Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Momentum investing revolves around the idea of following a stock's recent trend in either direction. In "long context," investors will be essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." With this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving that way. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.

Even though momentum is a popular stock characteristic, it can be tough to define. Debate surrounding which are the best and worst metrics to focus on is lengthy, but the Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.

Below, we take a look at Five Below (FIVE - Free Report) , a company that currently holds a Momentum Style Score of A. We also talk about price change and earnings estimate revisions, two of the main aspects of the Momentum Style Score.

It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. Five Below currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.

You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>

Set to Beat the Market? In order to see if FIVE is a promising momentum pick, let's examine some Momentum Style elements to see if this discount retailer holds up.

Looking at a stock's short-term price activity is a great way to gauge if it has momentum, since this can reflect both the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand at the moment. It's also helpful to compare a security to its industry; this can show investors the best companies in a particular area.

For FIVE, shares are up 4.26% over the past week while the Zacks Retail - Miscellaneous industry is up 0.78% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 7.16% compares favorably with the industry's 0.08% performance as well.

Considering longer term price metrics, like performance over the last three months or year, can be advantageous as well. Shares of Five Below have increased 30.05% over the past quarter, and have gained 66.68% in the last year. On the other hand, the S&P 500 has only moved 4.72% and 20.24%, respectively.

Investors should also pay attention to FIVE's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. FIVE is currently averaging 1,146,295 shares for the last 20 days.

Earnings OutlookThe Zacks Momentum Style Score also takes into account trends in estimate revisions, in addition to price changes. Please note that estimate revision trends remain at the core of Zacks Rank as well. A nice path here can help show promise, and we have recently been seeing that with FIVE.

Over the past two months, 8 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost FIVE's consensus estimate, increasing from $9.05 to $9.95 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 8 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.

Bottom LineGiven these factors, it shouldn't be surprising that FIVE is a #1 (Strong Buy) stock and boasts a Momentum Score of A. If you're looking for a fresh pick that's set to soar in the near-term, make sure to keep Five Below on your short list.

AlphaGrep UK Ltd purchased a new stake in Five Below, Inc. (NASDAQ:FIVE – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 6,589 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock, valued at approximately $1,185,000. Five Below accounts for approximately 0.4% of AlphaGrep UK Ltd’s holdings, making the stock its 24th largest position.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Five Below during the second quarter worth about $64,000. AXQ Capital LP acquired a new stake in Five Below in the second quarter valued at $622,000. Nykredit A S purchased a new stake in Five Below during the 2nd quarter worth about $378,000. Proficio Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Five Below during the 2nd quarter worth about $702,000. Finally, Quantitative Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Five Below during the 2nd quarter worth about $3,897,000.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts have weighed in on FIVE shares. Raymond James Financial raised shares of Five Below to an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. Evercore set a $260.00 target price on Five Below in a research report on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Five Below from $325.00 to $368.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday. Mizuho set a $295.00 target price on shares of Five Below in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Five Below from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Sunday, August 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have issued a Buy rating and thirteen have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Five Below has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $300.70.

View Our Latest Report on FIVE Five Below Stock Performance Shares of NASDAQ:FIVE opened at $252.20 on Friday. Five Below, Inc. has a one year low of $137.77 and a one year high of $263.88. The company has a market capitalization of $13.94 billion, a PE ratio of 22.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 0.99. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $218.05 and a 200-day moving average of $217.82.

Five Below (NASDAQ:FIVE – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, September 2nd. The specialty retailer reported $1.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.40 by $0.28. Five Below had a net margin of 11.65% and a return on equity of 22.13%. The company had revenue of $1.26 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.22 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.81 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 22.9% on a year-over-year basis. Five Below has set its Q3 2026 guidance at 1.010-1.130 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 9.830-10.310 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Five Below, Inc. will post 9.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Key Stories Impacting Five Below Here are the key news stories impacting Five Below this week:

Positive Sentiment: Five Below reported second-quarter earnings of $1.68 per share, well above the $1.34–$1.40 analyst range, while revenue rose 22.9% year over year to approximately $1.26 billion. Results were supported by strong traffic, repeat visits, comparable-sales growth and demand for new, trend-oriented merchandise. Five Below Q2 Earnings and Revenues Top Estimates Positive Sentiment: Management raised fiscal 2026 guidance to $5.63 billion–$5.71 billion in revenue and $9.83–$10.31 in EPS. Third-quarter EPS guidance of $1.01–$1.13 also exceeds the prior consensus estimate, signaling continued operating momentum. Five Below Q2 Earnings Call Centers on Traffic and Raised Outlook Positive Sentiment: The company authorized a $600 million share-repurchase program, which could support per-share earnings and signal confidence in future cash generation. Five Below Unveils $600 Million Share Repurchase Plan Positive Sentiment: Analysts raised targets following the earnings beat: Goldman Sachs moved to $306 with a Buy rating, JPMorgan to $368 with an Overweight rating, Truist to $297 with a Buy rating and Morgan Stanley to $300 while maintaining Equal Weight. These revisions reinforce improving expectations for growth and margins. Neutral Sentiment: Jim Cramer highlighted that comparable-sales growth is decelerating, although it remains strong. Consensus targets imply further upside, but target-price metrics alone are not reliable predictors of returns. Negative Sentiment: Some retail earnings point to a wider split among U.S. consumers. Five Below still faces potential tariff and margin pressures, and slowing comparable-sales growth could temper the rally if traffic or discretionary spending weakens. Retail Earnings Just Exposed a Bigger Divide in the U.S. Consumer Economy About Five Below (Free Report)

