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Key Takeaways Burlington's relocated stores typically deliver a 5% to 10% sales lift in higher-traffic shopping centers.BURL has improved sales per selling square foot by 55% since 2019 through smaller, more productive stores.Burlington raised fiscal 2026 guidance as store optimization and healthy customer demand support growth. Burlington Stores, Inc. (BURL - Free Report) is making steady progress with its smaller store format strategy, an initiative aimed at improving sales productivity while driving long-term profitability. The company continues to optimize its store portfolio through new store openings, relocations and downsizing projects, creating a more productive and efficient retail footprint. These initiatives are enhancing Burlington's competitive position and supporting sustainable growth across its off-price business.

Burlington's relocation and downsizing programs are delivering solid returns. Relocated stores typically generate a 5% to 10% sales lift by moving to higher-traffic shopping centers with stronger co-tenancy. The company is resizing older stores where the locations remain attractive but the selling space is larger than required. In many cases, Burlington reduces store size by roughly half, lowering occupancy costs by about 200 basis points while maintaining an engaging shopping experience.

The strategy has significantly improved store productivity over the past several years. Sales per selling square foot have increased to approximately $350 from about $220 in 2019, representing a 55% improvement. Management attributes this gain to a combination of smaller, more productive stores, stronger merchandising execution and better utilization of selling space. As more stores are relocated or downsized, Burlington expects additional occupancy cost leverage and improved operating efficiency.

The company is accelerating this transformation through continued investment in its store network. Burlington opened 40 new stores in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 and expects to add 115 net new stores in fiscal 2026. By the end of 2028, the retailer expects to operate more than 1,500 stores, with over 80% of its fleet having been opened, relocated or downsized since 2019. The company expects to complete its Store Experience 2.0 rollout by the end of this year, making stores easier to shop and more appealing to customers.

Burlington's focus on smaller, more productive stores complements its broader off-price strategy by improving efficiency without compromising customer value. Reflecting confidence in its execution, the company raised its fiscal 2026 outlook and expects total sales growth of 9% to 11%, comparable sales growth of 2% to 4% and adjusted earnings per share of $11.45 to $11.80. Management remains optimistic about the remainder of the year, supported by healthy customer demand, ample off-price merchandise availability and continued progress across its store optimization initiatives.

Burlington’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesBURL stock has gained 17.4% over the past six months compared with the industry’s 2.7% growth.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Burlington’s trailing 12-month price-to-sales ratio of 1.90X indicates a lower valuation compared with the industry’s average of 1.98X. BURL carries a Value Score of B.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Burlington’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings per share implies year-over-year growth of 10.8% and 20%, respectively. Next fiscal-year sales and earnings per share imply year-over-year growth of 8.8% and 15.4%, respectively. Earnings estimates for the current and next fiscal years have been revised upward by 36 cents and 35 cents per share, respectively, over the past 60 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Burlington currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). 

Other Key PicksSome other top-ranked stocks in the retail space are Dollar Tree Inc. (DLTR - Free Report) , Ross Stores Inc. (ROST - Free Report) and Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) .

Dollar Tree is an operator of discount variety stores offering a broad assortment of everyday consumables and discretionary merchandise. The company currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Dollar Tree’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 6.5% and 21.7%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figures. DLTR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 32.1%, on average.

Ross Stores operates as an off-price retailer of apparel and home accessories. It presently carries a Zacks Rank #2.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ross Stores’ current fiscal-year earnings and sales implies growth of 17.1% and 10.1%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. ROST delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 10.2%.

Target offers guests fashionable, differentiated merchandise and everyday essentials at discounted prices. It also has a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Target’s current fiscal-year earnings and sales implies growth of 21.7% and 6.5%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. TGT delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 32.1%.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 18th, 2026

Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC reduced its stake in shares of Burlington Stores, Inc. (NYSE:BURL – Free Report) by 16.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 242,900 shares of the company’s stock after selling 49,420 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC owned approximately 0.39% of Burlington Stores worth $80,359,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Stone House Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Burlington Stores in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. JPL Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Burlington Stores during the third quarter worth $28,000. Harbour Investments Inc. lifted its position in Burlington Stores by 44.7% during the fourth quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 110 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 34 shares during the period. Reflection Asset Management acquired a new position in Burlington Stores during the fourth quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its position in Burlington Stores by 180.0% during the fourth quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 126 shares of the company’s stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares during the period.

Analyst Ratings Changes Several research analysts recently weighed in on BURL shares. Bank of America lifted their price target on Burlington Stores from $367.00 to $375.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Burlington Stores from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 7th. UBS Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $435.00 price objective on shares of Burlington Stores in a research note on Friday, May 29th. Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $365.00 target price on shares of Burlington Stores in a report on Tuesday, March 31st. Finally, Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Burlington Stores from $365.00 to $411.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 26th. Fifteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $353.56.

Get Our Latest Analysis on Burlington Stores

Insider Transactions at Burlington Stores In related news, CMO Jennifer Vecchio sold 1,678 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $315.42, for a total transaction of $529,274.76. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer directly owned 79,339 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $25,025,107.38. This represents a 2.07% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Stephen Ferroni sold 2,343 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $337.22, for a total transaction of $790,106.46. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer directly owned 1,391 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $469,073.02. This represents a 62.75% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 28,714 shares of company stock valued at $9,661,022. 1.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Burlington Stores Trading Down 3.2% NYSE BURL opened at $344.91 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03, a current ratio of 1.16 and a quick ratio of 0.49. The stock has a market capitalization of $21.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.45, a PEG ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 1.46. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $320.75 and its two-hundred day moving average is $314.98. Burlington Stores, Inc. has a 12 month low of $240.49 and a 12 month high of $361.21.

Burlington Stores (NYSE:BURL – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 28th. The company reported $2.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.80 by $0.21. The business had revenue of $2.86 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.80 billion. Burlington Stores had a net margin of 5.24% and a return on equity of 39.93%. The business’s revenue was up 14.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.60 EPS. Burlington Stores has set its Q2 2026 guidance at 2.050-2.200 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 11.450-11.800 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Burlington Stores, Inc. will post 11.71 earnings per share for the current year.

About Burlington Stores (Free Report)

Burlington Stores, Inc is an American off-price retailer that sells apparel and home goods at discounted prices. The company’s merchandise assortment includes clothing for women, men and children, plus baby products, footwear, accessories, beauty items, toys and home décor. Burlington’s merchandising strategy focuses on offering branded and private-label goods at lower prices than traditional department stores by sourcing excess inventory, closeouts and opportunistic buys from manufacturers and other retailers.

The business traces its roots to the Burlington Coat Factory name established in the early 1970s and has since evolved into a broader off-price retailer that carries a wide range of seasonal and everyday merchandise.

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It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.

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Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.

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Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Burlington Stores (BURL - Free Report) Founded in 1972 and headquartered in New Jersey, Burlington Stores, Inc. is a Fortune 500 company and an off-price retailer operating in the United States and Puerto Rico. Through its subsidiary, Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation, the company provides a line of value-priced products, including women’s ready-to-wear apparel, menswear, youth apparel, baby, beauty, footwear, accessories, home, toys, gifts and coats.

BURL is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. BURL has a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 20% for the current fiscal year.

For fiscal 2027, four analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.39 to $11.71 per share. BURL boasts an average earnings surprise of +14%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, BURL should be on investors' short list.

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It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.

#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +24% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.

The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.

A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Burlington Stores (BURL - Free Report) Founded in 1972 and headquartered in New Jersey, Burlington Stores, Inc. is a Fortune 500 company and an off-price retailer operating in the United States and Puerto Rico. Through its subsidiary, Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation, the company provides a line of value-priced products, including women’s ready-to-wear apparel, menswear, youth apparel, baby, beauty, footwear, accessories, home, toys, gifts and coats.

BURL is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

Momentum investors should take note of this Retail-Wholesale stock. BURL has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 8% over the past four weeks.

Four analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2027, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.39 to $11.71 per share. BURL also boasts an average earnings surprise of +14%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, BURL should be on investors' short list.

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.

The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.

It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F. The better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform; an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.

#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +24% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.

Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.

