Key Takeaways Boot Barn and Cardinal health both posted strong results, also raising guidance. Both stocks sport a favorable Zacks Rank. Both companies are seeing improved margins and strong sales growth. The 2025 Q4 earnings season is rapidly flying by, with all Magnificent 7 members already delivering their results outside of beloved NVIDIA. The period has so far been positive, with growth remaining strong and a solid number of companies exceeding quarterly expectations.Concerning some winners of the cycl ...

Investors seek growth stocks to capitalize on above-average growth in financials that help these securities grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. However, it isn't easy to find a great growth stock.In addition to volatility, these stocks carry above-average risk by their very nature. Also, one could end up losing from a stock whose growth story is actually over or nearing its end.However, it's pretty easy to find cutting-edge growth stocks with the help of the Zacks Growth Style Score ...

Core Insights - Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. (BOOT) reported strong third-quarter results for 2026, with both revenue and earnings meeting expectations and showing year-over-year growth, leading management to raise its fiscal 2026 guidance [1][9] Quarterly Performance - BOOT's earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was $2.79, an increase from $2.43 in the same period last year, which had included a 22-cent benefit from the former CEO's resignation [2] - Net sales reached $705.6 million, reflecting a 16% year-over-year increase, driven by new store openings and same-store sales growth [2] Same-Store Sales and Expansion - Consolidated same-store sales grew by 5.7% year over year, with retail same-store sales increasing by 3.7% and e-commerce same-store sales rising significantly by 19.6% [3] - The company opened 25 new stores during the quarter, bringing the total to 514 stores [3] Margin and Cost Performance - Gross profit increased by 17.7% year over year to $281.2 million, with gross margin improving by 60 basis points to 39.9% [4] - Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) expenses rose to $166.5 million from $139.4 million, primarily due to higher payroll and operational costs associated with more stores [5] - Income from operations was $114.8 million, up from $99.5 million, although operating margin contracted by 10 basis points to 16.3% [6] Financial Health - At the end of the quarter, BOOT had $200 million in cash and cash equivalents and total shareholders' equity of $1.28 billion [7] - The company repurchased 67,279 shares for $12.5 million during the quarter and anticipates capital expenditures of $125-$130 million, net of estimated landlord tenant allowances [7] Future Guidance - For the fourth quarter, BOOT plans to open 15 new stores and expects net sales between $525 million and $535 million, indicating year-over-year growth of 16% to 18% [8] - Consolidated same-store sales are projected to increase by 3% to 5%, with retail and e-commerce same-store sales expected to grow by 2.2%-4.2% and 11%-13%, respectively [8] Updated Fiscal 2026 Guidance - BOOT now anticipates fiscal 2026 net sales between $2.24 billion and $2.25 billion, representing a 17% to 18% year-over-year growth, an increase from the previous guidance of $2.20 billion to $2.23 billion [12] - Consolidated same-store sales growth is now forecasted between 6.5% and 7%, improved from the earlier estimate of 4%-6% [12] - Retail same-store sales are expected to be in the range of 5.5%-6%, while e-commerce same-store sales are projected to be 14.5%-15% [12] Earnings Projections - The company expects merchandise margin of $1.138 billion to $1.144 billion, representing about 50.8% of sales, with gross profit projected between $850 million and $855 million [13] - Income from operations is expected to be in the range of $297 million to $301 million, with projected earnings per share between $7.25 and $7.35, an improvement from $5.82 reported in fiscal 2025 [13]

Boot Barn Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BOOT) is one of the stocks that should double by 2030. On January 16, Piper Sandler increased its price target for Boot Barn to $229 from $220 with an Overweight rating. The firm highlighted that the company exhibits some of the strongest fundamentals in its sector, leading to EPS growth exceeding 20%. The firm noted that Boot Barn is navigating difficult year-over-year comparisons and possesses several compelling drivers for both revenue and gross margin expansion. These fac ...

For the quarter ended December 2025, Boot Barn (BOOT) reported revenue of $705.64 million, up 16% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $2.79, compared to $2.43 in the year-ago quarter.The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $705.61 million, representing a surprise of +0.01%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +0.15%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $2.79.While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how ...

Boot Barn (BOOT) came out with quarterly earnings of $2.79 per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate . This compares to earnings of $2.43 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +0.15%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this Western apparel and footwear retailer would post earnings of $1.26 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.37, delivering a surprise of +8.73%.Over the last four quarters, t ...