Five Below, Inc (NASDAQ:FIVE) is an American specialty discount retailer offering a broad assortment of merchandise priced primarily at $5 or below. Since its founding in 2002 by David Schlessinger and Tom Vellios, the company has pursued a value-focused retail model targeting tweens, teens and beyond, with stores designed to deliver trend-driven products at an accessible price point. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Five Below has grown into a national chain operating in dozens of U.S.

Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Five Below Revolution Medicines Got Its Breakthrough—What Moves It Next? Retail Earnings Just Exposed a Bigger Divide in the U.S. Consumer Economy FB Financial’s Southern Expansion and Buybacks Drive Analyst Optimism AST SpaceMobile Stock Soared 12%—This Was the Catalyst Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FIVE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Five Below, Inc. (NASDAQ:FIVE – Free Report).

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Looking back on the latest earnings season for retail stocks, an unusual K-shaped pattern emerges: lower-income households appear to be struggling, with some value stores having a difficult time reconciling their low prices against increasingly costly inventory. At the same time, though, a handful of specialized stores, including homeowner and contractor supply chains, have had unexpected strong quarters in numerous respects.

This data helps to support the growing narrative that different groups of consumers are experiencing the economy in vastly different ways, with those with more disposable cash tending to spend freely and those without being forced to tighten belts to even more extreme degrees.

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The situation means that some companies—like The Home Depot Inc. NYSE: HD and Lowe's Companies Inc. NYSE: LOW—have done better than others, including Walmart NASDAQ: WMT and Five Below Inc. NASDAQ: FIVE, even while the latter have some hidden wins that suggest a more complicated consumer landscape than some may anticipate.

Home Depot Finds Resilience in Pro Demand and Smaller ProjectsHome Depot Today

HD

Home Depot

$320.51 +2.44 (+0.77%)

As of 01:38 PM Eastern

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

$289.10▼

$426.752.91%

22.43

$375.54

Home Depot's Q2 2026 earnings of $4.92 per share came on the back of revenue of nearly $48 billion, which was up about 6% year over year (YOY).

Both metrics were ahead of analyst predictions, fueled by comparable store sales growth of 1.7%, a notably high figure for the company.

Home improvement projects seem to be fairly robust, particularly among higher-income homeowners with more discretionary income to spend.

The company enjoyed strong demand across many of its departments, supported by its new three-hour express delivery service—this service is also one that may appeal to consumers with more disposable income who are willing to spend extra for the convenience.

To be sure, uncertainty about consumer sentiment in general, as well as concerns about housing affordability, may negatively impact some types of home improvement projects. Still, Wall Street analysts have rallied behind Home Depot stock, calling it a Moderate Buy overall and predicting about 18% in future upside.

Lowe’s Pro Growth Can’t Fully Offset Soft DIY DemandLowe's Companies Today

LOW

Lowe's Companies

$203.90 +2.00 (+0.99%)

As of 01:38 PM Eastern

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

$199.34▼

$293.062.45%

17.24

$258.53

On a macro level, Lowe's would seem to benefit from many of the same factors driving Home Depot's growth.

The company is also well-suited to providing for those big-ticket home improvement projects that some consumers are still prepared to spend large amounts of money on.

This is evidenced by Lowe's sales growth of 8.3% YOY in the latest quarter, as well as strong free cash flow and pro sales growth that reflects strong contractor demand.

The issue for Lowe's may be that its overall competitive position is weaker than Home Depot's. Management recently reduced its full-year outlook due to softer DIY demand. Comparable sales increased by just 0.2% YOY—while better than a decline, it's a much slower rate than Home Depot.

In addition, the company decided not to leverage tariff refunds to offer strong summer promotions to the same degree as some of its competitors, and performance suffered as a result.

Five Below and Walmart Show Different Sides of the Value ConsumerFive Below Today

$256.57 +16.61 (+6.92%)

As of 01:38 PM Eastern

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

$137.77▼

$263.8823.04

$296.20

Five Below faces challenges to its margins as a result of significant increases to fuel costs, and tariff benefits are disappearing fast.

Still, the company has managed to post some crucial wins in key areas: profitability was still up, with merchandise-margin gains and fixed-cost leverage as two important contributing factors.

Where Five Below really succeeded in Q2 2026, though, was in sales growth of 23% YOY, including 14% YOY improvement to comparable sales.

This may suggest that consumers are still be willing to spend on discretionary items when the price point is compelling, even as economic pressures make them more selective about larger purchases. Five Below may have cracked the code to continuing to see robust traffic and transactions, even as economic pressures mount.

