Tilly’s, Inc. reported earnings rose 61.5 percent in the fiscal second quarter ended August 1 as same-store sales vaulted 12.1 percent, well above guidance.

Earnings of 27 cents a share compared with company guidance in the range of 13 cents to 20 cents. Same-store growth of 12.1 percent topped guidance in the range of an increase of 6 percent to 10 percent.

“We maintained our positive operating momentum throughout the second quarter and the important back-to-school season. We have now produced four consecutive quarters of year-over-year comparable net sales growth and, inclusive of fiscal August to start the third quarter, thirteen consecutive months of year-over-year comparable net sales growth. We also delivered our fifth consecutive quarter of year-over-year profit improvement in the second quarter,” commented Nate Smith, president and chief executive officer. “We are now profitable on a trailing four quarters basis and on a year-to-date basis for fiscal 2026. Based on our year-to-date performance and assuming our positive momentum continues, we believe we are well positioned to produce our first profitable fiscal year since 2022.”

Operating Results Overview

Fiscal 2026 Second Quarter Compared to Fiscal 2025 Second Quarter

The following comparisons refer to the company’s operating results for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 ended August 1, 2026 versus the second quarter of fiscal 2025 ended August 2, 2025.

  • Total net sales were $163.5 million, an increase of 8.1 percent. Total comparable net sales, including both physical stores and e-commerce (“e-com”), increased by 12.1 percent.
  • Net sales from physical stores were $129.0 million, an increase of 5.1 percent. The company ended the second quarter with 220 total stores, a decrease of 12 stores or 5.2 percent, compared to 232 total stores at the end of the second quarter last year. Comparable net sales from physical stores increased by 10.3 percent relative to the comparable 13-week period ended August 2, 2025. Net sales from physical stores represented 78.9 percent of total net sales this year compared to 81.1 percent of total net sales last year.
  • Net sales from e-com were $34.5 million, an increase of 20.9 percent. E-com net sales represented 21.1 percent of total net sales this year compared to 18.9 percent of total net sales last year.
  • Gross profit, including buying, distribution, and occupancy costs, was $58.1 million, or 35.5 percent of net sales, an improvement of $9.0 million or 300 basis points as a percentage of net sales compared to $49.1 million, or 32.5 percent of net sales, last year. Product margins improved by 140 basis points as a percentage of net sales, marking the company’s seventh consecutive quarter with year-over-year product margin improvement.
  • Buying, distribution, and occupancy costs improved by 160 basis points as a percentage of net sales due to carrying these costs against higher net sales this year. Lower occupancy costs primarily associated with our reduced store count were largely offset by higher e-com shipping expenses associated with e-com net sales growth.
  • Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses were $49.9 million, or 30.5 percent of net sales, compared to $46.4 million, or 30.7 percent of net sales, last year. The $3.5 million increase in SG&A was primarily attributable to incentive bonus accruals of $1.5 million associated with achieving improved operating performance, marketing expenses of $0.8 million, and store payroll and related benefits of $0.6 million. SG&A expenses improved by 20 basis points as a percentage of net sales due to carrying these expenses against higher net sales this year.
  • Operating income improved to $8.2 million, or 5.0 percent of net sales, compared to $2.7 million, or 1.8 percent of net sales, last year, due to the combined impact of the factors noted above.
  • Income tax expense was $0.1 million, or 1.0 percent of pre-tax income, compared to an income tax benefit of $41 thousand, or (1.3) percent of pre-tax income, last year. Both periods include the continuing impact of a full, non-cash deferred tax asset valuation allowance.
  • Net income was $8.4 million, or 27 cents per diluted share, an improvement of $5.2 million or 17 cents per diluted share, compared to $3.2 million, or 10 cents per diluted share, last year. Weighted average diluted shares were 31.2 million this year compared to 30.3 million diluted shares last year.

Fiscal 2026 First Half Compared to Fiscal 2025 First Half

The following comparisons refer to the company’s operating results for the first half of fiscal 2026 ended August 1, 2026 versus the first half of fiscal 2025 ended August 2, 2025.