A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Burlington Stores (BURL - Free Report) Founded in 1972 and headquartered in New Jersey, Burlington Stores, Inc. is a Fortune 500 company and an off-price retailer operating in the United States and Puerto Rico. Through its subsidiary, Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation, the company provides a line of value-priced products, including women’s ready-to-wear apparel, menswear, youth apparel, baby, beauty, footwear, accessories, home, toys, gifts and coats.

BURL is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. BURL has a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 20% for the current fiscal year.

Four analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2027. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.39 to $11.71 per share. BURL boasts an average earnings surprise of +14%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, BURL should be on investors' short list.

Burlington Stores Today

BURL

Burlington Stores

$341.34 +9.10 (+2.74%)

As of 11:11 AM Eastern

This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.

52-Week Range$222.48▼

$351.85P/E Ratio35.09

Price Target$353.56

Frugal shoppers continue to spend, and Burlington Stores NYSE: BURL continues to benefit.

By selling branded clothing, footwear, accessories, and home merchandise at prices well below traditional retailers, Burlington is delivering exceptional sales, earnings, and store expansion as a standout off-price retailer. Investors have noticed, sending the stock price surging over the past year.

Get Burlington Stores alerts:

But with higher valuation and rising expectations, the richly valued stock leaves little room for error. Investors looking to get in now need to balance the presence of cyclical risk and fierce competition with the prospects of a well-run company with proven results.

Burlington Delivers Another Strong QuarterSo far this year, the news remains positive. In fact, the company’s recent three-month results, reported in late May, were strong enough to lead to a higher full-year forecast.

With more than 1,200 off-price stores across the country, Burlington said total sales in its first fiscal quarter rose 14% to $2.85 billion, and comparable store sales, or stores that have been open for more than a year, increased 6%. Both were signs that customer traffic and the company’s pricing and selection strategies were working even with more demanding consumers.

Net income for the quarter came in at $115 million compared with $101 million in the year-ago period. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) rose to $1.79 from $1.58 a year earlier, while adjusted earnings came in at $128.9 million, or $2.01 per share, up 26%, and well above the company's own previous guidance of $1.60 to $1.75. It was the company's 14th consecutive quarter of double-digit earnings-per-share growth, the company said, signaling better operations beyond a single-quarter jump.

Indeed, the latest quarter continued a performance that was playing out last year. Burlington closed fiscal 2025 with total sales up 9%, comparable store sales up 2%, net income of $610 million, and an EPS of $9.51. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 alone, sales rose 11%, comparable sales increased 4%, and earnings per share reached $4.84, up 20%.

Margins and Guidance Continue to ImproveBurlington's core business is buying branded goods when available, moving it quickly through its stores, and keeping prices under control. When the three steps work together, growing margins are key to converting sales into higher profits. Formerly known as the Burlington Coat Factory, the company has more recently shifted from e-commerce exposure to all-in-store experiences with some smaller-format store strategies.

The company showed that its strategy is working. Gross margin in the first quarter expanded to 44.1% from 43.8% a year earlier. The margin in the preceding three months was 80 basis points higher than the year before. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) in the first quarter rose more than 16% to $284 million.

Management's response to the first-quarter results reinforced these increases. With the first-quarter results, Burlington raised its full-year fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to a range of $11.45 to $11.80, up from levels set three months earlier. This fiscal year’s projection compares with an adjusted EPS of $10.17 last year.

A Premium Valuation Limits UpsideOverall MarketRank™83rd Percentile

Analyst RatingModerate Buy

Upside/Downside3.8% Upside

Short Interest LevelHealthy

Dividend StrengthN/A

News Sentiment0.76 Insider TradingSelling Shares

Proj. Earnings Growth15.37%

See Full Analysis

Investors have been noticing. The stock is up more than 16% this year and nearly 50% over the past year.

Its current price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is above 34, with a trailing EPS of $9.73, meaning there’s little room for error as the rest of the year plays out.

Analyst sentiment remains positive, though the expected upside is limited.

Burlington carries a Moderate Buy consensus based on 15 buy ratings and five hold ratings, with an average price target of $353.56, a high target of $411, and a low target of $310.

With shares recently trading around $340, the consensus price amounts to little more than a 5% gain.

Competition and Economic Risks RemainRetail also carries risks of its own. Burlington competes with some formidable opponents. TJX Companies NYSE: TJX and Ross Stores NASDAQ: ROST, both with larger reach, more established buying organizations, and deeply ingrained customer habits.

Off-price retail requires ongoing competition for branded closeouts, inventory updates, and a balanced execution with thousands of daily decisions. While Burlington has been closing the gap with its larger peers, the margin for error is narrow.

The retail sector also contains macroeconomic risk. If inflation, wholesale costs, or a softening labor market begin to squeeze off-price traffic, even a well-run Burlington can feel pinched through smaller basket sizes, more markdown pressures, and more competition for value-oriented shoppers.

Patience May Be RewardedInvestors should recognize that Burlington is a capital appreciation story. It does not pay a dividend, and the return investors receive depends on earnings growth and the market's acceptance of a P/E value slightly above its two top competitors.

Burlington's first-quarter fiscal 2026 report did much to strengthen its execution success. But the stock is well-valued while the economy and competition remain ever-potent factors.

For investors who can accept cyclical risk and are looking to capture a core slice of the American consumer, patience and stock pullbacks could provide a welcome bargain for this off-price retailer.

Should You Invest $1,000 in Burlington Stores Right Now?Before you consider Burlington Stores, you'll want to hear this.

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The shares have risen 25% since Barron's recommended them last year.

Total sales increased 14%, on top of 6% last year Comparable store sales increased 6%Net income was $115 million, and diluted EPS was $1.79 Excluding certain expenses associated with bankruptcy acquired leases:   Adjusted EPS increased 26% to $2.10, well above guidanceFull year adjusted EPS guidance is now $11.45 to $11.80 BURLINGTON, N.J., May 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Burlington Stores, Inc. (NYSE: BURL), a nationally recognized off-price retailer of high-quality, branded apparel, footwear, accessories, and merchandise for the home at everyday low prices, today announced its results for the first quarter ended May 2, 2026.

Michael O’Sullivan, CEO, stated, “We are pleased with our strong performance in the first quarter. Adjusted EPS grew 26% versus the first quarter of last year, which represented our 14th consecutive quarter of double digit EPS growth. This track record demonstrates our ability to consistently convert sales into operating margin expansion thereby driving strong earnings flow-through.” 

Mr. O’Sullivan continued, “Total sales increased 14%, while comparable store sales increased 6%, well ahead of our guidance. Adjusted EBIT Margin increased 20 basis points, again well ahead of our guidance. This operating margin expansion was driven by ahead of plan sales, higher gross margin, and leverage on supply chain expenses.” 

Mr. O’Sullivan continued, “We are raising our full year Fiscal 2026 sales and earnings guidance, passing through the entire upside from the first quarter to the full year. Our updated guidance is for comp store sales to increase 2% to 4%, and for EPS growth of 13% to 16%. These numbers underscore our ability to convert incremental comp sales into very strong earnings growth.”  

Fiscal 2026 First Quarter Operating Results 

Total sales increased 14% compared to the first quarter of Fiscal 2025 to $2,852 million, while comparable store sales increased 6% compared to the first quarter of Fiscal 2025. Gross margin rate as a percentage of net sales was 44.1% vs. 43.8% for the first quarter of Fiscal 2025, an increase of 30 basis points. Merchandise margin expanded 20 basis points, while freight expense improved 10 basis points as a percentage of net sales.Product sourcing costs, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A), were $216 million vs. $197 million in the first quarter of Fiscal 2025. Product sourcing costs include the costs of processing goods through our supply chain and buying costs. SG&A was 34.7% as a percentage of net sales vs 34.7% in the first quarter of Fiscal 2025. Adjusted SG&A, excluding $7 million and $6 million of expenses, respectively, associated with bankruptcy acquired leases, was 26.8% as a percentage of net sales vs. 26.6% in the first quarter of Fiscal 2025. The effective tax rate was 19.6% vs. 24.1% in the first quarter of Fiscal 2025. The Adjusted Effective Tax Rate was 20.1% vs. 24.1% in the first quarter of Fiscal 2025.Net income was $115 million, or $1.79 per share vs. $101 million, or $1.58 per share for the first quarter of Fiscal 2025. Adjusted Net Income was $134 million, or $2.10 per share, vs. $107 million, or $1.67 per share for the first quarter of Fiscal 2025, excluding $5 million and $4 million, respectively, of expenses in each period, net of tax, associated with bankruptcy acquired leases. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding amounted to 64.1 million during the quarter compared with 64.0 million during the first quarter of Fiscal 2025. Adjusted EBITDA was $284 million vs. $244 million in the first quarter of Fiscal 2025, excluding $7 million and $6 million, respectively, of expenses in each period associated with bankruptcy acquired leases, an increase of 20 basis points as a percentage of sales. Adjusted EBIT was $179 million vs. $152 million in the first quarter of Fiscal 2025, excluding $7 million and $6 million of expenses, respectively, in each period associated with bankruptcy acquired leases, an increase of 20 basis points as a percentage of sales. Inventory