Walmart Today

$107.33 -1.09 (-1.01%)

As of 01:38 PM Eastern

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

$98.88▼

$135.150.92%

38.75

$131.88

Walmart, on the other hand, disappointed investors with its latest earnings, even though it also raised its full-year guidance.

The issue may be that the company posted notably slow sales growth compared to other recent quarters. There also may be a concern that the company's results are artificially benefiting from near-term tariff refunds that are not going to last.

Still, Walmart's digital business appears to be thriving and building its margins.

Advertising remains a high-growth corner of the company's ecosystem, but it is also supported by growth in membership income, e-commerce, and more. This may be why, despite shares falling by about 2.7% year to date (YTD), analysts remain very bullish on WMT stock overall and see the stock gaining 24%.

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'Mad Money' host Jim Cramer takes a closer look at Five Below after the stock reported earnings.

Five Below, Inc. just released its Q2 earnings, and the results were impressive. The discount retailer reported comparable sales growth well above consensus estimates, while also putting out expectation-beating forward guidance. The share gains post-release add to YTD share appreciation of about 30%.

Five Below Inc (NASDAQ:FIVE) on Wednesday reported better-than-expected second-quarter financial results and raised its FY26 guidance above estimates.

Five Below reported quarterly earnings of $1.68 per share, which beat the analyst estimate of $1.38 by 21.74%, per Benzinga Pro data. Quarterly revenue came in at $1.26 billion, which beat Street estimate of $1.22 billion and was up from $1.03 billion in the same period last year.

"We are thrilled with our second quarter performance and the continued momentum of our customer-centric strategy. Our Crew delivered strong results by collaborating on trend-right product stories at amazing value in stores that are fun and easy to shop," said Winnie Park, CEO of Five Below.

Five Below raised its fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to between $9.83 and $10.31, versus the $9.23 analyst estimate, and raised its revenue outlook to between $5.63 billion and $5.71 billion, versus the $5.54 billion estimate.

Five Below shares fell 0.7% to trade at $241.44 on Thursday.

These analysts made changes to their price targets on Five Below following earnings announcement.

Guggenheim analyst John Heinbockel maintained the stock with a Buy and raised the price target from $250 to $290. Wells Fargo analyst Edward Kelly maintained the stock with an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $260 to $295. Trending

Considering buying FIVE stock? Here’s what analysts think:

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Five Below, Inc. (FIVE) Q2 2027 Earnings Call September 2, 2026 4:30 PM EDT

Company Participants

Christiane Pelz - Vice President of Investor Relations
Winifred Park - President, CEO & Director
Daniel Sullivan - CFO & Treasurer

Conference Call Participants

Randal Konik - Jefferies LLC, Research Division
Krisztina Katai - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division
Matthew Boss - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division
Robert Ohmes - BofA Securities, Research Division
Michael Lasser - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division
David Bellinger - Mizuho Securities USA LLC, Research Division
Joseph Feldman - Telsey Advisory Group LLC
Scot Ciccarelli
Charles Grom - Gordon Haskett Research Advisors
Jeremy Hamblin - Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC, Research Division
Edward Kelly - Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division
Katharine McShane - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division
John Heinbockel - Guggenheim Securities, LLC, Research Division
Zhihan Ma - Bernstein Institutional Services LLC, Research Division
Phillip Blee - William Blair & Company L.L.C., Research Division

Presentation

Operator

Good day, and welcome to the Five Below Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Please note today's event is being recorded.

I'd now like to turn the conference over to Christiane Pelz, VP, Investor Relations. Please go ahead.

Christiane Pelz
Vice President of Investor Relations

Thank you. Good afternoon, everyone, and thanks for joining us today for Five Below's Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results Conference Call. On today's call are Winnie Park, Chief Executive Officer; and Dan Sullivan, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. After management has made their formal remarks, we will open the call to questions. Certain comments made during this call may constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements, including those described in the press release and our SEC filings.

In this presentation, we will refer to our SG&A expenses, which for us includes depreciation and

Five Below (FIVE - Free Report) reported $1.26 billion in revenue for the quarter ended July 2026, representing a year-over-year increase of 22.9%. EPS of $1.68 for the same period compares to $0.81 a year ago.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.22 billion, representing a surprise of +3.79%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +25.37%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $1.34.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how Five Below performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

Comparable Sales: 14.1% versus 10.3% estimated by four analysts on average.Total stores at end of period: 2,022 compared to the 2,020 average estimate based on four analysts.New Store Openings: 52 versus the three-analyst average estimate of 50.View all Key Company Metrics for Five Below here>>>

Shares of Five Below have returned +10.3% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +2% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.

Q2 Net Sales Increase of 22.9% to $1.3 Billion; Comparable Sales Increase of 14.1%

Q2 GAAP Diluted EPS of $3.99, Q2 Adjusted Diluted EPS of $1.68

Increases Full Year 2026 Sales and EPS Outlook

PHILADELPHIA, PA, Sept. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Five Below, Inc. (NASDAQ: FIVE) today announced financial results for the second quarter and year to date period ended August 1, 2026.

