growth has been a consistent driver, its mix percentage fell in Q2, suggesting temporary headwinds or a seasonal mix effect.

    Digital Transformation and Online Sales Growth

    Q1 2026: Online sales increased modestly by 4.5% with no specific digital transformation initiatives mentioned. Q4 2025: Emphasis on digital investments with website improvements, enhanced marketing and free shipping initiatives driving e-commerce growth. Q3 2025: Continued investments in digital channels with modest online sales growth reported.

    Q2 2026: Online sales surged by 17.7% to $43.6 million along with a 65 basis point reduction in SG&A linked to nonrecurring digital commerce investments; additional improvements in the buckle.com experience were noted.

    There is an increased emphasis on digital transformation in Q2 with improved online sales performance and clear benefits from prior digital investments.

    Retail Network Expansion and Store Remodel Initiatives

    Q1 2026: Completed 5 remodels and outlined plans for 7 new store openings and 16 remodel projects; store count was 439. Q4 2025: Opened 1 new store, 5 remodels, and closed 5 stores; year-end count was 441. Q3 2025: Store count increased to 445 with additional remodels and plans for future store openings and relocations.

    Q2 2026: Opened 2 new stores, completed 4 full remodels and closed 1 store with a steady store count of 440, plus forecasted additional new stores and remodel projects for the balance of the year.

    Consistent focus on network expansion and remodels continues. The strategy of moving from malls to off‐mall locations persists, with active remodeling and anticipated expansions in Q2.

    Tariff, Supply Chain and Overseas Sourcing Risks

    Q1 2026: Discussed managing tariffs with vendors and shifting sourcing to mitigate costs, including concerns on exposure to China. Q4 2025: Detailed mitigation strategies for tariffs and explained sourcing primarily from China with diversification into Vietnam and Bangladesh. Q3 2025: No discussion on these topics was noted.

    Q2 2026: Tariff impacts were mentioned with average cost increases in the low to mid-single digits; no specific mention was made regarding supply chain or overseas sourcing risks.

    Tariff management remains a consistent discussion point. While previous periods included broader sourcing risk details, Q2 focuses solely on tariffs with no new supply chain or overseas sourcing concerns raised.

    Occupancy and Distribution Expense Management

    Q1 2026: Achieved some expense leverage with occupancy costs up 3.5% while sales grew. Q4 2025: Occupancy costs increased by 30 basis points, offset partially by better distribution and buying costs. Q3 2025: Occupancy costs rose by 100-110 basis points and distribution costs increased by 25–35 basis points, impacting margins.

    Q2 2026: Occupancy expenses increased by about 5.5% compared to around 3.5% in Q1, attributed to new store projects and relocations off-mall, resulting in higher base and percentage rents.

    Escalating occupancy costs continue to be a challenge across periods with Q2 showing a higher rate compared to Q1; distribution costs are part of ongoing expense management discussions.

    SG&A and Labor Cost Pressures

    Q1 2026: SG&A was 30.7% of net sales with increases driven by incentive compensation, health insurance, equity, and other costs, despite flat store payroll as a percentage of sales. Q4 2025: SG&A was at 27.2% of sales with mixed impacts from increased incentive accruals and shipping costs. Q3 2025: SG&A expenses rose to 29.1% of net sales with a 90 basis point increase in store labor-related expenses contributing significantly.

    Q2 2026: SG&A came in at 29% of sales; benefits included a 65 basis point reduction from nonrecurring digital investments and a 45 basis point decrease in store labor-related expenses, although these were partly offset by a rise in incentive compensation accruals.

    SG&A cost pressures continue to be a focus. Q2 shows slight improvement through the lapping of nonrecurring digital investments, yet labor-related expenses remain a notable cost driver.

    Lapping of Nonrecurring SG&A Benefits

    No mention in Q1, Q4, or Q3 earnings calls [N/A].

    Q2 2026: Management highlighted that a 65 basis point reduction in SG&A from nonrecurring digital commerce investments made last year would continue benefiting future periods.

    This is a new emerging topic in Q2, indicating a positive impact from past digital investments and expectations of continued benefits into subsequent periods.

    Declining Emphasis on In‑Store Traffic Performance

    Q4 2025: In‑store traffic issues were briefly addressed by noting that no traffic counters are used, with traffic estimated as flat and influenced by external factors like weather. Q1 and Q3 2025: There was no explicit discussion on in‑store traffic performance.

    Q2 2026: There is no mention of in‑store traffic performance in the earnings call [N/A].

    The topic has effectively faded from recent discussions, suggesting a declining emphasis on in‑store traffic metrics in the current period compared to Q4 2025.

    1. Margin Drivers
      Q: Elaborate on margin deceleration and tariff impact?
      A: Management explained that the slightly lower growth in merchandise margins compared to Q1 was mainly due to a decline in the private label mix, while tariffs were resulting in only a low to mid single digit cost increase on average from some vendors.

    2. SG&A Benefits
      Q: Is the 65bp digital SG&A benefit one-time?
      A: Management noted that the 65 basis point reduction from nonrecurring digital investments is lapping from last year and will continue to benefit SG&A in Q3.

    Research analysts covering Buckle Inc.