Burlington Stores Inc. reported a second-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $2.37, exceeding analyst expectations of $2.17, but its revenue of $3 billion missed the $3.02 billion consensus. The company’s shares declined 2.88% in early trading on Thursday.
Total sales rose 11% year-over-year to $2.998 billion, while comparable store sales increased 2%, following a 5% gain in the same period last year. Adjusted earnings per share grew 38% from the prior year, supported by a 100-basis-point expansion in operating margin. Burlington also received $55 million in tariff refunds during the quarter, with plans to reinvest roughly 40% into customer value initiatives in the second half of the fiscal year.
For the full fiscal year 2026, Burlington raised its adjusted EPS guidance to a range of $11.77 to $11.97, up from prior expectations. The midpoint of $11.87 implies a 17% increase from the prior year’s adjusted EPS of $10.17. The company expects full-year comparable store sales growth of 3% to 4% and total sales growth of 10% to 11%.
Third-quarter adjusted EPS is projected at $1.60 to $1.70, below the $1.80 reported in the same period last year, as Burlington reinvests tariff refund savings into pricing rather than taking a one-time earnings boost. As of quarter-end, the retailer operated 1,287 stores and plans to open approximately 115 net new locations in fiscal 2026.
CEO Michael O'Sullivan noted the company’s 15th consecutive quarter of double-digit EPS growth, attributing it to its ability to convert sales growth into margin expansion and earnings growth.