For the second quarter ended August 1, 2026:

Net sales increased by 22.9% to $1.26 billion from $1.03 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2025; comparable sales increased by 14.1%.The Company opened 52 net new stores and ended the quarter with 2,022 stores in 46 states. This represents an increase in stores of 8.8% from the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2025.Operating income was $275.4 million compared to $52.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2025. Adjusted operating income(1) was $113.2 million compared to $55.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2025.The effective tax rate was 23.9% compared to 26.2% in the second quarter of fiscal 2025.Net income was $221.4 million compared to $42.8 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2025. Adjusted net income(1) was $93.4 million compared to $44.8 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2025.Diluted income per common share was $3.99 compared to $0.77 in the second quarter of fiscal 2025. Adjusted diluted income per common share(1) was $1.68 compared to $0.81 in the second quarter of fiscal 2025.The Company repurchased approximately 311,000 shares in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 at a cost of approximately $60.0 million.
(1) A reconciliation of adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, and adjusted diluted income per common share to the most directly comparable financial measure presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP") is set forth in the schedule accompanying this release. See also “Non-GAAP Information.”

Winnie Park, CEO of Five Below, said, “We are thrilled with our second quarter performance and the continued momentum of our customer-centric strategy. Our Crew delivered strong results by collaborating on trend-right product stories at amazing value in stores that are fun and easy to shop. We remain maniacally focused on delivering our brand promise to be THE destination for the KID and the KID in all of us.”

Ms. Park continued, “Just as importantly, our Crew continues to drive new store growth at a higher level of executional excellence to bring Five Below to new communities. The balance between new store growth and double-digit comparable sales growth for the past five quarters is a testament to our operating flywheel gaining momentum. With a strong first half behind us and significant opportunities ahead, we are raising our full year outlook and look forward to delivering special curtain up moments for our customers through the holiday season and beyond.”

For the year to date period ended August 1, 2026:

Net sales increased by 27.5% to $2.55 billion from $2.00 billion in the year to date period of fiscal 2025; comparable sales increased by 18.3%.The Company opened 101 net new stores compared to 87 net new stores in the year to date period of fiscal 2025.Operating income was $429.6 million compared to $103.2 million in the year to date period of fiscal 2025. Adjusted operating income(2) was $268.0 million compared to $114.7 million in the year to date period of fiscal 2025.The effective tax rate was 24.0% compared to 26.7% in the year to date period of fiscal 2025.Net income was $344.5 million compared to $83.9 million in the year to date period of fiscal 2025. Adjusted net income(2) was $217.1 million compared to $92.3 million in the year to date period of fiscal 2025.Diluted income per common share was $6.20 compared to $1.52 in the year to date period of fiscal 2025. Adjusted diluted income per common share(2) was $3.91 compared to $1.67 in the year to date period of fiscal 2025. (2) A reconciliation of adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, and adjusted diluted income per common share to the most directly comparable financial measure presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP") is set forth in the schedule accompanying this release. See also “Non-GAAP Information.”

Third Quarter and Fiscal 2026 Outlook:
The Company expects the following results for the third quarter and full year of fiscal 2026. This outlook includes the expected impact of tariff rates currently in place and excludes the impact of future tariff refunds and share repurchases, if any.

For the third quarter of Fiscal 2026:

 Current OutlookNet sales$1.21 billion to $1.23 billionNet new storesapproximately 40Comparable sales+8% to +10%Net income$56 million to $63 millionDiluted income per common share$1.01 to $1.13Diluted weighted average shares outstanding55.4 million   For the full year of Fiscal 2026:

 Current OutlookPrior OutlookNet sales$5.63 billion to $5.71 billion$5.40 billion to $5.48 billionNet new storesapproximately 150approximately 150Comparable sales+10% to +12%+6% to +8%Net income$672 million to $698 million$480 million to $502 millionAdjusted net income(3)$546 million to $572 million$482 million to $504 millionDiluted income per common share$12.10 to $12.58$8.62 to $9.02Adjusted diluted income per common share(3)$9.83 to $10.31$8.65 to $9.05Diluted weighted average shares outstanding55.5 million55.7 millionGross capital expenditures$250 million to $260 million$230 million to $250 million    (3) Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted income per common share excludes the impact of tariff refunds and related interest recorded through the year to date period ended August 1, 2026 and retention awards granted in fiscal 2024, net of income tax impacts.

Share Repurchase Authorization:
On August 29, 2026, the Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $600 million of the Company’s common stock. The new share repurchase program replaces and supersedes the remaining capacity under the Company's prior share repurchase program authorized on November 27, 2023. The new repurchase program has no fixed expiration date and will remain in effect until all common stock authorized to be repurchased thereunder has been acquired, or until the repurchase program is otherwise replaced, suspended, or terminated.

Conference Call Information:
A conference call to discuss the financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 is scheduled for today, September 2, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available online at investor.fivebelow.com, where a replay will be available shortly after the conclusion of the call. Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial 412-902-6753 approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call.