Merchandise inventories were $1,444 million vs. $1,315 million at the end of the first quarter of Fiscal 2025, a 10% increase, driven by our 127 net new stores and a comparable store inventory increase of 11% compared to the first quarter of Fiscal 2025. Reserve inventory was 41% of total inventory at the end of the first quarter of Fiscal 2026 compared to 48% at the end of the first quarter of Fiscal 2025. Reserve inventory is largely composed of merchandise that is purchased opportunistically and will be sent to stores in future months or next season.  Liquidity and Debt

The Company ended the first quarter of Fiscal 2026 with $1,689 million in liquidity, comprised of $747 million in unrestricted cash and $942 million in availability on its ABL facility.During the first quarter of Fiscal 2026, the Company entered into privately negotiated transactions to repurchase $111 million in principal amount of the Company’s outstanding 1.25% Convertible Notes. The total transaction value of $173 million was settled with $129 million in cash and the issuance of 150,831 shares of common stock.The Company ended the first quarter with $1,917 million in outstanding total debt, including $1,716 million on its Term Loan facility, $186 million in Convertible Notes, and no borrowings on its ABL facility. Common Stock Repurchases

During the first quarter of Fiscal 2026, the Company repurchased 257,906 shares of its common stock under its share repurchase program for $81 million. As of the end of the first quarter of Fiscal 2026, the Company had $304 million remaining on its current share repurchase program authorization. Outlook
For Fiscal Year 2026 (the 52-weeks ending January 30, 2027), the Company now expects:

Total sales to increase in the range of 9% to 11% on top of the 9% increase during Fiscal 2025; this assumes comparable store sales will increase in the range of 2% to 4%, on top of the 2% increase during Fiscal 2025; Capital expenditures, net of landlord allowances, to be approximately $875 million; To open approximately 115 net new stores;  Depreciation and amortization to be approximately $465 million;  Adjusted EBIT margin to increase in the range of 10 to 30 basis points versus Fiscal 2025; excluding $10 million of anticipated expenses associated with bankruptcy acquired leases in Fiscal 2026 and $35 million in Fiscal 2025; Net interest expense to be approximately $60 million;  An Adjusted Effective Tax Rate of approximately 25%; and Adjusted EPS in the range of $11.45 to $11.80, as compared to $10.17 of Adjusted EPS last year; excluding $8 million, net of tax, of anticipated expenses associated with bankruptcy acquired leases in Fiscal 2026 and $26 million in Fiscal 2025. This assumes a fully diluted share count of approximately 64 million shares. For the second quarter of Fiscal 2026 (the 13-weeks ending August 1, 2026), the Company expects:

Total sales to increase in the range of 10% to 12%; this assumes comparable store sales will increase in the range of 1% to 3% versus the second quarter of Fiscal 2025; Adjusted EBIT margin to increase 30 to 60 basis points versus the second quarter of Fiscal 2025; excluding approximately $3 million of anticipated expenses associated with bankruptcy acquired leases in the second quarter of Fiscal 2026 and $11 million in the second quarter of Fiscal 2025; An Adjusted Effective Tax Rate of approximately 23%; and  Adjusted EPS in the range of $2.05 to $2.20, as compared to $1.72 in Adjusted EPS last year; excluding $2 million, net of tax, of anticipated expenses associated with bankruptcy acquired leases in the second quarter of Fiscal 2026 and $8 million in the second quarter of Fiscal 2025. The Company has not presented a quantitative reconciliation of the forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures set out above to their most comparable GAAP financial measures because it would require the Company to create estimated ranges on a GAAP basis, which would entail unreasonable effort. Adjustments required to reconcile forward-looking non-GAAP measures cannot be predicted with reasonable certainty but may include, among others, costs related to debt amendments, loss on extinguishment of debt, and impairment charges, as well as the tax effect of such items. Some or all of those adjustments could be significant. 

Note Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The foregoing discussion of the Company’s operating results includes references to Adjusted SG&A, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Earnings per Share (or Adjusted EPS), Adjusted EBIT (or Adjusted EBIT Margin), and Adjusted Effective Tax Rate. The Company believes these supplemental measures are useful in evaluating the performance of our business and provide greater transparency into our results of operations. In particular, we believe that excluding certain items that may vary substantially in frequency and magnitude from what we consider to be our core operating results are useful supplemental measures that assist investors and management in evaluating our ability to generate earnings and leverage sales, and to more readily compare core operating results between past and future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures are defined and reconciled to the most comparable GAAP measures later in this document.  

First Quarter 2026 Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call on May 28, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss the Company’s first quarter results. The U.S. toll free dial-in for the conference call is 1-800-715-9871 (passcode: 8704025) and the international dial-in number is 1-646-307-1963. A live webcast of the conference call will also be available on the investor relations page of the company's website at www.burlingtoninvestors.com.

For those unable to participate in the conference call, a replay will be available after the conclusion of the call on May 28, 2026 beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET through 11:59 p.m. ET on June 4, 2026. The U.S. toll-free replay dial-in number is 1-800-770-2030 and the international replay dial-in number is 1-609-800-9909. The replay passcode is 8704025. 

About Burlington Stores, Inc.

Burlington Stores, Inc., headquartered in New Jersey, is a nationally recognized off-price retailer with Fiscal 2025 net sales of $11.5 billion. The Company is a Fortune 500 company and its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “BURL.” The Company operated 1,242 stores as of the end of the first quarter of Fiscal 2026 in 47 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, principally under the name Burlington Stores. The Company’s stores offer an extensive selection of in-season, high-quality branded merchandise at up to 60% off other retailers' prices, including fashion-focused women’s apparel, menswear, youth apparel, baby, beauty, footwear, accessories, home, toys, gifts and coats.  

For more information about the Company, visit www.burlington.com.

Investor Relations Contacts:
David J. Glick
Marisa Sharkey
855-973-8445
[email protected]

Allison Malkin
ICR, Inc.
203-682-8225

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including those about the external environment, as well as statements describing our outlook for future periods, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements discuss our current expectations and projections relating to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. We do not undertake to publicly update or revise our forward-looking statements, except as required by law, even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied in such statements will not be realized. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be made that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those we expected, including general economic conditions, such as inflation, and the domestic and international political situation and the related impact on consumer confidence and spending; competitive factors, including the scale and potential consolidation of some of our competitors, rise of e-commerce spending, pricing and promotional activities of major competitors, and an increase in competition within the markets in which we compete; seasonal fluctuations in our net sales, operating income and inventory levels; the reduction in traffic to, or the closing of, the other destination retailers in the shopping areas where our stores are located; our ability to identify changing consumer preferences and demand; our ability to meet evolving regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations regarding environmental, social or governance matters; extreme and/or unseasonable weather conditions caused by climate change or otherwise adversely impacting demand; effects of public health crises, epidemics or pandemics; our ability to sustain our growth plans or successfully implement our long-range strategic plans; our ability to execute our opportunistic buying and inventory management process; our ability to optimize our existing stores or maintain favorable lease terms; the availability, selection and purchasing of attractive brand name merchandise on favorable terms; our ability to attract, train and retain quality employees and temporary personnel in sufficient numbers; labor costs and our ability to manage a large workforce; the solvency of parties with whom we do business and their willingness to perform their obligations to us; import risks, including tax and trade policies, tariffs and government regulations; disruption in our distribution network; our ability to protect our information systems against service interruption, misappropriation of data, breaches of security, or other cyber-related attacks; risks related to the methods of payment we accept; the success of our advertising and marketing programs in generating sufficient levels of customer traffic and awareness; damage to our corporate reputation or brand; impact of potential loss of executives or other key personnel; our ability to comply with existing and changing laws, rules, regulations and local codes; lack of or insufficient insurance coverage; issues with merchandise safety and shrinkage; our ability to comply with increasingly rigorous privacy and data security regulations; impact of legal and regulatory proceedings relating to us; use of social media by us or by third parties at our direction in violation of applicable laws and regulations; our ability to generate sufficient cash to fund our operations and service our debt obligations; our ability to comply with covenants in our debt agreements; the consequences of the possible conversion of our convertible notes; our reliance on dividends, distributions and other payments, advance and transfers of funds from our subsidiaries to meet our obligations; the volatility of our stock price; the impact of the anti-takeover provisions in our governing documents; impact of potential shareholder activism; and each of the factors that may be described from time to time in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. For each of these factors, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. 

