Jerash (US) - Earnings Call - Q2 2026

Executive Summary

• Q2 FY2026 revenue grew 4.3% YoY to $42.0M, gross margin compressed to 15.0% (vs. 17.5% LY) on mix and onboarding new customers, and diluted EPS was $0.04; management guided Q3 revenue to +19–21% YoY with GM ~13–15%.
• Results came in modestly above revenue consensus ($41.0M*) but below EPS consensus ($0.095*); EBITDA also trailed ($2.7M* est. vs. $1.85M* actual) as mix and higher financing needs weighed on profitability.
• Capacity expansion completed in late June added ~15% capacity; facilities remain fully booked through February 2026, and management is evaluating further expansions/acquisitions in Jordan to support multi‑year demand.
• Near‑term margin pressure reflects diversified customer/product mix and new program ramps; management targets a gradual return toward ~20% GM over a multi‑year horizon via automation and scale benefits.

Note: Asterisked values are from S&P Global consensus/actuals.

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

• What Went Well

  • Demand and top-line: Revenue +4.3% YoY to $42.0M on increased U.S. shipments and a more diverse customer base; Q3 revenue guide +19–21% YoY underlines sustained momentum.
  • Execution and capacity: ~15% capacity expansion completed in June; factories fully booked through February, supporting near-term volumes.
  • Logistics normalization: Regional shipping logistics have returned to normal with Haifa and Aqaba ports fully operational, reducing lead times and costs.
  • Management quote: “Jordan is increasingly becoming a preferred destination for global brands seeking to diversify… beyond Asia.” — Sam Choi, CEO.

• What Went Wrong

  • Margin compression: GM fell to 15.0% (vs. 17.5% LY) due to mix/customer diversification and absence of prior-year outerwear catch-up; Q3 GM guided lower at 13–15%.
  • Profitability vs. expectations: EPS $0.04 missed consensus $0.095*, and EBITDA ~$1.85M* missed $2.7M* est., reflecting mix and higher financing needs.
  • Higher other expenses and taxes: Other expenses rose to $456K (vs. $364K LY) on financing needs; effective tax rate increased to 24.3% in Q2.

Transcript

Operator (participant)

Good day, everyone, and welcome to the Jerash Holdings Fiscal 2026 second quarter financial results. At this time, all participants are placed on a listen-only mode, and we will open the floor for your questions and comments after the presentation. It is now my pleasure to hand the floor over to your host, Roger Pondel, Investor Relations. Sir, the floor is yours.

Roger Pondel (Head of Investor Relations)

Thank you very much, Matt. Good morning, everyone. Welcome to Jerash Holdings Fiscal 2026 Second Quarter Conference Call. I'm Roger Pondel with PondelWilkinson, Jerash Holdings Investor Relations Firm. On the call today from the company, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sam Choi, Chief Financial Officer Gilbert Lee, and Eric Tang, who leads the company's operations in Jordan. Before I turn the call over to Sam, I want to remind our listeners that today's call may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Such forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the company's control, including those set forth in the risk factor section of the company's most recent Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and copies of which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, along with other company filings made with the SEC from time to time. Results could differ materially from forward-looking statements, and Jerash Holdings undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law. With that behind us, I will turn the call over to Sam Choi. Sam?

Sam Choi (Chairman and CEO)

Thank you, Roger. Despite ongoing trade uncertainties, we continue to experience robust and growing demand from our long-standing customers and newly established strategic partners. Jordan is increasingly recognized as a preferred manufacturing hub for global brands seeking to diversify their supply chains beyond Asia. Apparel exports from Jordan to the United States, at a current effective tariff rate of 15%, remain significantly more favorable than other major sourcing countries, where rates range from 20% to more than 60%. In addition, Jordan maintains free trade agreements with other key markets, including the E.U., U.K., and Canada. Furthermore, Jordan's labor framework, which enables manufacturers to contract skilled foreign workers, further enhances our production quality and operational efficiency. This labor flexibility, combined with favorable trade conditions, reinforces Jerash's position as an attractive strategic sourcing partner for global brands navigating ongoing economic shifts.

In late June, we successfully completed the expansion of our existing manufacturing facilities, increasing our production capacity by approximately 15%. This additional capacity was much needed to support growing demand from our global customers and strategic partners. Looking ahead, we are receiving continued requests for even greater capacity, which has prompted us to initiate a long-term expansion plan. This plan includes evaluating potential acquisitions and developing our own land. This initiative is designed to ensure that Jerash remains well-positioned to meet evolving market demand and sustain our competitive edge in the global apparel industry. As part of our ongoing strategy, we continue to successfully diversify both our customer base and product mix. This effort was aimed at enhancing year-round production stability and reducing the impact of seasonality on our business.

