EW
European Wax Center, Inc. (EWCZ)·Q1 2026 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- As of Nov 20, 2025, the latest reported quarter is Q3 FY2025; Q1 FY2026 results (8‑K 2.02 and call) are not yet released. Management reiterated FY2025 outlook in Q3, narrowing net closure expectations and emphasizing improving marketing efficiency and franchisee engagement .
- Setup into Q1 FY2026: Street expects $51.78M revenue*, $0.18 EPS*, and $18.62M EBITDA*; the recent trajectory shows stabilizing comps (+0.3% in Q2, +0.2% in Q3) and margin gains (Adj. EBITDA margin 38.7% in Q2 and 37.2% in Q3) while revenue softened YoY on lower product mix .
- Guidance changes in 2025: revenue and SSS ranges were lowered/narrowed in Q2, then reaffirmed in Q3; closures outlook narrowed to 35–40 for FY2025, reflecting both timing and traction with franchisee initiatives—supportive for narrative stabilization into 2026 .
- Catalysts to watch: sustained SSS/traffic improvement from data-driven marketing and influencer strategy, timing of marketing/tech spend into Q4, franchise unit economics support (COO-led ops focus), and closure moderation—key for Q1 FY2026 delivery vs Street .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Efficiency and margins improved despite softer revenue: Q3 Adj. EBITDA rose to $20.2M (+9.6% YoY) and margin expanded 400 bps to 37.2%; Q2 margin was 38.7% (+420 bps YoY) .
- Marketing and guest analytics are gaining traction: contactability increased materially (to 60% by Q3; 57% in Q2), with structured lifecycle campaigns improving frequency; influencer strategy showed 75% efficiency improvement; Eyebrow Day delivered 75M+ impressions and a 53% lift in unique site visitors .
- Network health actions: closure outlook narrowed and net leverage trended to 3.9x (3.7x ex-buybacks) by Q3; franchisee engagement and in-center coaching improved KPIs in engaged centers, supporting long-term unit economics .
What Went Wrong
- Top-line softness: Q3 revenue declined 2.2% YoY to $54.2M and system-wide sales fell 0.8%; Q2 revenue fell 6.6% YoY to $55.9M, driven by lower wholesale/retail mix and timing effects .
- New guest acquisition lagged expectations: while cost per acquisition and efficiency improved, management acknowledged slower-than-desired progress, expecting more improvement in 2026 .
- Regional unevenness and unit closures: continued relative weakness in NY/Philadelphia/DC and ongoing closures of low-volume units (bad real estate/markets), though the closure range narrowed; timing shifts also affected quarter-to-quarter closure cadence .
Financial Results
Note: Q1 FY2026 actuals are not yet reported; Street estimates shown with an asterisk and S&P Global disclaimer.
Values retrieved from S&P Global for Q1 FY2026 estimates.
Segment revenue breakdown (actuals):
Key KPIs and profitability:
Context for deltas:
- Q2 revenue decline tied to lower wholesale/retail mix and Q1 tariff pull-forward effects; margins benefited from mix and cost discipline .
- Q3 margins improved with lower SG&A and ad timing; some expenses shift to Q4, tempering sequential comparison .
Guidance Changes
Why: Management adopted a more conservative top-line outlook given timing of marketing impact and new guest acquisition ramp, while cost control and mix preserved EBITDA; closures narrowed due to timing and better traction with franchisee initiatives .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- Strategic priorities: “driving sales through traffic growth, improving four-wall profitability for our franchisees, and pursuing disciplined, profitable expansion” .
- On marketing progress: “We… are seeing… improved efficiency and returns… create consistent personalized communication… convert less frequent guests into high-frequency visitors” .
- On influencer strategy: “content… showing a 75% improvement in efficiency… Eyebrow Day… delivered more than 75 million impressions and drove a 53% lift in unique website visitors” .
- On closures and unit health: closures are low-volume units (real estate/market issues); narrowing closure outlook reflects timing and traction with franchisees .
- Non-GAAP framework: Adjusted Net Income definition revised in Q1 2025 to exclude amortization of intangibles; reconciliations provided .
Q&A Highlights
- Frequency uplift and contactability: Contactable guest share rose to 60%; management sees “meaningful progress” in moving non-routine guests back into routines but avoids disclosing frequency by band .
- Regional commentary: Stability overall with relative softness in NY/Philadelphia/DC and improvement in California; Wax Pass sales up slightly YoY .
- Closures outlook and confidence: Closing low-volume units; lease expirations matter; improved visibility and franchisee partnership reduce surprise risk; still targeting net unit growth by end-2026 .
- Q4 modeling/timing: Expense timing (marketing/tech) shifts from Q3 to Q4; full-year EBITDA reaffirmed .
- New vs ticket strategy: Emphasis on sustainable traffic growth coupled with balanced ticket strategy (price and add-ons), avoiding deep discounting .
Estimates Context
- Street (S&P Global) Q1 FY2026 consensus: Revenue $51.78M*, EPS $0.18*, EBITDA $18.62M*; 4 revenue estimates, 3 EPS estimates. These set the near-term bar given improving SSS/margins but softer revenue base in recent quarters. Values retrieved from S&P Global.
- Implications: If SSS and traffic initiatives continue to translate, margin resilience could support EBITDA delivery; key is evidence of improved new guest acquisition and sustained frequency into Q1 FY2026 .
Estimates table:
Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Setup into Q1 FY2026: Street expects ~$51.8M revenue and $0.18 EPS*, with the story hinging on visible SSS/traffic improvement from data-driven marketing and influencer efforts; watch for concrete proof of new guest velocity and frequency uplift. Values retrieved from S&P Global.
- Margin resilience vs softer revenue: Mix and cost discipline have expanded Adj. EBITDA margins despite revenue declines; confirm if expense timing into Q4 normalizes and whether margin gains persist in Q1 FY2026 .
- Closure moderation and unit economics: Narrowed closure range and stronger ops support should aid network health; updates on 2026 opening pipeline and COO-led ops KPIs will be key .
- Regional watchpoints: Continued softness in NY/Philadelphia/DC vs improving Calif./TX/FL; localized execution and marketing effectiveness remain important to the comp narrative .
- Guidance discipline: FY2025 outlook held after Q2 lowering; any early FY2026 color could be a stock catalyst, especially on SSS and unit growth trajectory .
- Non-GAAP clarity: Adjusted Net Income now excludes intangibles amortization—track reconciliation items and any legal/one-time costs to assess core earnings power .
- Balance sheet/capital returns: Net leverage improved to 3.9x (3.7x ex-buybacks) and buybacks largely executed; liquidity and securitization remain supportive of turnaround investments .
Additional Detail and Cross-References:
- Q3 FY2025 headline results: Revenue $54.2M (-2.2% YoY), SSS +0.2%, Adj. EBITDA $20.2M (+9.6% YoY; margin 37.2%) .
- Q2 FY2025 headline results: Revenue $55.9M (-6.6% YoY), SSS +0.3%, Adj. EBITDA $21.6M (+4.7% YoY; margin 38.7%) .
- FY2025 reiterated outlook in Q3: Revenue $205–$209M; SSS 0–1%; Adj. EBITDA $69–$71M; Adjusted NI $31–$33M .
- Definitions and reconciliations for non-GAAP metrics provided in filings; Adj. NI definition update in Q1 2025 .