TC
TJX COMPANIES INC /DE/ (TJX)·Q2 2026 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- TJX delivered a strong Q2 FY26: net sales $14.40B (+7% y/y), comps +4%, pretax margin 11.4% (+50 bps y/y), and diluted EPS $1.10 (+15% y/y), all above plan .
- TJX beat Wall Street consensus on both revenue ($14.40B vs $14.17B*) and EPS ($1.10 vs $1.01*); gross margin rose to 30.7% aided by favorable hedges, while SG&A leveraged on operational efficiencies .
- Management raised FY26 guidance: pretax margin to 11.4%-11.5% (from 11.3%-11.4%) and EPS to $4.52-$4.57 (from $4.34-$4.43), with comps now +3% and sales $59.3-$59.6B .
- Key catalysts: broad-based transaction growth across divisions, strength in HomeGoods and Canada, favorable FX tailwinds to EPS in Q2 (+$0.02), and confidence in tariff mitigation via buying flexibility and pricing discipline .
Note: Consensus values marked with * retrieved from S&P Global.
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Broad-based demand and traffic: “Customer transactions were up at every division…strong demand at each of our U.S. and international businesses” .
- Margin execution above plan: pretax margin 11.4% came in 90 bps above the high end of plan, driven by lower-than-expected tariff costs, sales leverage, and timing of expenses .
- Home outperformance and Canada strength: HomeGoods comps +5% and segment margin +90 bps; TJX Canada comps +9% with segment margin up ~100 bps (constant currency) .
Management quotes:
- CEO: “Sales, pretax profit margin, and earnings per share were all above our plan…we are raising our full-year guidance” .
- CFO: “Gross margin increased 30 basis points…Merchandise margin was flat despite higher tariff costs” .
- CEO: “The third quarter is off to a strong start, and I am very confident…as we enter the second half of the year” .
What Went Wrong
- Tariffs remain a headwind: Merchandise margin flat amid higher tariff costs; management continues to assume tariffs remain in place and must be offset .
- Interest income deleverage: net interest income reduced pretax margin by ~10 bps y/y in Q2 .
- Timing/seasonal factors: June saw weather-related softness; Q3 guide implies pretax margin down 20–30 bps y/y due to reversal of timing benefits and average retail dynamics .
Financial Results
Multi-Period Comparison (oldest → newest)
Q2 FY26 Actual vs Consensus
Note: Consensus values marked with * retrieved from S&P Global.
Comparable Sales by Division (Q2)
Net Sales by Division (Q2)
Segment Profit (Q2)
KPIs and Balance Sheet Highlights
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “With our strong second quarter profit results, we are raising our full-year guidance for both pretax profit margin and earnings per share.” — Ernie Herrman, CEO .
- “Gross margin increased 30 basis points versus last year, primarily due to favorable hedges. Merchandise margin was flat despite higher tariff costs.” — John Klinger, CFO .
- “Again this quarter, customer transactions increased at every division.” — John Klinger .
- “We see outstanding buying opportunities…which also gives me great confidence in our plans for the fall and holiday selling seasons.” — Ernie Herrman .
Q&A Highlights
- Pricing and value gap: TJX does not top-down dictate pricing; buyers preserve value gap vs competitors and adjust selectively SKU-by-SKU, helping mitigate tariffs without eroding value perception .
- Margin bridge: Q3 pretax margin expected down 20–30 bps y/y due to reversal of timing benefits and average retail dynamics; Q4 improves with higher sales volume but sees shrink accrual reversal .
- Traffic and transactions: Transactions up across divisions; basket slightly higher in Marmaxx vs Q1; strong start to Q3 .
- Store growth: >130 net new stores planned; relocations and ~500 remodels support consistent customer experience and competitiveness .
- Gifting and merchandising: Year-round gifting strategy and improved in-store storytelling driving impulse and multi-item purchases, notably in HomeGoods back-to-college .
Estimates Context
- Q2 FY26 beat: Revenue $14.401B vs $14.166B*; EPS $1.10 vs $1.014* .
- Forward context: Company guides Q3 EPS $1.17–$1.19 and sales $14.7–$14.8B; Street Q3 consensus EPS ~$1.219* and revenue ~$14.86B*, suggesting modest EPS conservatism relative to consensus and alignment on sales .
Note: Consensus values marked with * retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Broad-based strength and transaction growth underpin a resilient comp trajectory (+4% in Q2), with HomeGoods and Canada leading; supports market share gains amid peers’ price hikes and promotions .
- Margin quality improved versus plan: favorable hedges and expense leverage offset tariff headwinds; pretax margin raised to 11.4–11.5% for FY26 .
- Guidance raise is a clear positive catalyst: FY26 EPS lifted to $4.52–$4.57 and sales to $59.3–$59.6B; FX less negative vs prior guide .
- Inventory positioning is a tailwind: per-store inventory +10% y/y and outstanding availability supports fall/holiday flow and gifting strategy .
- Operational discipline: pricing model preserves value gap, buyers’ hand-to-mouth agility mitigates tariffs, and SG&A efficiencies contribute to leverage .
- H2 cadence: expect Q3 margin modestly down y/y on timing effects, with improvement in Q4; watch shrink accrual dynamics and average retail impacts .
- Capital returns remain robust: ~$2.0–$2.5B buybacks expected in FY26; Q2 returned $1.0B via buybacks and dividends .