While we anticipate these changes will strengthen our long-term growth, we do expect a slightly lower average gross margin in the near term. As order volumes for our expanded product offerings continue to scale in the coming years, our goal is to gradually improve gross margins to approximately 20%. We expect to achieve this through increased production automation and the benefits of economies of scale. During this important period of progress for the company, we remain vigilant about the potential impact of regional geopolitical uncertainties and evolving tariff regulations. These factors are being closely monitored as we advance our growth strategy to ensure resilience and long-term success. With that, I will now turn the call over to Eric, who is in charge of our operations in Jordan.

Eric Tang (Head of Operations)

Thank you, Sam. As we have noted previously, we believe the recent shift in U.S. tariff policy has accelerated the urgency with which businesses are looking to diversify their manufacturing footprint, and we are seeking ways to accommodate growing capacity demands. We have successfully completed shipping the initial phase of the major collaboration order of more than three million pairs of girls' shorts from our strategic partnership with Hanso Textile, a leading South Korea-based global apparel group that supplies a wide range of garments to major international retail and fashion brands. Shipment of the second phase is now scheduled to be completed by the end of November. Production and shipments for the rest of the order are scheduled to continue through February of 2026.

We are actively collaborating with both Hanso and its customer, a leading U.S.-based multinational and omnichannel retail corporation, to discuss additional scenarios and foster continued collaboration and growth together. Shipping logistics in the region have returned to normal, although the Haifa and Aqaba ports are fully operational for shipping finished goods and receiving raw materials. We are optimistic that the nearly two-year period of transportation challenges is behind us, allowing us to resume uninterrupted logistics support for our global customers. We continue to receive new business inquiries, and buyers from our major customers have submitted increased order protections for 2026. We are currently awaiting confirmation of purchase orders to begin planning production schedules beyond our current capacity, which is fully booked through February. These new opportunities reinforce our growth outlook and validate our strategy, focusing on diversifying both our customer base and product mix.

This approach enables us to optimize production capacity and drive stronger top-line performance and margins throughout the year. As Sam mentioned earlier, we are looking at different ways to expand our production capacity. The current collaboration expansion with the Jordanian Ministry of Labor to develop an extension adjacent to our existing facility in Al-Hazar is in progress. Upon completion, which is now expected in the second half of calendar year 2026, should add another 5-10% in total production capacity. Additionally, we are seeking other factory acquisition possibilities, as well as development of our own land. We look forward to keeping you updated on our progress. With that, I will now turn the call over to Gilbert to discuss our financial results. Gilbert, please.

Gilbert Lee (CFO)

Thank you, Eric. Revenue for the fiscal 2026 second quarter grew 4.3% to $42 million, compared to $40.2 million in the same quarter last year. The increase was primarily driven by higher shipment volumes to the company's U.S. customers, supported by a more diversified customer base starting this fiscal year. Gross profit was $6.3 million for the fiscal 2026 second quarter, compared with $7.1 million in the same quarter last year. Gross profit margin for the quarter declined to 15.0% from 17.5% in the same quarter last year, which benefited from catch-up production of some outerwear that carried higher margins originally scheduled for the first quarter of fiscal 2025. The decrease was primarily driven by the diversification to a broader customer base and a shift in product mix, which resulted in a lower average gross margin.

Operating expenses decreased to $5.2 million in the fiscal 2026 second quarter, from $5.9 million in the same quarter last year. The decrease was primarily due to better control of export costs and lower stock-based compensation expenses. Operating income was $1.09 million in the fiscal 2026 second quarter, slightly lower than $1.13 million in the same quarter last year. Total other expenses were $456,000 in the fiscal 2026 second quarter, compared with $364,000 in the same quarter last year, primarily reflecting the increase in financing need to support business growth. Income tax expenses were $154,000 in the fiscal 2026 second quarter, compared with $106,000 in the prior year quarter. The effective tax rate increased to 24.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2025, compared with 13.7% in the same quarter last year.

Net income was $479,000 or $0.04 per diluted share in the fiscal 2026 second quarter, compared with $665,000 or $0.05 per diluted share in the same quarter last year. Comprehensive income attributable to the company's common stockholder totaled $440,000 in the fiscal 2026 second quarter, compared with $663,000 in the same quarter last year. As of September 30, 2025, Jerash had cash and restricted cash totaled $13.7 million and net working capital of $35.2 million. Inventory was $26.3 million, and accounts receivable amounted to $5.8 million. Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $318,000 for the six months ended September 30, 2025, compared with cash provided by operating activities of approximately $2.4 million for the same period in fiscal 2025.