    BURLINGTON STORES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(unaudited)
(All amounts in thousands, except per share data)
      Three Months Ended   May 2,  May 3,   2026  2025 REVENUES:      Net sales $2,852,310  $2,500,075 Other revenue  4,151   3,945 Total revenue  2,856,461   2,504,020 COSTS AND EXPENSES:      Cost of sales  1,594,804   1,405,091 Selling, general and administrative expenses  989,374   868,058 Costs related to debt amendments and inducement charges  15,315   112 Depreciation and amortization  104,607   91,783 Impairment charges - long-lived assets  807   516 Other income - net  (1,449)  (5,510)Interest income  (6,161)  (4,712)Interest expense  16,495   15,810 Total costs and expenses  2,713,792   2,371,148 Income before income tax expense  142,669   132,872 Income tax expense  27,925   32,039 Net income $114,744  $100,833        Diluted net income per common share $1.79  $1.58        Weighted average common shares - diluted  64,144   64,005           BURLINGTON STORES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)
(All amounts in thousands)       May 2, January 31, May 3, 2026 2026 2025ASSETS     Current assets:     Cash and cash equivalents$747,355 $1,232,525 $371,092Accounts receivable—net 113,984  105,296  106,726Merchandise inventories 1,444,205  1,311,903  1,315,316Assets held for disposal 2,917  3,364  23,717Prepaid and other current assets 196,696  118,444  255,312Total current assets 2,505,157  2,771,532  2,072,163Property and equipment—net 3,262,011  3,164,218  2,698,789Operating lease assets 3,637,851  3,624,786  3,415,265Goodwill and intangible assets—net 285,064  285,064  285,064Deferred tax assets 2,139  2,139  2,248Other assets 84,972  71,318  76,368Total assets$9,777,194 $9,919,057 $8,549,897LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY     Current liabilities:     Accounts payable$1,050,057 $1,019,152 $914,578Current operating lease liabilities 437,657  425,468  397,550Other current liabilities 644,714  734,000  629,909Current maturities of long term debt and other current debt 20,020  70,591  14,804Total current liabilities 2,152,448  2,249,211  1,956,841Long term debt 1,897,343  2,011,735  1,637,073Long term operating lease liabilities 3,516,527  3,497,343  3,279,926Other liabilities 74,720  75,738  74,104Deferred tax liabilities 299,589  277,771  249,756Stockholders' equity 1,836,567  1,807,259  1,352,197Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$9,777,194 $9,919,057 $8,549,897          BURLINGTON STORES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
(All amounts in thousands)    Three Months Ended  May 2,  May 3,  2026  2025 OPERATING ACTIVITIES     Net income$114,744  $100,833 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities     Depreciation and amortization 104,607   91,783 Deferred income taxes 19,955   (3,883)Non-cash stock compensation expense 36,301   21,817 Non-cash lease expense (1,327)  (2,002)Cash received from landlord allowances 20,080   7,811 Inducement charges 15,315   — Changes in assets and liabilities:     Accounts receivable (9,780)  (18,701)Merchandise inventories (132,301)  (64,541)Accounts payable 36,472   (118,535)Other current assets and liabilities (148,279)  (40,425)Other long term assets and liabilities 1,727   (193)Other operating activities 3,952   (2,872)Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 61,466   (28,908)INVESTING ACTIVITIES     Cash paid for property and equipment (288,723)  (409,700)Lease acquisition costs (923)  (8,404)Net (removal costs) proceeds from sale of property and equipment and assets held for sale (16)  5,421 Net cash used in investing activities (289,662)  (412,683)FINANCING ACTIVITIES     Proceeds from long term debt—ABL Line of Credit —   100,000 Principal payments on long term debt—Term Loan Facility (4,381)  (3,125)Principal payment on long term debt— Convertible Notes (128,638)  (156,158)Purchase of treasury shares (134,259)  (127,563)Other financing activities 10,304   4,831 Net cash provided by financing activities (256,974)  (182,015)Decrease in cash and cash equivalents (485,170)  (623,606)Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 1,232,525   994,698 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period$747,355  $371,092                  Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(Unaudited)
(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

The following tables calculate the Company’s Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EPS, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBIT, Adjusted SG&A and Adjusted Effective Tax Rate, all of which are considered non-GAAP financial measures. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s performance, financial position or cash flows that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

Adjusted Net Income is defined as net income, exclusive of the following items, if applicable: (i) net favorable lease costs; (ii) costs related to debt amendments and inducement charges; (iii) impairment charges; (iv) amounts related to certain litigation matters; and (v) other unusual or non-recurring expenses, losses, charges or gains, all of which are tax effected to arrive at Adjusted Net Income.

Adjusted EPS is defined as Adjusted Net Income divided by the diluted weighted average shares outstanding, as defined in the table below.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income, exclusive of the following items, if applicable: (i) interest expense; (ii) interest income; (iii) costs related to debt amendments and inducement charges; (iv) income tax expense; (v) depreciation and amortization; (vi) net favorable lease costs (vii) impairment charges; (viii) amounts related to certain litigation matters; and (ix) other unusual or non-recurring expenses, losses, charges or gains.

Adjusted EBIT (or Adjusted Operating Income) is defined as net income, exclusive of the following items, if applicable: (i) interest expense; (ii) interest income; (iii) costs related to debt amendments and inducement charges; (iv) income tax expense; (v) impairment charges; (vi) net favorable lease costs; (vii) amounts related to certain litigation matters; and (viii) other unusual or non-recurring expenses, losses, charges or gains.

Adjusted EBIT Margin (or Adjusted Operating Margin) is defined as Adjusted EBIT divided by net sales.

Adjusted SG&A is defined as SG&A less product sourcing costs, favorable lease costs and amounts related to certain litigation matters.

Adjusted Effective Tax Rate is defined as the GAAP effective tax rate less the tax effect of the reconciling items to arrive at Adjusted Net Income (footnote (f) in the table below).

The Company presents Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EPS, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBIT (or Adjusted Operating Income), Adjusted EBIT Margin (or Adjusted Operating Margin), Adjusted SG&A and Adjusted Effective Tax Rate, because it believes they are useful supplemental measures in evaluating the performance of the Company’s business and provide greater transparency into the results of operations. In particular, the Company believes that excluding certain items that may vary substantially in frequency and magnitude from what the Company considers to be its core operating results are useful supplemental measures that assist in evaluating the Company’s ability to generate earnings and leverage sales, and to more readily compare core operating results between past and future periods.

The Company believes that these non-GAAP measures provide investors helpful information with respect to the Company’s operations and financial condition. Other companies in the retail industry may calculate these non-GAAP measures differently such that the Company’s calculation may not be directly comparable.

