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Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (BOOT)·Q4 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q4 FY25 net sales rose 16.8% to $453.7M, consolidated same-store sales grew 6.0%, and gross margin expanded 130 bps to 37.1%; diluted EPS was $1.22, up from $0.96 YoY .
- Versus S&P Global consensus, BOOT modestly missed on both EPS ($1.22 vs $1.245*) and revenue ($453.7M vs $458.4M*); strength in merchandise margin was offset by SG&A deleverage and occupancy costs of new stores .
- FY26 guidance initiated: sales $2.07–$2.15B (+8–13%), comps -2% to +2%, EPS $5.50–$6.40, with expected margin pressure in 2H from tariffs; Q1 FY26 guided sales $483–$491M and EPS $1.44–$1.52 .
- Board authorized a $200M share repurchase program; management plans to execute ~¼ in FY26, providing capital return amid strong cash generation .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- “Total revenue increased 17%… consolidated same-store sales increased 6%… fourth quarter merchandise margin expanded 210 bps” (CEO) .
- “Merchandise margin increased… primarily the result of supply chain efficiencies, lower shrink expense, better buying economies of scale and growth in exclusive brand penetration” (CFO) .
- Broad-based category strength: ladies’ western boots/apparel comped mid-teens; men’s western boots/apparel high single digits; denim mid-teens (CEO) .
What Went Wrong
- SG&A rate deleveraged 10 bps on higher legal expenses and store payroll; buying/occupancy/distribution costs deleveraged 80 bps due to new store occupancy .
- Tariff headwinds expected to impact 2H FY26; exclusive brands estimated ~$8M incremental cost, with potential demand elasticity on third-party price increases (CFO/CEO) .
- Work boots comped low-single-digit negative; e-commerce showed volatility tied to promotional laps and a vendor dropship outage (CEO) .
Financial Results
Quarter-over-Quarter and Year-over-Year
Q4 FY25 vs Prior Year and vs Estimates
Bold highlights: modest miss on revenue and EPS vs consensus in Q4 FY25 (actual below estimates)*.
Channel and KPIs
Guidance Changes
Share Repurchase: $200M authorization; plan to execute ~¼ in FY26 .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO: “We are very pleased with the fiscal ’25 results… revenue increased to a record $1.9 billion… earnings per diluted share [up] 23% to $5.88” .
- CFO: “Gross profit rate increased 130 basis points… due to a 210 basis point increase in merchandise margin rate… offset by 80 basis points of deleverage in buying, occupancy and distribution center costs” .
- CEO: “We expect… merchandise margin growth in the first half… pressure in the second half as we begin to sell tariffed goods” .
- CFO: “Tariff impact on the year [exclusive brands] around $8 million… third-party price increases mid-single digits embedded in outlook” .
- CEO: “We will invest in the store experience… introduction of traffic counters… focus on converting traffic into sales” .
Q&A Highlights
- Comps cadence: Early Q1 comps +9%; full Q1 guided +6%, with 2H comps expected to flatten on pricing/tariff elasticity .
- Tariff impact and pricing power: ~$8M EB cost headwind; third-party vendor price increases mid-single digits; management to test price elasticity and lean on EB to mitigate .
- SG&A leverage: FY26 SG&A expected to leverage at flat comp; normalization of legal/incentive costs and scale from new units .
- Category/merch: Denim momentum; women’s/mens western strong; work boots soft; targeted campaigns to reinvigorate work .
- E-commerce volatility: April weakness due to lapping prior-year promotion and vendor dropship systems upgrade; May bounce-back .
- Store openings: 65–70 stores planned, broadly across legacy/new markets; Q1 cadence 10–12 openings .
Estimates Context
Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Where estimates may adjust: Potential downward revisions to 2H FY26 margin assumptions and comps given tariff-driven price elasticity; upside potential if price increases are absorbed better than modeled and EB penetration outperforms (management notes some upside optionality) .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Q4 delivered strong top-line growth and margin expansion; the modest miss vs consensus reflects SG&A/legal costs and new-store occupancy deleverage amid otherwise robust merchandise margin gains .
- FY26 outlook is prudent with explicit tariff headwinds in 2H; H1 should benefit from pre-tariff inventory and EB penetration growth, setting up a two-speed year .
- Share repurchase authorization ($200M) adds a tangible capital return lever; management intends to buy steadily through FY26, supported by operating cash flow .
- Watch category mix: denim and women’s/mens western strength continue; work boots are a focal area for marketing and EB innovation (Hawx, Cody James) .
- Operational investments (traffic counters, in-store AI tools, omnichannel capabilities) aim to lift conversion and profitability; expect SG&A leverage at flat comps in FY26 .
- Tariff mitigation strategy (re-sourcing, factory cost reductions, selective pricing) plus EB growth should cushion margin pressure; monitor consumer elasticity and third-party MAP constraints .
- Near-term trading: stock likely keyed to early FY26 comps/margin trajectory and buyback execution; medium-term thesis rests on new-store growth (65–70 FY26), EB-led margin expansion, and steady omni traffic conversion .