Non-GAAP Information:
This press release includes the following non-GAAP financial measures: gross profit, adjusted gross profit, adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, and adjusted diluted income per common share. The Company has reconciled these non-GAAP financial measures, with respect to the second quarter and year to date period ended August 1, 2026, with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures within this filing. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide its management with comparable financial data for internal financial analysis and provide meaningful supplemental information to investors. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools. Other companies in the Company's industry may calculate these items differently than the Company does. Each of these measures is not a measure of performance under GAAP and should not be considered as a substitute for the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Forward-Looking Statements:
This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, that are intended to be protected by the “safe harbor” provisions therein. Such statements reflect management’s current views and estimates regarding the Company’s industry, business strategy, goals, expectations and outlook concerning its market position, operations, margins, profitability, capital expenditures, liquidity and capital resources, store count potential and other financial and operating information. Investors can identify these statements by the fact that they use words such as “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “future” and similar terms and phrases. The Company cannot assure investors that future developments affecting the Company will be those that it has anticipated. Although we believe there is a reasonable basis for such forward-looking statements, our actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to risks that include, but are not limited to, risks related to disruption to the global supply chain, increased cost of freight, constraints on shipping capacity to transport inventory or the timely receipt of inventory, risks related to the Company’s strategy and expansion plans, risks related to our ability to attract, retain, and motivate qualified executive talent, risks related to disruptions in our information technology systems and our ability to maintain and upgrade those systems, risks related to our ability to successfully implement our online retail operations, risks related to cyberattacks or other cyber incidents, such as the failure to secure customers’ confidential or credit card information, or other private data relating to our crew or the Company, including the costs associated with protection against or remediation of such incidents, risks related to increased usage of machine learning and other types of artificial intelligence in our business, and challenges with properly managing its use, risks related to our ability to select, obtain, distribute and market merchandise profitably, risks related to our reliance on merchandise manufactured outside of the United States, including risks related to direct and indirect impact of current and potential tariffs imposed, threatened, or proposed by the United States on foreign imports, including, without limitation, the tariffs themselves, any counter-measures thereto (in addition to any applicable foreign trade restrictions, generally) and any indirect effects on consumer discretionary spending, risks related to the availability of suitable new store locations and the dependence on the volume of traffic to our stores and website, risks related to our dependence on our executive officers, senior management and other key personnel or our ability to hire additional qualified personnel, risks related to changes in consumer preferences and economic conditions, risks related to increased operating costs, risks related to inflation and increasing commodity prices and related effects, such as a reduction in our unit sales (including an inability to increase sales), damage to our reputation with our customers, our becoming less competitive in the marketplace or exposure to fraud or theft due to customer payment-related risks, risks related to potential recessions and systematic failure of the banking system in the United States or globally, risks related to natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, pandemic outbreaks, global political events, war, terrorism or civil unrest (including any negative effects to our business and results of operations), risks related to building, operating or expanding shipcenters or network capacity, risks related to our ability to successfully manage inventory balance and inventory shrinkage, quality or safety concerns about the Company’s merchandise (including the impact of product and food safety claims and legislation), increased competition from other retailers including online retailers, risks related to the seasonality of our business, risks related to our ability to protect our brand name and other intellectual property, risks related to customers’ payment methods, risks associated with the restrictions imposed by our indebtedness on our current and future operations, the impact of changes in tax legislation and accounting standards, risks related to our insurance programs and their effect on our financial performance and risks associated with leasing substantial amounts of space and owning real property. For further details and a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations contained herein, see the Company’s periodic reports, including the annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if any of the Company’s assumptions prove incorrect, the Company’s actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements, despite the Company’s reasonable basis for such statements. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this news release speaks only as of the date on which the Company makes it. Factors or events that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of them. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws.

About Five Below:
Five Below is a leading growth retailer offering trend-right, extreme value, high-quality products loved by the kid and the kid in all of us. We believe life is better when customers are free to "let go & have fun" in an amazing experience filled with unlimited possibilities. With most items priced between $1 and $5 and some extreme value items priced beyond $5, Five Below makes it easy to say YES! to the newest, coolest stuff across awesome Five Below worlds: Candy, Style, Party, Room, Create, Tech, Sports and New & Now. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Five Below today has over 2,000 stores in 47 states. For more information, please visit www.fivebelow.com or follow @fivebelow on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.

Investor Contact:
Five Below, Inc.
Christiane Pelz
Vice President, Investor Relations
[email protected]

