Pedestrians within the snow at Occasions Sq. throughout a winter storm in New York, US, on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Photographs
Historic winter storms and subsequent retailer closures weighed on Hole’s efficiency throughout its vacation quarter and contributed to worse-than-expected outcomes at its portfolio of manufacturers, the retailer mentioned Thursday.
Chilly climate, snow and ice all through a lot of the U.S. in January led to about 800 short-term retailer closures on the storms’ peak, contributing to a miss on comparable gross sales for Previous Navy and blended companywide outcomes, the retailer mentioned.
“Previous Navy and all of the manufacturers had been truly trending higher heading into that climate disruption,” mentioned finance chief Katrina O’Connell. “The excellent news is the tendencies recovered instantly after these storms handed.”
Throughout the enterprise, which incorporates Previous Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta and Hole’s namesake banner, the retailer reported blended fiscal fourth quarter outcomes – lacking expectations on the underside line and assembly consensus on income.
Here is how the retailer did in contrast with what Wall Avenue was anticipating, based mostly on a survey of analysts by LSEG:
- Earnings per share: 45 cents vs. 46 cents anticipated
- Income: $4.24 billion vs. $4.24 billion anticipated
Hole’s inventory fell as a lot as 9% in prolonged buying and selling Thursday.
The corporate’s reported web revenue for the three-month interval that ended Jan. 31 was $171 million, or 45 cents per share, in contrast with $206 million, or 54 cents per share, a yr earlier. Through the quarter, Hole’s gross margin was weighed down by tariffs and fell to 38.1%, barely worse than analysts anticipated, based on StreetAccount.
Gross sales rose to $4.24 billion, up about 2% in comparison with $4.15 billion a yr earlier.
Hole’s steerage was largely in keeping with expectations, however didn’t exceed consensus. For the present quarter, it is anticipating income to rise between 1% and a pair of%, in comparison with expectations of two%, based on LSEG.
For the total yr, the corporate is anticipating gross sales to develop between 2% and three%, in keeping with expectations of two.5% development, based on LSEG. Given a $313 million optimistic authorized settlement Hole noticed throughout the present quarter, it issued an adjusted full-year earnings per share outlook. The corporate mentioned its anticipating adjusted earnings per share to be between $2.20 and $2.35, in comparison with expectations of $2.32, based on LSEG.
Hole didn’t issue latest adjustments to tariffs into its outlook as a result of the corporate believes it is “untimely to plan for a change” because the scenario continues to evolve, mentioned O’Connell. Given how a lot of a success Hole took from President Donald Trump’s world tariffs, which had been struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court docket final month, Hole might problem stronger steerage within the coming quarter as a result of the newly enacted 15% tariff is barely beneath the earlier charges for a lot of international locations.
“If the [current] Part 122 tariffs had been to remain in place for the yr or expire in July, it ought to result in a extra favorable final result versus the outlook we offered as we speak,” mentioned O’Connell. “If 15% had been the speed that may keep in place for the stability of the yr, that price is barely beneath the present IEEPA charges which might be contemplated in our plans, so that would give us a modest profit to working revenue if that state of affairs had been to play out.”
Hole’s uneven outcomes come simply over two years into CEO Richard Dickson’s turnaround plan and analysts start to anticipate extra from the attire large. Now that the corporate has improved profitability, returned to development and amassed a staggering $3 billion money pile, Dickson mentioned he is prepared to show to the subsequent section of the plan, which is about “constructing momentum.”
“Our major focus goes to be on rising our core attire enterprise, and we will do that by way of steady enchancment,” mentioned Dickson. “This has all been pushed by disciplined execution, which we have to proceed to do with higher product, higher advertising and higher storytelling and that is not simple, however we’re proving that that muscle is getting stronger and stronger now.”
Within the meantime, Hole can also be turning its sights on development alternatives for the corporate, together with its growth into magnificence and equipment and its trend and leisure platform by way of the latest appointment of a chief leisure officer. He mentioned the ventures will start to essentially scale subsequent yr.
Here is a more in-depth take a look at how every model carried out:
Previous Navy
Hole’s largest and most essential model noticed gross sales rise 3% to $2.3 billion, with comparable gross sales additionally up 3%, properly beneath analyst consensus of 4.3%, based on StreetAccount. Regardless of the miss, Hole mentioned Previous Navy’s “worth worth equation is resonating with customers” and it is persevering with to win over consumers throughout a variety of revenue ranges.
Hole
The brightest spot of Hole’s quarter got here from its namesake banner, which noticed gross sales rise 8% to $1.1 billion with comparable gross sales up 7%, far forward of expectations of 4.6%, based on StreetAccount. Beneath Dickson, the model has labored to regain its cultural relevance and is profitable over a variety of generations, together with youthful, Gen Z consumers.
Banana Republic
The safari-chic workwear model posted its third straight quarter of optimistic comparable gross sales, which had been up 4%, beating expectations of two.5%. Gross sales rose 1% to $549 million, reflecting progress in each advertising and product assortment. “Males’s simply continues to construct momentum. Key gadgets just like the traveler pant, our cashmere program, actually incredible outerwear that is been driving the efficiency, significantly within the quarter,” mentioned Dickson. “Ladies’s efficiency is changing into far more constant. We have had power in denim skirts and sweaters and as we enter 2026, Banana is basically beginning to discover its momentum.”
Athleta
The athleisure model noticed one other quarter of sagging gross sales, with income down 11% to $354 million and comparable gross sales down 10%. In some methods, the drop displays an total sluggish athletic attire market, however the firm has additionally had a lot of strategic missteps, together with concentrating on the unsuitable buyer and providing merchandise that didn’t land. Beneath the model’s new CEO, Dickson mentioned Athleta has been engaged on revamping the assortment, bringing again buyer favorites and dialing up innovation.