The decrease in net cash provided by operating activities was primarily driven by an increase in accounts receivable as a larger volume of goods was shipped toward the end of September, as well as advance payments to suppliers for orders scheduled to be completed in the fiscal third quarter. On November 7, 2025, Jerash's board of directors approved a regular quarterly dividend of $0.05 per share on its common stock, payable on November 26, 2025, to stockholders of record as of November 19. We're enthusiastic about our business prospects and performance ahead as we look at the near term and implement our long-term expansion plans. At the same time, we're staying focused on cost controls and enhancing operating efficiencies.

Looking ahead, we expect revenue for the fiscal 2026 third quarter to increase by 19%-21% over the same quarter last year, and our gross margin for the fiscal 2026 third quarter is expected to be approximately 13%-15%. We will now open up the call for questions, and I will turn the call back to the operator.

Operator (participant)

Certainly. Everyone at this time will be conducting a question-and-answer session. If you have any questions or comments, please press star one on your phone at this time. We do ask that while posing your question, please pick up your handset if you're listening on speakerphone to provide optimum sound quality. Once again, if you have any questions or comments, please press star one on your phone. Your first question is coming from Ryan Meyers from Lake Street Capital. Your line is live.

Ryan Meyers (Senior Research Analyst)

Hey, guys. Thanks for taking my questions. First one for me, you know, when we think about the revenue guide for the third quarter, is there any way you can break out, you know, how much of that is just coming from additional capacity that's come online versus how much of that is just increased order flow and demand?

Gilbert Lee (CFO)

We really don't break it down like that. I mean, our capacity overall has increased by about 10%-15% over the last fiscal year just by the expansion, our internal expansion throughout the existing capacity by adding machineries and adding people. So that amounts to about 15% increase in capacity. And then the rest of them would be increase in demand, increase in orders during the third quarter. I mean, third quarter year-to-year comparisons.

Ryan Meyers (Senior Research Analyst)

Okay. Makes sense. And thinking about, you know, where the gross margins came in at and where you guys guided for the third quarter, I know you said earlier on, we'll prepare the marks, that the goal is to improve the gross margins of the business to 20% or so. So can you just walk us through, I mean, what needs to happen to get us from where we're at now to this 20% gross margin? And then maybe if you can put some sort of a timeline or timetable on getting to those kind of 20% or so gross margins would be helpful.

Gilbert Lee (CFO)

As Sam has indicated, in the near term, the gross margin we're going to be still at a relatively flat or lower comparing to what we had been before because we're taking on some new customers. Usually, when we take on new customers and the new styles and new ways of making those products will cause us to be a little bit less efficient. But at the same time, we're also working on automating many of our production processes, also implementing an ERP system. But all this will take a while. So it is a long-term goal that we get back to about 20% in gross margin, but it will take a few years. Our goal is to get back there with expansion, with increasing volume and just by economies of scale.

And eventually, probably after our five-year plan, we will be able to gradually get back to about 20% gross margin.

Ryan Meyers (Senior Research Analyst)

Okay. Got it. Thank you for taking my questions.

Gilbert Lee (CFO)

Sure.

Operator (participant)

Thank you. Your next question is coming from Keegan Cox from D.A. Davidson. Your line is live.

Keegan Cox (Research Associate)

Hi, guys. Keegan on from Mike Baker. I just had a question on your.

Gilbert Lee (CFO)

My team.

Keegan Cox (Research Associate)

Hello. Yeah. I just had an inventory or an inventory-related question. Inventory is up 30%. Is that year over year? Is that kind of a typical seasonal build? Like, you usually work inventory down from 2Q to 3Q, at least from what I'm looking at. So if you can just give some context on that number, it would be great.

Gilbert Lee (CFO)

Well, the inventory is usually relatively higher in the first quarter, and then, yeah, in second quarter, it will go down. But this year is relatively, it's kind of different because we're taking on a large volume customer, and we had to procure a lot more raw material to be ready for production during our traditionally slower season, which is the third quarter and the fourth quarter. But now we're fully booked, and we anticipate to have a lot more production utilizing a lot more raw material and supplies in the upcoming quarter.

Keegan Cox (Research Associate)

Got it. And then just to follow up on, you talked about acquisitions or expansions in the press release and on the call so far. As you think about that, are you looking to acquire, you know, factories within Jordan, or is there any possibility of expansion into other geographies?