The following table shows the Company’s reconciliation of net income to Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS for the periods indicated:

   (unaudited) (in thousands,
except per share data) Three Months Ended  May 2,  May 3,  2026  2025 Reconciliation of net income to Adjusted Net Income:     Net income$114,744  $100,833 Net favorable lease costs (a) 1,802   2,138 Costs related to debt amendments and inducement charges (b) 15,315   112 Impairment charges - long-lived assets 807   516 Litigation matters (c) 750   (416)Tax effect (f) (4,523)  (601)Adjusted Net Income$128,895  $102,582 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (g) 64,144   64,005 Adjusted Earnings per Share$2.01  $1.60          The following table shows the Company’s reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBIT and Adjusted EBITDA for the periods indicated:

   (unaudited) (in thousands) Three Months Ended May 2,  May 3,  2026  2025 Reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBIT and Adjusted EBITDA:     Net income$114,744  $100,833 Interest expense 16,495   15,810 Interest income (6,161)  (4,712)Net favorable lease costs (a) 1,802   2,138 Costs related to debt amendments and inducement charges (b) 15,315   112 Impairment charges - long-lived assets 807   516 Litigation matters (c) 750   (416)Income tax expense 27,925   32,039 Adjusted EBIT 171,677   146,320 Depreciation and amortization 104,607   91,783 Adjusted EBITDA$276,284  $238,103          The following table shows the Company’s reconciliation of SG&A to Adjusted SG&A for the periods indicated:                

   (unaudited) (in thousands) Three Months Ended May 2,  May 3,  2026  2025 Reconciliation of SG&A to Adjusted SG&A:     SG&A$989,374  $868,058 Net favorable lease costs (a) (1,802)  (2,138)Product sourcing costs (215,545)  (196,847)Litigation matters (c) (750)  416 Adjusted SG&A$771,277  $669,489          The following table shows the reconciliation of the Company’s effective tax rates on a GAAP basis to the Adjusted Effective Tax Rates for the periods indicated:

   (unaudited) Effective Tax Rates Three Months Ended May 2,  May 3,  2026  2025       Effective tax rate on a GAAP basis19.6% 24.1%Adjustments to arrive at Adjusted Effective Tax Rate (h)0.5  — Adjusted Effective Tax Rate20.1% 24.1%       The following table shows the Company’s reconciliation of net income to Adjusted Net Income for the prior period Adjusted EPS amounts used in this press release for the periods indicated:

    (unaudited)  (in thousands,
except per share data)  Three Months Ended
 Fiscal Year Ended  August 2, 2025  January 31, 2026 Reconciliation of net income to Adjusted Net Income:     Net income$94,185  $610,153 Net favorable lease costs (a) 1,932   7,742 Costs related to debt amendments and inducement charges (b) —   112 Impairment charges 1,580   9,857 Litigation matters (c) 6,750   4,175 Layaway liabilities (d) —   (12,716)Security tags (e) —   11,657 Tax effect (f) (2,690)  (5,297)Adjusted Net Income$101,757  $625,683 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (g) 63,893   64,126 Adjusted Earnings per Share$1.59  $9.76          (a) Net favorable lease costs represent the non-cash expense associated with favorable and unfavorable leases that were recorded as a result of purchase accounting related to the April 13, 2006 Bain Capital acquisition of Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation. These expenses are recorded in the line item “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
(b) Fiscal 2026 amount represents an inducement charge related to the Company's exchange of certain of the 2027 Convertible Notes during the first quarter of Fiscal 2026. Fiscal 2025 amount relates to the settlement of the 2025 Convertible Notes during the first quarter of Fiscal 2025.
(c) Relates to the final settlements and amounts charged for certain litigation matters.
(d) Represents a one-time settlement of certain layaway liabilities on our Fiscal 2025 Consolidated Balance Sheet, resulting in a gain.
(e) Represents a one-time write-off to amortization related to certain merchandise security tags on our Fiscal 2025 Consolidated Balance Sheet.
(f) Tax effect is calculated based on the effective tax rates (before discrete items) for the respective periods, adjusted for the tax effect for the impact of items (a) through (e).
(g) Diluted weighted average shares outstanding starts with basic shares outstanding and adds back any potentially dilutive securities outstanding during the period.
(h) Adjustments for items excluded from Adjusted Net Income. These items have been described in the table above reconciling GAAP net income to Adjusted Net Income.

Burlington Stores (BURL - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $2.01 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.77 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.6 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +13.42%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this discount retailer would post earnings of $4.7 per share when it actually produced earnings of $4.89, delivering a surprise of +4.04%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.

Burlington Stores, which belongs to the Zacks Retail - Discount Stores industry, posted revenues of $2.86 billion for the quarter ended April 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.83%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $2.5 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Burlington Stores shares have added about 12.9% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 9.9%.

What's Next for Burlington Stores?While Burlington Stores has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Burlington Stores was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $1.89 on $2.96 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $11.30 on $12.71 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Retail - Discount Stores is currently in the top 33% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

Dollar General (DG - Free Report) , another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended April 2026. The results are expected to be released on June 2.

This discount retailer is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.89 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +6.2%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.2% lower over the last 30 days to the current level.

Dollar General's revenues are expected to be $10.83 billion, up 3.8% from the year-ago quarter.

Burlington Stores, Inc. (NYSE:BURL) reported Thursday that first-quarter net income rose to $115 million. The off-price retailer earned $1.79 per diluted share, up from $1.58 per diluted share a year earlier.

• Burlington Stores stock is showing notable weakness. Why is BURL stock falling?

Q1 Results Beat EstimatesAdjusted EPS was $2.10, beating the $1.78 estimate. Sales were $2.856 billion, above the $2.799 billion estimate. Total sales rose 14% to $2.852 billion, while comparable store sales increased 6%.

"We are raising our full-year Fiscal 2026 sales and earnings guidance, passing through the entire upside from the first quarter to the full year. Our updated guidance is for comp store sales to increase 2% to 4%, and for EPS growth of 13% to 16%. These numbers underscore our ability to convert incremental comp sales into very strong earnings growth,” stated CEO Michael O'Sullivan.

Margins Expand On Sales StrengthGross margin expanded 30 basis points to 44.1%, reflecting gains in merchandise margin and lower freight expense as a percentage of net sales.

SG&A was flat at 34.7% of net sales. Adjusted SG&A rose to 26.8% of net sales from 26.6% a year earlier, excluding expenses tied to bankruptcy-acquired leases.

Profitability improved in the quarter, with adjusted EBITDA rising to $284 million from $244 million. Adjusted EBIT increased to $179 million from $152 million, with adjusted EBIT margin expanding 20 basis points.

Inventory and LiquidityMerchandise inventories increased 10% to $1.444 billion, driven by 127 net new stores and an 11% comparable-store inventory increase. Reserve inventory fell to 41% of total inventory from 48% a year earlier.

Burlington ended the quarter with $747.4 million in cash and $1.689 billion in liquidity, including $942 million of ABL facility availability.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $61.5 million, compared with net cash used in operating activities of $28.9 million a year earlier. Cash paid for property and equipment was $288.7 million.

Outlook RaisedBurlington raised its fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS outlook to $11.45 to $11.80 from $10.95 to $11.45. The outlook compares with the $11.56 estimate.

The company expects total sales to rise 9% to 11%, with comparable store sales up 2% to 4%.

Fiscal 2026 adjusted EBIT margin to expand 10 to 30 basis points, capital expenditures net of landlord allowances of about $875 million, and about 115 net new store openings.

For the second quarter, Burlington expects adjusted EPS of $2.05 to $2.20, above the $1.95 estimate.

It sees total sales rising 10% to 12%, comparable-store sales increasing 1% to 3%, and adjusted EBIT margin expanding by 30 to 60 basis points.

The company also cited import risks, including tax and trade policies, tariffs, and government regulations, among forward-looking risks.

BURL Price Action: Burlington Stores shares were trading 7.53% lower at $301.40 at publication on Thursday.

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Ross Stores Earnings Beat Sends Stock To New HighsBurlington Stores NYSE: BURL reported stronger-than-expected fiscal first-quarter results, with executives saying the off-price retailer benefited from broad-based comp growth, better markdown execution and supply chain productivity.

Chief Executive Officer Michael O'Sullivan said the company delivered a 26% increase in adjusted earnings per share, marking what he called Burlington's 14th consecutive quarter of double-digit earnings growth. Total sales rose 14% in the quarter, while comparable store sales increased 6%, above the company's prior guidance range of 2% to 4%.

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Wall Street Loves TJX, But Is the Stock Still a Good Deal for Investors?"This track record demonstrates our ability to consistently convert higher sales into margin expansion, thereby driving very strong earnings flow-through," O'Sullivan said.

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Kristin Wolfe said first-quarter adjusted EPS was $2.10, above Burlington's guidance range of $1.60 to $1.75. Adjusted EBIT margin was 6.3%, up 20 basis points from the prior year and ahead of guidance that had called for a 60- to 100-basis-point decline.