Business Operations - Boot Barn operates 514 stores across 49 states and has a strong e-commerce presence through multiple websites and an app[109]. - The company assesses performance using key indicators such as net sales, gross profit, same store sales, and operating income[112]. - Economic conditions and consumer confidence significantly influence Boot Barn's business performance[107]. Sales Performance - Net sales include revenue from retail locations and e-commerce, with fluctuations due to seasonality and external factors[113][115]. - Same store sales reflect net sales from stores open for at least 13 months, including e-commerce sales, and are a critical measure of performance[116][120]. - Net sales increased by $97.5 million, or 16.0%, to $705.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2025, compared to $608.2 million for the same period in 2024[135]. - For the thirty-nine weeks ended December 27, 2025, net sales increased by $257.8 million, or 17.7%, to $1.715 billion, with consolidated same store sales growth of 7.6%[144]. Profitability - Gross profit is calculated as net sales minus cost of goods sold, which includes significant expenses that are expected to rise with growth[123][124]. - Gross profit rose by $42.4 million, or 17.7%, to $281.2 million for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2025, with a gross profit margin of 39.9%, up from 39.3% in the prior year[136]. - Gross profit for the thirty-nine weeks ended December 27, 2025, increased by $114.1 million, or 20.8%, to $662.6 million, with a gross profit margin of 38.6%[145]. - Income from operations increased by $15.3 million, or 15.4%, to $114.8 million for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2025, with an operating margin of 16.3%[140]. - Income from operations for the thirty-nine weeks ended December 27, 2025, increased by $52.3 million, or 27.6%, to $241.9 million, with an operating margin of 14.1%[148]. - Net income for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2025, was $85.8 million, compared to $75.1 million for the same period in 2024, reflecting a net income margin of 12.2%[143]. Expenses - Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses are anticipated to increase due to stock-based compensation and expansion-related costs[127]. - Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased by $27.1 million, or 19.4%, to $166.5 million for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2025, resulting in a SG&A margin of 23.6%[137][139]. - SG&A expenses for the thirty-nine weeks ended December 27, 2025, rose by $61.9 million, or 17.2%, to $420.7 million, achieving a SG&A margin of 24.5%[146][147]. Capital Expenditures and Investments - New store openings are a key growth strategy, with pre-opening costs impacting initial profitability[121][122]. - The company plans to invest between $125.0 million and $130.0 million in capital expenditures for fiscal 2026, focusing on new store openings and improvements to distribution and IT infrastructure[156]. Cash Flow and Financing - As of December 27, 2025, cash and cash equivalents were $200.1 million, up from $69.8 million as of March 29, 2025[165]. - Net cash provided by operating activities for the thirty-nine weeks ended December 27, 2025, was $309.3 million, compared to $190.7 million for the same period in 2024[166][167]. - Net cash used in investing activities was $136.7 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended December 27, 2025, primarily for capital expenditures related to store construction[169]. - Net cash used in financing activities was $42.3 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended December 27, 2025, including $37.5 million for share repurchases[171]. - The Company has a $250.0 million Wells Fargo Revolver with a maturity date of July 11, 2027[157]. - The Company was in compliance with the Wells Fargo Revolver debt covenants as of December 27, 2025[163]. - The borrowing base for the Wells Fargo Revolver is calculated monthly based on eligible credit card receivables, commercial accounts, inventory, and available reserves[159]. - The applicable margin for Term SOFR loans under the Wells Fargo Revolver ranges from 1.00% to 1.25%[158]. - The Company paid a commitment fee of 0.25% per annum on the unutilized revolving loans under the Wells Fargo Revolver[158]. - Total interest expense incurred on the Wells Fargo Revolver for the thirty-nine weeks ended December 27, 2025, was $0.6 million, with a weighted average interest rate of 7.1%[160]. Fiscal Year Information - The fiscal year ends on the last Saturday of March, with both fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2025 consisting of 52 weeks[132]. - The company does not plan to update forward-looking statements unless required by law, acknowledging inherent risks and uncertainties[106].