Gilbert Lee (CFO)

As of now, our plan is more focusing on our Jordan manufacturing base.

Keegan Cox (Research Associate)

Perfect. Thank you.

Operator (participant)

Thank you. Your next question is coming from Igor Novgorodtsev from Lares Capital. Your line is live.

Igor Novgorodtsev (Research Analyst)

Hello, and thank you for taking my questions. So my first question is about your expansion. Maybe you can provide a little bit more details of who are the customers for whom you're expanding? Are these the new customers mostly, or these existing customers which you already have which shifted the volume to Jordan or to your factories?

Gilbert Lee (CFO)

Well, we received increasing orders and increasing projections from our existing customers, as well as new customers and potential new customers that are just coming here, coming to our company and ask for ways of collaborations. So our existing customers, as you know, North Face, New Balance, they are all increasing what they want to do in Jordan. So on that end, we will try to continue to gradually grow with those existing legacy customers. But new customers like Hanso, which is the Korean-based retail, the Korean-based manufacturer that they just started doing business with us, but the potential is huge. Like Eric said, we just finished the first phase of the production of 3.7 million pieces of girl shorts, and we're still getting new orders from them.

So the increase or the expansion plan is really for all the existing customers, the new customers that we have onboarded in the past year or months, as well as new customers that we're still working with. So the demand is definitely real, and we've seen it in the next few years. So that's why we now really focus on developing our long-term strategic growth plan. And we will make announcements about our growth plan in the upcoming months. But as of now, we're still in the development state. And once our board approves it, then we will disclose that to everybody.

Igor Novgorodtsev (Research Analyst)

Also, if you can just give me a sort of snapshot of a pre-tariff versus post-tariff world. Obviously, a lot of things have changed in the United States. The customers which are coming to you now, where are they coming from? So you just mentioned Asia, but what specific countries? Is it just China, or this is also like Vietnam and Bangladesh? If you can just give us some better idea, where are they coming from? Where are they reducing their footprint and growth to expand at your factories?

Gilbert Lee (CFO)

Well, we have new customers. Well, Hanso, even though they're based in South Korea, they're supplying the US. So we're still producing in Jordan and shipping products to the U.S. That's why the advantage for us is because we have lower tariff rates for shipping to the US comparing to manufacturers in China, in Asia. So that's why everyone is focusing on coming to Jordan. And at the same time, we're also growing our shipping to Europe because we have zero tariff, zero duty for shipping to the E.U. So our business to Europe is also growing rapidly.

Igor Novgorodtsev (Research Analyst)

Okay. And you think to.

Gilbert Lee (CFO)

Oh, please go ahead.

Eric Tang (Head of Operations)

Yeah, sorry.

Gilbert Lee (CFO)

Yeah, Eric, go ahead. Yeah, in fact, to our understanding, I mean, the customer would like to shift some of their orders from China or even India because the Indian tariff, the reciprocal tariff to the U.S.A has been increased substantially. I mean, some orders, according to our understanding, were shifted from China and India. Yeah.

Igor Novgorodtsev (Research Analyst)

Okay. So my last question is about your Q4. Q4 traditionally has been a weak quarter for you because there's just not a lot of orders, so you took up on local orders. So I understand that this Q4 is looking quite a bit different, better, basically. So you can just maybe tell me a little bit about, I understand you didn't provide the guidance yet for Q4, but maybe at least qualitatively, how is this Q4 going to be different from Q4 last couple of years?

Gilbert Lee (CFO)

Yeah. This year is going to be different. I mean, you're right. In the past, we're quite seasonal, and the first half of the year usually has a much higher sales than the second half. But this year, it's going to be quite similar. The second half of the year will be quite similar to the first half. It's still not as high as the first half, but as Eric had indicated, our capacity is fully booked through the end of February, and our year-end is March. So it is likely that our Q4 would be still a pretty good quarter.

Igor Novgorodtsev (Research Analyst)

Okay. Thank you.

Gilbert Lee (CFO)

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Operator (participant)

That concludes our Q&A session. I'll now hand the conference back to CEO Sam Choi for closing remarks. Please go ahead.

Sam Choi (Chairman and CEO)

Thank you, Operator. And thanks to all of you for joining us today. Our business is clearly moving in the right direction. We appreciate your continued support and interest in Jerash and look forward to speaking with you soon about our progress. Thank you, all of you.

Gilbert Lee (CFO)

Thank you.

Operator (participant)

Thank you. Everybody, we conclude today's session.