Comparable Sales Beat Guidance 3 ETFs That Could Benefit as Consumers Tighten Their BudgetsO'Sullivan said first-quarter comp trends were "broad-based across businesses and geographies," with particular strength in ladies' apparel, beauty and accessories. He also highlighted warm-weather categories, including shorts, short-sleeved tops, swimwear, sandals and sunglasses, which he said accounted for about 25% of first-quarter sales and posted double-digit comp growth.

The company attributed part of the strength to upgraded allocation and localization capabilities. O'Sullivan said Burlington historically had struggled with seasonal transitions, in part because of its legacy as an outerwear retailer, but newer systems allowed the company to make more precise allocation decisions.

"We know that we're never going to be able to control the weather, but we can get better at responding to it," O'Sullivan said during the question-and-answer session.

Wolfe said the Northeast and Midwest were the top-performing regions in the quarter, while the Southeast and West were in line with the chain and the Southwest trailed. She said the comp gain was driven by both higher transactions and a larger basket, with basket growth reflecting higher average unit retail.

Margins Improve Despite Expected Headwinds Burlington's gross margin rate was 44.1% in the first quarter, up 30 basis points from a year earlier. Wolfe said that included a 20-basis-point increase in merchandise margin and a 10-basis-point decrease in freight expenses. Product sourcing costs were $216 million, up from $197 million a year earlier, but decreased 30 basis points as a percentage of sales as the company continued supply chain productivity and cost-savings initiatives.

Wolfe said the company had entered the quarter expecting several margin headwinds, but stronger-than-anticipated sales, disciplined markdown execution and supply chain productivity more than offset those pressures. She also cited the quality of buys as a factor supporting merchandise margin performance.

Adjusted SG&A costs increased 20 basis points versus last year, which Wolfe said reflected factors including higher incentive compensation and marketing spend. The company ended the quarter with approximately $1.7 billion in total liquidity, including $747 million in cash and $942 million of availability on its asset-based lending facility, with no outstanding borrowings on the ABL. Burlington repurchased $81 million of common stock during the quarter and ended with $304 million remaining on its share repurchase authorization, which expires in May 2027.

Full-Year Outlook Raised Burlington raised its full-year fiscal 2026 outlook, passing through the entire first-quarter upside. The company now expects total sales to increase 9% to 11%, up from prior guidance of 8% to 10%. Comparable store sales are expected to rise 2% to 4%.

The company forecast adjusted EBIT margin expansion of 10 to 30 basis points for the full year and adjusted EPS of $11.45 to $11.80, representing growth of 13% to 16% versus fiscal 2025. The guidance excludes approximately $10 million of costs associated with bankruptcy-acquired leases, compared with $35 million in 2025.

For the second quarter, Burlington guided for comparable sales growth of 1% to 3% and total sales growth of 10% to 12%. The company expects operating margin expansion of 30 to 60 basis points and adjusted EPS of $2.05 to $2.20, compared with $1.72 in the year-ago quarter. Wolfe said May month-to-date sales were tracking at the high end of the comp guidance range, though comparisons become more difficult as the quarter progresses.

Wolfe said the second-quarter margin outlook assumes higher merchandise margin, driven by anticipated markdown favorability, modestly faster turns and a favorable shortage accrual rate compared with last year. Those gains are expected to be partially offset by modest freight pressure from higher fuel rates. She said the company recently locked in ocean and domestic contracts for the next year at favorable rates, though higher diesel prices from current projections could pose an incremental risk.

Store Growth and Productivity Remain Key Priorities Burlington opened 40 gross new stores in the first quarter, relocated six stores and closed four, resulting in 30 net new stores and a quarter-end store count of 1,242. For the full year, the company now expects 135 gross new stores and 115 net new stores, up from its prior outlook of 110 net new stores.

O'Sullivan said Burlington remains on track to exceed 1,500 stores by the end of 2028. Wolfe said the company is comfortable opening at least 110 net new stores in both 2027 and 2028 and continues to see new stores open at about $7 million in sales in their first full year, with payback in just under two years.

O'Sullivan also emphasized relocations and downsizes as important drivers of productivity. He said relocations typically deliver a sales lift of 5% to 10% as Burlington upgrades stores and moves into higher-traffic centers. The downsize program targets older stores where the company likes the location but considers the box oversized. Burlington downsized 20 stores in 2025 and expects about 30 this year, with typical projects cutting square footage in half and reducing occupancy costs by about 200 basis points on average.

O'Sullivan said Burlington's sales per selling square foot has increased from about $220 in 2019 to roughly $350 today. He said new stores, relocations and downsizes should continue to support occupancy leverage over time.

Executives Say Consumer Remains Resilient During the call, analysts asked about gas prices, inflation and broader retail trends. O'Sullivan said Burlington remains "bullish" about the year, particularly the back half, while acknowledging the company is "a little more wary" than it was in March because of higher gas prices and the potential impact on inflation.

O'Sullivan said the company has not yet seen a change in consumer behavior, adding that stores in lower-income trade areas continued to outperform the chain in the first quarter. Stores in higher-income areas still posted mid-single-digit comp growth, he said. Stores in high-Hispanic areas also posted mid-single-digit comp growth, broadly in line with the chain.

O'Sullivan said higher tax refunds contributed an estimated 1.5 to 2 percentage points to first-quarter comp growth. Excluding that benefit, he said, comp growth still would have been in the mid-single digits.

The CEO also said the supply of off-price merchandise is "excellent right now" and that tariffs have been less disruptive to pricing and supply than last year. Wolfe said Burlington has filed for tariff refunds, but the company has not included any potential benefit in its guidance because the amount and timing remain uncertain.

O'Sullivan said the broader retail environment continues to favor off-price retailers as consumers prioritize value. "The customer is voting for value, off-price is delivering that value," he said.

About Burlington Stores NYSE: BURLBurlington Stores, Inc is an American off-price retailer that sells apparel and home goods at discounted prices. The company's merchandise assortment includes clothing for women, men and children, plus baby products, footwear, accessories, beauty items, toys and home décor. Burlington's merchandising strategy focuses on offering branded and private-label goods at lower prices than traditional department stores by sourcing excess inventory, closeouts and opportunistic buys from manufacturers and other retailers.

The business traces its roots to the Burlington Coat Factory name established in the early 1970s and has since evolved into a broader off-price retailer that carries a wide range of seasonal and everyday merchandise.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

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Burlington Stores, Inc. (BURL) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Key Takeaways BURL topped Q1 earnings and revenue estimates as comparable store sales increased 6%.The gross margin expanded and the EBIT margin rose on merchandise gains and supply-chain productivity.Burlington Stores raised FY26 sales, EPS and net new store growth expectations. Burlington Stores, Inc. (BURL - Free Report) reported impressive first-quarter fiscal 2026 results, wherein revenues and earnings grew year over year. Also, the top and bottom lines surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The off-price retailer benefited from broad-based comparable sales growth, merchandise margin expansion and continued supply-chain productivity improvements, enabling the company to post its 14th consecutive quarter of double-digit earnings growth.

Management highlighted strong execution across merchandising, inventory management and store operations, with particular strength in ladies apparel, beauty and accessories. Burlington Stores also benefited from improved allocation and localization capabilities, which helped the company capitalize on warm-weather demand trends during the quarter.

Despite the strong performance and an increase in the fiscal 2026 guidance, investors reacted negatively to the results, sending shares down 7.9% following the announcement. The decline likely reflected elevated investor expectations heading into the release, as well as caution surrounding the company's modest fiscal second-quarter comparable sales guidance and broader consumer spending uncertainties.

More on Burlington Stores’ Q1 Financial ResultsBurlington Stores reported adjusted earnings of $2.01 per share, comfortably beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.77. Adjusted EPS increased 25.6% from $1.60 in the year-ago quarter.

Total revenues increased 14.1% year over year to $2.86 billion and exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.81 billion. Net sales rose 14% to $2.85 billion from $2.50 billion in the prior-year period.

Comparable store sales increased 6%, significantly ahead of management’s guidance of 2-4%. According to management, comps growth was broad-based across merchandise categories and geographic regions, reflecting healthy consumer demand and effective execution of Burlington Stores’ off-price model. Our model anticipated a 3.5% year-over year rise in comparable store sales for the fiscal first quarter.