 FIVE BELOW, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
          August 1, 2026
 January 31, 2026
 August 2, 2025
Assets        Current assets:        Cash and cash equivalents$561,083  $723,699  $562,746 Short-term investment securities 626,821   208,508   107,418 Inventories 941,162   846,609   799,602 Prepaid income taxes and tax receivable 5,574   5,210   4,657 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 100,712   132,697   110,495 Total current assets 2,235,352   1,916,723   1,584,918 Property and equipment, net 1,250,477   1,234,331   1,253,808 Operating lease assets 1,766,069   1,765,704   1,746,255 Other assets 25,928   20,261   21,557  $5,277,826  $4,937,019  $4,606,538          Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity        Current liabilities:        Line of credit$—  $—  $— Accounts payable 436,734   368,381   371,801 Income taxes payable 1,388   56,644   — Accrued salaries and wages 44,341   67,505   36,532 Other accrued expenses 215,896   160,328   204,926 Operating lease liabilities 307,637   301,148   311,365 Total current liabilities 1,005,996   954,006   924,624 Other long-term liabilities 11,318   8,667   10,288 Long-term operating lease liabilities 1,731,001   1,731,041   1,707,261 Deferred income taxes 53,388   50,015   57,118 Total liabilities 2,801,703   2,743,729   2,699,291 Shareholders’ equity:        Common stock 550   551   550 Additional paid-in capital 117,174   178,791   167,480 Retained earnings 2,358,399   2,013,948   1,739,217 Total shareholders’ equity 2,476,123   2,193,290   1,907,247  $5,277,826  $4,937,019  $4,606,538               FIVE BELOW, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
     Thirteen Weeks Ended
 Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
 August 1, 2026
 August 2, 2025
 August 1, 2026
 August 2, 2025
Net sales$1,261,493  $1,026,847  $2,547,095  $1,997,374 Cost of goods sold (exclusive of items shown separately below) 649,070   684,478   1,456,030   1,331,092 Selling, general and administrative expenses 285,870   242,314   559,146   468,816 Depreciation and amortization 51,203   47,690   102,326   94,254 Operating income 275,350   52,365   429,593   103,212 Interest income and other income, net 15,418   5,540   23,673   11,187 Income before income taxes 290,768   57,905   453,266   114,399 Income tax expense 69,373   15,143   108,815   30,489 Net income$221,395  $42,762  $344,451  $83,910 Basic income per common share$4.02  $0.78  $6.24  $1.52 Diluted income per common share$3.99  $0.77  $6.20  $1.52 Weighted average shares outstanding:           Basic shares 55,130,589   55,072,140   55,196,391   55,059,126 Diluted shares 55,474,573   55,389,479   55,540,532   55,289,719                   FIVE BELOW, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
     Twenty-Six Weeks Ended  August 1, 2026 August 2, 2025Operating activities:    Net income $344,451  $83,910 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:    Depreciation and amortization  102,326   94,254 Share-based compensation expense  15,029   18,419 Deferred income tax expense (benefit)  3,373   (2,773)Other non-cash expenses  4,768   754 Changes in operating assets and liabilities:    Inventories  (94,553)  (140,102)Prepaid income taxes and tax receivable  (364)  (8)Prepaid expenses and other assets  26,246   46,240 Accounts payable  63,694   110,636 Income taxes payable  (55,256)  (51,998)Accrued salaries and wages  (23,164)  16,789 Operating leases  6,084   (2,654)Other accrued expenses  50,076   52,191 Net cash provided by operating activities  442,710   225,658 Investing activities:    Purchases of investment securities and other investments  (540,207)  (95,648)Sales, maturities, and redemptions of investment securities  121,895   185,303 Capital expenditures  (110,417)  (80,928)Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities  (528,729)  8,727 Financing activities:    Net proceeds from issuance of common stock  462   477 Repurchase and retirement of common stock  (60,363)  — Proceeds from exercise of options to purchase common stock and vesting of restricted and performance-based restricted stock units  2   1 Common shares withheld for taxes  (16,698)  (3,835)Net cash used in financing activities  (76,597)  (3,357)Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents  (162,616)  231,028 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period  723,699   331,718 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $561,083  $562,746            FIVE BELOW, INC.
GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation of Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)  Reconciliation of gross profit to adjusted gross profit

  Thirteen Weeks Ended
 Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
  August 1, 2026 August 2, 2025
 August 1, 2026 August 2, 2025
Gross profit(4) $612,423  $342,369  $1,091,065  $666,282 Adjustments:          Retention awards(5)  255   390   255   780 Cost-optimization initiatives(6)  —   —   —   4,100 Non-recurring lease acquisition costs(7)  —   495   —   495 IEEPA tariff refunds(8)  (163,583)  —   (163,583)  — Adjusted gross profit(9) $449,095  $343,254  $927,737  $671,657                   Reconciliation of operating income, as reported, to adjusted operating income

  Thirteen Weeks Ended
 Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
  August 1, 2026 August 2, 2025
 August 1, 2026 August 2, 2025
Operating income, as reported $275,350  $52,365  $429,593  $103,212 Adjustments:          Retention awards(5)  1,413   2,259   1,954   5,196 Cost-optimization initiatives(6)  —   —   —   4,960 Non-recurring lease acquisition costs(7)  —   495   —   495 Non-recurring inventory write-off  —   —   —   830 IEEPA tariff refunds(8)  (163,583)  —   (163,583)  — Adjusted operating income(9) $113,180  $55,119  $267,964  $114,694                   Reconciliation of net income, as reported, to adjusted net income

