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 stated Thursday.
Chilly climate, snow and ice all through a lot of the U.S. in January led to about 800 momentary retailer closures on the storms’ peak, contributing to a miss on comparable gross sales for Outdated Navy and combined companywide outcomes, the retailer stated.
“Outdated Navy and all of the manufacturers have been really trending higher heading into that climate disruption,” stated finance chief Katrina O’Connell. “The excellent news is the developments recovered instantly after these storms handed.”
Throughout the enterprise, which incorporates Outdated Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta and Hole’s namesake banner, the retailer reported combined fiscal fourth quarter outcomes – lacking expectations on the underside line and assembly consensus on income.
This is how the retailer did in contrast with what Wall Avenue was anticipating, primarily based 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 internet 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. In the course of the quarter, Hole’s gross margin was weighed down by tariffs and fell to 38.1%, barely worse than analysts anticipated, in response to StreetAccount.
Gross sales rose to $4.24 billion, up about 2% in comparison with $4.15 billion a yr earlier.
Hole’s steering was largely in step with expectations, however did not exceed consensus. For the present quarter, it is anticipating income to rise between 1% and a pair of%, in comparison with expectations of two%, in response to LSEG.
For the total yr, the corporate is anticipating gross sales to develop between 2% and three%, in step with expectations of two.5% development, in response to LSEG. Given a $313 million constructive authorized settlement Hole noticed through the present quarter, it issued an adjusted full-year earnings per share outlook. The corporate stated its anticipating adjusted earnings per share to be between $2.20 and $2.35, in comparison with expectations of $2.32, in response to LSEG.
Hole didn’t issue latest modifications 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, stated O’Connell. Given how a lot of successful Hole took from President Donald Trump’s world tariffs, which have been struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court docket final month, Hole might challenge stronger steering within the coming quarter as a result of the newly enacted 15% tariff is barely under the earlier charges for a lot of nations.
“If the [current] Part 122 tariffs have 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 at this time,” stated O’Connell. “If 15% have been the speed that might keep in place for the steadiness of the yr, that fee is barely under 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 have been to play out.”
Hole’s uneven outcomes come simply over two years into CEO Richard Dickson’s turnaround plan and analysts start to count on extra from the attire big. Now that the corporate has improved profitability, returned to development and amassed a staggering $3 billion money pile, Dickson stated he is prepared to show to the following section of the plan, which is about “constructing momentum.”
“Our main focus goes to be on rising our core attire enterprise, and we’ll do that by way of steady enchancment,” stated Dickson. “This has all been pushed by disciplined execution, which we have to proceed to do with higher product, higher advertising and marketing and higher storytelling and that is not straightforward, 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 style and leisure platform by way of the latest appointment of a chief leisure officer. He stated the ventures will start to essentially scale subsequent yr.
This is a better have a look at how every model carried out:
Outdated Navy
Hole’s largest and most vital model noticed gross sales rise 3% to $2.3 billion, with comparable gross sales additionally up 3%, properly under analyst consensus of 4.3%, in response to StreetAccount. Regardless of the miss, Hole stated Outdated Navy’s “value worth equation is resonating with shoppers” and it is persevering with to win over customers 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%, in response to StreetAccount. Below Dickson, the model has labored to regain its cultural relevance and is successful over a variety of generations, together with youthful, Gen Z customers.
Banana Republic
The safari-chic workwear model posted its third straight quarter of constructive comparable gross sales, which have been up 4%, beating expectations of two.5%. Gross sales rose 1% to $549 million, reflecting progress in each advertising and marketing and product assortment. “Males’s simply continues to construct momentum. Key gadgets just like the traveler pant, our cashmere program, actually implausible outerwear that is been driving the efficiency, notably within the quarter,” stated Dickson. “Ladies’s efficiency is turning into way 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 general sluggish athletic attire market, however the firm has additionally had quite a few strategic missteps, together with focusing on the unsuitable buyer and providing merchandise that did not land. Below the model’s new CEO, Dickson stated Athleta has been engaged on revamping the assortment, bringing again buyer favorites and dialing up innovation.