Insight Into BURL’s MarginsThe gross margin expanded 30 basis points year over year to 44.1% in the first quarter of fiscal 2026. This also surpassed our estimate for gross margin of 43.5%. The improvement was driven by a 20-basis-point increase in the merchandise margin and a 10-basis-point reduction in freight expenses as a percentage of net sales.

Adjusted selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses increased 15.2% year over year to $771.3 million from $669.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025. Adjusted SG&A, excluding expenses related to bankruptcy-acquired leases, represented 26.8% of net sales, up 20 basis points year over year. Notably, adjusted SG&A surpassed our estimate of 26.3% of net sales.

Product sourcing costs increased to $216 million from $197 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025. However, as a percentage of sales, product sourcing costs declined by 30 basis points year over year, reflecting continued progress on supply-chain productivity initiatives and cost-saving programs across the distribution network. Such costs comprise the processing goods costs via the supply chain and buying expenses.

Adjusted EBIT increased to $179 million from $152 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025. The adjusted EBIT margin expanded 20 basis points year over year to 6.3%, significantly exceeding management's original expectation for a margin decline of 60-100 basis points. According to management, the margin outperformance was primarily driven by higher merchandise margins, stronger sales leverage and continued supply-chain productivity gains.

Adjusted EBITDA increased to $284 million from $244 million in the prior-year quarter. The adjusted EBITDA margin also improved 20 basis points year over year.

BURL’s Financial Snapshot: Cash, Debt & EquityBurlington Stores ended the first quarter of fiscal 2026 with total liquidity of $1.69 billion, consisting of $747 million in unrestricted cash and $942 million of availability under its asset-based lending (“ABL”) facility.

Total outstanding debt at the quarter-end was $1.92 billion, including $1.72 billion under the Term Loan facility, $186 million in convertible notes and no borrowings under the ABL facility.

Burlington Stores repurchased $111 million of its outstanding 1.25% convertible notes in the fiscal first quarter. The transaction, valued at $173 million, was settled through a combination of $129 million in cash and the issuance of 150,831 shares of common stock.

The company also repurchased 257,906 shares of its common stock for approximately $81 million under its share repurchase program. At the end of the fiscal first quarter, $304 million remained available under the current share repurchase authorization.

BURL’s Store UpdateIn the first quarter of fiscal 2026, Burlington Stores opened 40 stores, relocated six and closed four stores, resulting in a net increase of 30 stores during the period. The company ended the quarter with 1,242 stores across 47 states, Washington DC and Puerto Rico.

BURL’s Q2 GuidanceFor the second quarter of fiscal 2026, Burlington Stores expects total sales to increase 10-12%, including comparable store sales growth of 1-3%. The company expects the adjusted EBIT margin to increase 30-60 basis points year over year, excluding $3 million of anticipated expenses associated with bankruptcy-acquired leases in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, whereas it registered $11 million in the prior-year period.

Management expects the margin improvement to be driven by higher merchandise margins, supported by markdown favorability, modestly faster inventory turns and a favorable shortage accrual rate versus last year. These benefits are expected to be partially offset by modest freight expense pressure related to higher fuel rates.

Burlington Stores also expects leverage in product sourcing costs as it continues to realize benefits from supply-chain productivity initiatives across its distribution center network. However, these savings will be partially offset by ongoing start-up costs related to the company's new distribution center in Savannah, GA, which became operational late in the fiscal first quarter. Management also expects SG&A expenses to provide modest leverage during the quarter.

The company anticipates an adjusted effective tax rate of 23% and adjusted earnings per share of $2.05-$2.20, whereas it reported an adjusted EPS of $1.72 in the second quarter of fiscal 2025. Management noted that sales trends in May were tracking at the high end of its comparable sales guidance range, although monthly comparisons are expected to become more challenging as the quarter progresses.

FY26 View for BURLFor fiscal 2026, Burlington Stores expects total sales to increase 9-11%, following a 9% increase in fiscal 2025. This compares with the prior guidance of 8-10%. The outlook assumes comparable store sales growth of 2-4%, on top of a 2% comparable sales increase in fiscal 2025. Previous estimation of comparable store sales growth was 1-3%.

The company expects to open 115 net new stores during the year, up from the prior mentioned 110 net new stores, with the majority of store openings anticipated to occur in the first half of the year.

Burlington Stores expects the adjusted EBIT margin to increase 10-30 basis points from that reported in fiscal 2025, excluding $10 million of anticipated expenses associated with bankruptcy-acquired leases in fiscal 2026 versus the $35 million registered in fiscal 2025.

Adjusted earnings per share are projected to be $11.45-$11.80, whereas it reported an adjusted EPS of $10.17 in fiscal 2025. The updated outlook implies year-over-year earnings growth of 13-16%. Previously, the adjusted EPS was projected between $10.95 and $11.45. The outlook assumes a share count of 64 million. Capital expenditure, net of landlord allowances, is expected to be $875 million.

Management noted that its outlook for the back half of fiscal 2026 remains unchanged. For the second half of the year, the company expects comparable store sales growth of 1-3%, total sales growth of 8-10%, the adjusted EBIT margin expansion of 10-30 basis points and earnings per share of $7.30-$7.50. Management also expects comparable sales upside in the fiscal third quarter and possibly the fourth quarter as Burlington Stores laps easier comparisons and prior-year tariff-related assortment gaps.

BURL Stock Past 6-Month Performance

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

In the past six months, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company has gained 24% compared with the industry’s 12.3% growth.

Key PicksWe have highlighted three better-ranked stocks, namely, Ross Stores Inc. (ROST - Free Report) , Victoria's Secret & Co. and Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI - Free Report) .

Ross Stores operates as an off-price retailer of apparel and home accessories, primarily in the United States. It carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ross Stores’ current fiscal-year earnings and sales indicates growth of 15.6% and 8.2%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. ROST delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 10.2%.

Victoria's Secret is a specialty retailer of women's intimates, sleepwear, apparel, sport and swimwear, and prestige fragrances and body care. It currently has a Zacks Rank of 2. The company delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 55.1%, on average.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for VSCO’s current fiscal-year sales and earnings indicates growth of 6.2% and 16.3%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers.

Levi Strauss designs and markets jeans, casual wear and related accessories for men, women and children. It currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Levi Strauss’ current fiscal-year earnings and sales suggests growth of 11.9% and 5.2%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. LEVI delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 21.4%.

Burlington Stores Inc. NYSE: BURL delivered another better-than-expected quarter on May 28, marking its 14th consecutive quarter of double-digit earnings growth.

The company also raised its full-year outlook as off-price retailers continue to benefit from demand among budget-conscious consumers seeking bargains. Still, it wasn't enough to satisfy investors, as shares fell sharply following the report.

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Burlington Earnings Beat Expectations Burlington Stores Today

BURL

Burlington Stores

$342.10 +15.09 (+4.61%)

As of 06/11/2026 03:59 PM Eastern

This is a fair market value price provided by Massive. Learn more.

52-Week Range$218.52▼

$351.85P/E Ratio35.16

Price Target$353.56

For the quarter, the company reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $2.01, an increase of 26% from year-ago earnings of $1.60 and well above Wall Street’s expectations of $1.77 per share. Revenue rose 14% year over year (YOY) to $2.86 billion, topping analyst estimates by more than $57 million.

Comparable-store (comp) sales increased 6% YOY, above the company’s guided range of 2% to 4%, while gross margin expanded 30 basis points to 44.1% of net sales.

On the earnings call, Chief Executive Michael O’Sullivan noted, “These results add to an already very impressive track record of consistently converting sales growth into strong margin expansion and earnings flow-through,” noted Chief Executive Michael O’Sullivan on the earnings call.

Burlington Raises Full-Year Guidance on Strong Off-Price DemandThe company also issued second-quarter guidance and raised its full-year sales and earnings outlook. For Q2, Burlington expects comp sales growth of 1% to 3%, with total sales increasing 10% to 12%. Operating margin is expected to expand 30 to 60 basis points YOY, while adjusted EPS is forecast to be between $2.05 and $2.20.

For the full year, Burlington now expects comp sales growth of 2% to 4%, up from prior guidance of 1% to 3%. Total sales are expected to rise 9% to 11%, up from the prior outlook of 8% to 10%, while adjusted EPS is projected between $11.45 and $11.80, above the previous forecast of $10.95 to $11.45. The company also noted it now expects its net new store openings to be 115, up from 110.