 Thirteen Weeks Ended
 Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
 August 1, 2026 August 2, 2025
 August 1, 2026 August 2, 2025
Net income, as reported$221,395  $42,762  $344,451  $83,910 Adjustments:         Retention awards, net of tax(5) 1,076   1,668   1,485   3,811 Cost-optimization initiatives, net of tax(6) —   —   —   3,638 Non-recurring lease acquisition costs, net of tax(7) —   366   —   363 Non-recurring inventory write-off, net of tax —   —   —   609 IEEPA tariff refunds, net of tax(10) (129,075)  —   (128,823)  — Adjusted net income(9)$93,397  $44,796  $217,114  $92,332                  Reconciliation of diluted income per common share, as reported, to adjusted diluted income per common share

  Thirteen Weeks Ended
 Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
  August 1, 2026 August 2, 2025
 August 1, 2026 August 2, 2025
Diluted income per common share, as reported $3.99  $0.77  $6.20  $1.52 Adjustments:          Retention awards per share(5)  0.02   0.03   0.03   0.07 Cost-optimization initiatives per share(6)  —   —   —   0.07 Non-recurring lease acquisition costs per share(7)  —   0.01   —   0.01 Non-recurring inventory write-off per share  —   —   —   0.01 IEEPA tariff refunds per share(10)  (2.33)  —   (2.32)  — Adjusted diluted income per common share(9) $1.68  $0.81  $3.91  $1.67                   (4) Gross profit, a non-GAAP financial measure, is equal to our net sales less our cost of goods sold.
(5) Retention awards relate to the on-going expense recognition of cash and equity granted to certain individuals in fiscal 2024 during the CEO transition that were earned and vested through August 2026.
(6) Represents charges related to the cost-optimization of certain functions.
(7) Represents non-recurring costs incurred with the strategic acquisition of certain leases.
(8) Represents International Emergency Economic Powers Act ("IEEPA") tariff refunds.
(9) Components may not add to total due to rounding.
(10) Represents IEEPA tariff refunds and related interest.

Five Below Inc. (NASDAQ:FIVE) posted its fiscal 2026 second-quarter results after Wednesday’s closing bell, beating analyst estimates across the board. Here’s a look at the details.

FIVE stock is moving. Watch the price action here. Five Below reported quarterly earnings of $1.68 per share, which beat the analyst estimate of $1.38 by 21.74%, per Benzinga Pro data. 

Quarterly revenue came in at $1.26 billion, which beat Street estimate of $1.22 billion and was up from $1.03 billion in the same period last year.

Five Below shared the following quarterly highlights:

Net sales increased by 22.9% to $1.26 billion from $1.03 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2025; comparable sales increased by 14.1%. The company opened 52 net new stores and ended the quarter with 2,022 stores in 46 states. This represents an increase in stores of 8.8% from the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2025. Adjusted operating income was $113.2 million compared to $55.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2025. “We are thrilled with our second quarter performance and the continued momentum of our customer-centric strategy. Our Crew delivered strong results by collaborating on trend-right product stories at amazing value in stores that are fun and easy to shop,” said Winnie Park, CEO of Five Below.

Read Next

Looking AheadFive Below raised its fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to between $9.83 and $10.31, versus the $9.23 analyst estimate, and raised its revenue outlook to between $5.63 billion and $5.71 billion, versus the $5.54 billion estimate.

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FIVE Stock Price: According to data from Benzinga Pro, Fiev Below stock was up 5.67% to $256.85 in Wednesday’s extended trading.  

Photo: Shutterstock

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For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of 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.

Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.

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.

Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

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, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.

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 A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.

#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.8% 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.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking 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: Five Below (FIVE - Free Report) Five Below, Inc. is a Pennsylvania-based specialty value retailer offering trend-right merchandise priced mostly at $5 and below, with a select range priced above $5. The chain targets pre-teens, teens and value-focused families with an edited assortment that includes certain brands and licensed merchandise.

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

Momentum investors should take note of this Retail-Wholesale stock. FIVE has a Momentum Style Score of A, and shares are up 13.9% 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 $0.19 to $9.19 per share. FIVE also boasts an average earnings surprise of +70.1%.

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

For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.

Featuring 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, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.

Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.

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.

Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most 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 want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.

#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.8% 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.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking 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: Five Below (FIVE - Free Report) Five Below, Inc. is a Pennsylvania-based specialty value retailer offering trend-right merchandise priced mostly at $5 and below, with a select range priced above $5. The chain targets pre-teens, teens and value-focused families with an edited assortment that includes certain brands and licensed merchandise.

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

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. FIVE has a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 37.8% for the current fiscal year.

Four analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2027, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.19 to $9.19 per share. FIVE also boasts an average earnings surprise of +70.1%.

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

Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades, downgrades and initiations, please see our analyst ratings page.