  • Total net sales were $288.2 million, an increase of 11.3 percent. Total comparable net sales, including both physical stores and e-commerce (“e-com”), increased by 16.5 percent.
  • Net sales from physical stores were $225.3 million, an increase of 8.0 percent. Comparable net sales from physical stores increased by 14.5 percent relative to the comparable 26-week period ended August 2, 2025. Net sales from physical stores represented 78.2 percent of total net sales this year compared to 80.6 percent of total net sales last year.
  • Net sales from e-com were $62.9 million, an increase of 25.2 percent. E-com net sales represented 21.8 percent of total net sales this year compared to 19.4 percent of total net sales last year.
  • Gross profit, including buying, distribution, and occupancy costs, was $94.2 million, or 32.7 percent of net sales, an improvement of $23.8 million or 550 basis points as a percentage of net sales compared to $70.4 million, or 27.2 percent of net sales, last year. Product margins improved by 240 basis points primarily due to improved full-price selling associated with operating with inventories that were more current in terms of aging compared to last year as well as improved average unit retail prices on aged, clearance items. Buying, distribution, and occupancy costs improved by 310 basis points due to carrying these costs against higher net sales this year. Lower occupancy costs largely associated with our reduced store count were partially offset by higher e-com shipping expenses associated with e-com net sales growth.
  • SG&A expenses were $94.1 million, or 32.6 percent of net sales, compared to $90.4 million, or 34.9 percent of net sales, last year. The $3.7 million increase in SG&A was primarily attributable to incentive bonus accruals of $1.9 million associated with achieving improved operating performance, marketing expenses of $1.4 million, and store payroll and related benefits of $1.1 million. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in non-cash store asset impairment charges of $1.1 million. SG&A expenses improved by 230 basis points as a percentage of net sales due to carrying these expenses against higher net sales this year.
  • Operating income was $75 thousand, or 0.0 percent of net sales, an improvement of $20.1 million compared to an operating loss of $(20.0) million, or (7.7) percent of net sales, last year, due to the combined impact of the factors noted above.
  • Income tax expense was $0.2 million, or 34.3 percent of pre-tax income, compared to an income tax benefit of $0.2 million, or 0.9 percent of pre-tax loss, last year. The effective tax rate for the current period exceeded the combined federal and state statutory tax rate primarily due to state tax true-up adjustments, the impact of tax rate changes, and changes in the valuation allowance.
  • Net income was $0.4 million, or 1 cents per diluted share, an improvement of $19.4 million or 64 cents per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $(19.0) million, or $63 cents per share, last year. Weighted average diluted shares were 30.8 million this year compared to 30.1 million shares last year.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

As of August 1, 2026, the company had total available liquidity of $125.5 million, comprised of $62.2 million of cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities and $63.3 million of available, undrawn borrowing capacity under its asset-backed credit facility. Total cash and cash equivalents were $50.7 million at August 2, 2025. Total inventories decreased by 1.3 percent compared to the end of the second quarter last year. Total year-to-date capital expenditures at the end of the second quarter were $2.8 million this year compared to $2.1 million at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2025.

Fiscal 2026 Third Quarter Outlook

Total comparable net sales for fiscal August ended August 29, 2026 increased by 14.6 percent relative to the comparable period of fiscal 2025, marking the company’s 13th consecutive month of comparable net sales growth. Based on current and historical trends, the company currently estimates the following for the third quarter of fiscal 2026 ending October 31, 2026:

  • Net sales in the range of approximately $150 million to $155 million, translating to an estimated comparable net sales increase of 10 percent to 14 percent, respectively, relative to last year’s third quarter;
  • Product margins to be slightly improved compared to last year’s third quarter;
  • SG&A expenses to be approximately $47 million to $49 million;
  • An estimated effective income tax rate in the low to mid-teens as a percentage of pre-tax income, with the continuing impact of a full, non-cash valuation allowance on deferred tax assets; and
  • Net income of approximately $2.2 million to $3.7 million, respectively to net sales, and net income per diluted share of 7 cents to 12 cents, respectively, based on approximately 32.0 million diluted shares. This compares to a net loss of $(1.4) million, or $(0.05) per share, during last year’s third quarter. These results would represent a 6th consecutive quarter of year-over-year profit improvement for the company.
  • The company currently expects to have 220 stores open at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2026 compared to 230 at the end of last year’s third quarter.
  • The company expects to end the third quarter with total liquidity of approximately $125 million or more, comprised of cash and investments of approximately $62 million to $65 million and available, undrawn borrowing capacity of approximately $63 million under its asset-back credit facility.

Image courtesy of Tilly’s