O’Sullivan also discussed how higher oil prices and the conflict in the Middle East have influenced the company’s outlook since the previous earnings call. Burlington remains optimistic about the second half of the year, though management is taking a more cautious view than it did in March because of higher gas prices and the potential impact on inflation.

Even so, O’Sullivan said a tougher consumer backdrop could work in Burlington’s favor if shoppers become more focused on value. "In fact, as a value retailer, it could turn into an opportunity," he said.

Shares Tumble Despite Strong Quarter and Better OutlookBurlington may have cleared Wall Street’s estimates, but not necessarily the market’s expectations. After the report, BURL stock initially fell nearly 8%, trading near $300, before recovering much of that decline in subsequent trading.

Burlington Stores, Inc. (BURL) Price Chart for Friday, June, 12, 2026

Ahead of the earnings release, the stock had been on a major multiyear run. After normalizing from pandemic-era highs, Burlington shares were trading around $110 in September 2022. Since then, the stock has surged roughly 175%, including a gain of more than 25% over the past year, leaving investors with a higher bar for another beat-and-raise quarter.

The post-earnings sell-off comes shortly after Burlington shares hit a 52-week high above $351 in April, potentially signaling some profit-taking following the stock’s multiyear run. It may also indicate that investors were looking for stronger comp sales growth and a more robust outlook for comparable-store sales.

During the earnings call, one analyst questioned whether Burlington’s focus on earnings may have caused it to miss opportunities to drive additional comp growth in Q1. In response, O’Sullivan said, “I do think that we may have an opportunity to loosen our belts a notch and get slightly more aggressive on sales.”

Burlington Sell-Off Contrasts With Off-Price PeersThe reaction to Burlington’s earnings was very different from some of its off-price peers, whose shares moved higher following their own better-than-expected earnings reports.

Shares of TJX Companies Inc. NYSE: TJX rose more than 5% after the company's recent earnings and revenue beats on May 20, while Ross Stores Inc. NASDAQ: ROST gained more than 8% two days later following its strong Q1 report.

In terms of valuation, the three stocks have similar price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios, with Burlington trading around 34x earnings, TJX at 30x, and Ross Stores at roughly 32x. The broader retail industry is trading at an average P/E ratio of 25x.

Burlington Stores Stock Forecast Today12-Month Stock Price Forecast:
$353.56
3.35% Upside

Moderate Buy
Based on 20 Analyst Ratings

Current Price$342.10High Forecast$411.00Average Forecast$353.56Low Forecast$310.00Burlington Stores Stock Forecast Details

Despite Burlington’s post-earnings decline, Wall Street analysts remain largely bullish on the stock.

Ahead of the report, the average 12-month price target stood around $357, implying more than 18% upside from current levels.

The stock currently carries a Moderate Buy consensus rating, based on 16 Buy ratings and five Hold ratings. The $351 analyst consensus price target implies about an 8% potential upside.

While Burlington’s latest quarter highlighted the continued strength of the off-price sector, the market reaction suggests investors may have been hoping for more signs of strength in comparable-store sales.

Still, with consumers remaining focused on value amid economic uncertainty, Burlington could be well-positioned if bargain hunting continues to drive retail spending.

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About Medical Grade Physiotherapy & Wellness

Medical Grade Physiotherapy & Wellness is a multidisciplinary rehabilitation and wellness clinic located in Burlington, Ontario. The clinic specializes in physiotherapy, chiropractic care, massage therapy, sports injury rehabilitation, chronic pain management, MVA rehabilitation, workplace injury treatment, and personalized wellness care.

With a strong emphasis on one-on-one treatment, evidence-based rehabilitation, and patient education, the clinic is committed to helping individuals restore movement, reduce pain, improve function, and achieve long-term health outcomes.

For appointments, services, or additional information, visit Medical Grade Physiotherapy & Wellness Official Profile or call 289-337-2288.
700 Guelph Line Unit #4 Burlington, ON L7R 3M8 Canada
Medical Grade Physiotherapy & Wellness

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Earnings season from Q2 is winding down, and many components of the S&P 500 have reported spectacular results, especially those in the AI supply chain.

When companies like NVIDIA and Alphabet report earnings, the market tends to grab its popcorn and wait for fireworks. But not every big Q2 earnings winner is in the AI ecosystem.

In fact, many of the market’s biggest beats came from under-the-radar companies that are quietly executing their strategies.

Those are the companies we’ll be focusing on today.

Here are five that reported excellent earnings last week that may not be on your watchlist.

Victoria’s Secret and Co.Victoria’s Secret (NYSE:VSXY) recently switched tickers from VSCO to VSXY, and with the new ticker came a renewed rally as its fiscal Q1 2026 earnings results smashed expectations.

For the quarter ending May 2nd, Victoria’s Secret reported revenue of $1.56 billion, up 15% year-over-year (YoY) and above the midlevel consensus of $1.52 billion. Comp sales were up 12% YoY, with broad-based growth across the Victoria’s Secret, Beauty, and PINK brands.

However, it was the bottom line that drove the stock up nearly 50% following the release. The company reported EPS of $0.60, a 500% YoY increase and double the expected $0.30. Operating income also rose to $80 million thanks to margin expansion, which is an impressive feat considering the company’s vulnerability to tariffs.

Victoria’s Secret raised both Q2 and full-year guidance, and now expects revenue between $7.03 billion and $7.18 billion in fiscal 2026. The stock response was explosive, but a few technical indicators had been flashing before the blowout earnings news. A Golden Cross began the uptrend last fall, but the stock had spent most of 2026 in consolidation.

However, both the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicators triggered bullish signals in late May, hinting that an earnings beat was in the works. And despite the sizable gain, VSXY shares still trade at just 22 times forward earnings and 0.95 times sales.

Okta Inc.Okta’s fiscal Q1 2027 report was a double beat with a guidance raise, and investors rewarded it by sending the stock up 30% after hours. Revenue grew 12% YoY to $765 million, its fifth straight record-setting quarter and well above the $751 million consensus. The $0.91 EPS figure also beat the expected $0.85, and the company raised fiscal 2027 revenue guidance range to $3.19 billion to $3.21 billion. 

Once again, technical signals were the map to the buried treasure. Okta reported earnings on May 28th, but the RSI nudged into bullish territory before April had ended. The MACD also confirmed the trend reversal with a bullish crossover, and the price quickly broke resistance at the 50-day moving average. Shares have pulled back 10% this week as investors took profits, but this could also be an opportunity to open new positions.

Burlington also raised its sales growth guidance range to 9% to 11%, and growth is a must for a retailer trading at 33 times earnings and 1.7 times sales. Trading in BURL shares had been volatile, but the earnings report has revived the uptrend, pushing the share price back above the 50-day moving average. The RSI is also back in bullish territory, giving more strength to the upward momentum.

Science Applications International Corp.Management reaffirmed full-year revenue guidance, which limits the stock’s upside a bit, as opposed to a beat and raise. But strong margins appear ready to carry the day, and the stock is in full breakout mode. The price ripped through the 50-day and 200-day moving averages shortly before the earnings boost, and the MACD shows strong upward momentum.

Elastic N.V.ESTC shares had been in a long decline, losing more than 20% of their value over the last 12 months. But recently, a breakout has been bubbling under the surface. The RSI and MACD both flipped bullish in early April, and the share price overtook the 50-day moving average a few weeks later. The earnings report provided another catalyst, and now shares are challenging the 200-day moving average for the first time since March 2025.

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After reaching an important support level, Burlington Stores (BURL - Free Report) could be a good stock pick from a technical perspective. BURL surpassed resistance at the 50-day moving average, suggesting a short-term bullish trend.

One of the three major moving averages, the 50-day simple moving average is commonly used by traders and analysts to determine support or resistance levels for different types of securities. However, the 50-day is considered to be more important since it's the first marker of an up or down trend.

BURL could be on the verge of another rally after moving 12.3% higher over the last four weeks. Plus, the company is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock.

The bullish case solidifies once investors consider BURL's positive earnings estimate revisions. No estimate has gone lower in the past two months for the current fiscal year, compared to 3 higher, while the consensus estimate has increased too.

Given this move in earnings estimate revisions and the positive technical factor, investors may want to keep their eye on BURL for more gains in the near future.