Boot Barn (NYSE:BOOT) Q3 2026 Earnings call February 04, 2026 04:30 PM ET Company ParticipantsAlexia Morgan - Assistant Vice President of Equity ResearchJay Sole - Managing DirectorJim Watkins - CFOJohn Hazen - CEOMark Dedovesh - SVP of Investor Relations and FinanceMax Rakhlenko - Managing DirectorConference Call ParticipantsAshley Owens - AnalystChris Nardone - AnalystDylan Carden - Research AnalystJanine Stichter - Managing Director and Consumer Retail and Lifestyle Brands AnalystJeremy Hamblin - Analyst ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue increased by 16% year-over-year to $706 million, with same-store sales growth of 5.7% [5][14] - Earnings per diluted share rose to $2.79, compared to $2.43 in the prior year, marking a 14.8% increase [16][17] - Gross profit increased by 18% to $281 million, with a gross profit rate of 39.9%, up 60 basis points from the prior year [14][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated same-store sales grew 5.7%, with brick-and-mortar same-store sales increasing by 3.7% and e-commerce same-store sales growing by 19.6% [6][14] - Men's and ladies' western boots saw high single-digit comp growth, while men's and ladies' apparel outperformed the chain average, particularly in denim with mid-teen growth [8][9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company opened a record 25 new stores in the third quarter, bringing the total to 514 stores, with plans for 15 additional openings in the fourth quarter [7][8] - The company aims for a total of 70 new stores for the fiscal year and estimates 20 openings in the first quarter of fiscal 2027 [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on four strategic initiatives: new store growth, same-store sales, omnichannel expansion, and merchandise margin expansion [5][10] - Plans to launch standalone websites for additional exclusive brands to enhance customer engagement and sales [10][74] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the underlying business tone and anticipated continued strength in same-store sales despite recent winter storms [6][23] - The company raised its full-year guidance, expecting total sales of $2.25 billion, representing an 18% growth over fiscal 2025 [20][21] Other Important Information - Inventory increased by 17% year-over-year to $805 million, with markdowns as a percentage of inventory below historical levels [17] - The company repurchased approximately 67,000 shares for $12.5 million as part of its $200 million share repurchase program [17] Q&A Session Questions and Answers Question: Can you elaborate on the drivers of acceleration seen in January before the storms? - Management noted that the acceleration was broad-based across most major merchandise categories, with work apparel being slightly softer due to warmer weather [27][28] Question: What is the overall visibility for planning the business moving forward? - Management indicated confidence in maintaining low to mid-single-digit comp growth, supported by new store productivity and broad performance across merchandise categories [30][32] Question: Can you elaborate on the merchandise margin outlook for the fourth quarter? - Management expects a headwind from shrink and freight, with exclusive brand penetration contributing to margin expansion [36][39] Question: How are you thinking about the price points between exclusive brands and national brands? - Management believes that price points will normalize over time, with careful consideration to avoid breaking psychological price points [92][96] Question: What are the expectations for new store openings in fiscal 2027? - Management is confident in maintaining a 12%-15% new unit growth rate, with a strong pipeline for the first quarter [40][41]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue increased by 16% year-over-year to $706 million, with same-store sales growth of 5.7% [4][13] - Earnings per diluted share rose to $2.79 from $2.43 in the prior year, marking a 14.8% increase [15][16] - Merchandise margin rate improved by 110 basis points compared to the prior year [4][11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated same-store sales grew 5.7%, with brick-and-mortar sales increasing by 3.7% and e-commerce sales up by 19.6% [5][13] - Men's and ladies' western boots saw high single-digit same-store sales growth, while work boots experienced mid-single-digit growth [8][9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company opened a record 25 new stores in Q3, bringing the total to 514 stores, with plans for 15 more openings in Q4 [6][7] - The company aims for a total of 70 new stores for the fiscal year and estimates 20 openings in Q1 of fiscal 2027 [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on four strategic initiatives: new store growth, same-store sales, omnichannel expansion, and merchandise margin improvement [4][10] - Plans to launch standalone websites for additional exclusive brands to enhance customer engagement and sales [10][75] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the business's underlying strength despite recent winter storms impacting sales [5][25] - The company anticipates total sales for the full fiscal year to reach $2.25 billion, representing an 18% growth over fiscal 2025 [19] Other Important Information - Inventory increased by 17% year-over-year to $805 million, with markdowns below historical levels [16] - The company repurchased approximately 67,000 shares for $12.5 million as part of its share repurchase program [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you elaborate on the drivers of acceleration seen in January? - Management noted that the acceleration was broad-based across major merchandise categories, with work apparel being slightly softer due to warmer weather [25][26] Question: What is the overall visibility for sustaining mid- to high-single-digit comps? - Management feels confident about new store productivity and broad performance across merchandise categories, indicating no structural concerns [28][29] Question: Can you provide more detail on the merchandise margin outlook for Q4? - Management expects a headwind from shrink and freight, with exclusive brand penetration contributing to margin expansion [34][37] Question: Are there any specific categories gaining momentum outside of denim? - Management confirmed that traditional Western silhouettes remain strong, with no significant shifts towards contemporary styles [104][106] Question: How is the performance of exclusive brand websites compared to bootbarn.com? - The exclusive brand websites have attracted net new customers, enhancing overall online growth [72][74]