Itau BBA analyst Thiago Kapulskis downgraded VTEX (NYSE:VTEX) from Outperform to Market Perform and announced a $4.5 price target. Vtex closed at $3.66 on Monday. See how other analysts view this stock. Wells Fargo analyst Jason Kupferberg downgraded Fidelity National Information Services Inc (NYSE:FIS) from Overweight to Equal-Weight and lowered the price target from $58 to $46. Fidelity National Info shares closed at $41.40 on Monday. See how other analysts view this stock. Loop Capital analyst Anthony Chukumba downgraded Five Below Inc (NASDAQ: FIVE) from Buy to Hold and announced a $250 price target. Five Below closed at $262.72 on Monday. See how other analysts view this stock. Jefferies analyst Andrew Andersen downgraded RLI Corp. (NYSE:RLI) from Hold to Underperform and announced a $53 price target. RLI shares closed at $66.62 on Monday. See how other analysts view this stock. Wolfe Research analyst Darrin Peller downgraded Klarna Group plc (NYSE:KLAR) from Outperform to Peer Perform. Klarna closed at $14.11 on Monday. See how other analysts view this stock. Considering buying FIS stock? Here’s what analysts think:

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Wall Street analysts forecast that Five Below (FIVE - Free Report) will report quarterly earnings of $1.32 per share in its upcoming release, pointing to a year-over-year increase of 63%. It is anticipated that revenues will amount to $1.21 billion, exhibiting an increase of 17.9% compared to the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. This reflects how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reevaluated their initial estimates during this timeframe.

Prior to a company's earnings release, it is of utmost importance to factor in any revisions made to the earnings projections. These revisions serve as a critical gauge for predicting potential investor behaviors with respect to the stock. Empirical studies consistently reveal a strong link between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.

While it's common for investors to rely on consensus earnings and revenue estimates for assessing how the business may have performed during the quarter, exploring analysts' forecasts for key metrics can yield valuable insights.

That said, let's delve into the average estimates of some Five Below metrics that Wall Street analysts commonly model and monitor.

Analysts predict that the 'Comparable Sales' will reach 8.7%. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 12.4% in the same quarter last year.

The average prediction of analysts places 'Total stores at end of period' at 2,020 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 1,858 .

Analysts expect 'New Store Openings' to come in at 50 . The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 32 .

View all Key Company Metrics for Five Below here>>>

Shares of Five Below have demonstrated returns of +12.7% over the past month compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +4.3% change. With a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), FIVE is expected to beat the overall market performance in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .

 | Source: Five Below, Inc.

PHILADELPHIA, PA, Aug. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Five Below, Inc. (NASDAQ: FIVE) today announced that its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 will be released after market close on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. The company will host a conference call at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) to discuss the financial results.

A live audio webcast of the conference call will be available online at investor.fivebelow.com, where a replay will be available shortly after conclusion of the call. Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial 412-902-6753 approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call.

Upcoming Investor Conferences
The company also announced that management will participate in the following upcoming investor conferences:

Barclays 19th Annual Global Consumer Conference
Chief Financial Officer Dan Sullivan will participate in a fireside chat on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. ET.

Goldman Sachs Global Consumer and Retail Conference 2026
Chief Executive Officer Winnie Park and Chief Financial Officer Dan Sullivan will participate in a fireside chat on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 9:15 a.m. ET.

Live webcasts and archived replays of both fireside chats will be available online at investor.fivebelow.com.

About Five Below:
Five Below is a leading growth retailer offering trend-right, extreme value, high-quality products loved by the kid and the kid in all of us. We believe life is better when customers are free to "let go & have fun" in an amazing experience filled with unlimited possibilities. With most items priced between $1 and $5 and some extreme value items priced beyond $5, Five Below makes it easy to say YES! to the newest, coolest stuff across awesome Five Below worlds: Candy, Style, Party, Room, Create, Tech, Sports and New & Now. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Five Below today has over 2,000 stores in 47 states. For more information, please visit www.fivebelow.com or follow @fivebelow on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.

Investor Contact:
Five Below, Inc.
Christiane Pelz
Vice President, Investor Relations
[email protected]

Growth investors focus on stocks that are seeing above-average financial growth, as this feature helps these securities garner the market's attention and deliver solid returns. But finding a great growth stock is not easy at all.

By their very nature, these stocks carry above-average risk and volatility. Moreover, if a company's growth story is over or nearing its end, betting on it could lead to significant loss.

However, it's pretty easy to find cutting-edge growth stocks with the help of the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks Style Scores system), which looks beyond the traditional growth attributes to analyze a company's real growth prospects.

Five Below (FIVE - Free Report) is on the list of such stocks currently recommended by our proprietary system. In addition to a favorable Growth Score, it carries a top Zacks Rank.

Studies have shown that stocks with the best growth features consistently outperform the market. And for stocks that have a combination of a Growth Score of A or B and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy), returns are even better.

Here are three of the most important factors that make the stock of this discount retailer a great growth pick right now.

Earnings GrowthArguably nothing is more important than earnings growth, as surging profit levels is what most investors are after. For growth investors, double-digit earnings growth is highly preferable, as it is often perceived as an indication of strong prospects (and stock price gains) for the company under consideration.

While the historical EPS growth rate for Five Below is 8.5%, investors should actually focus on the projected growth. The company's EPS is expected to grow 36.2% this year, crushing the industry average, which calls for EPS growth of 8.5%.

Cash Flow GrowthCash is the lifeblood of any business, but higher-than-average cash flow growth is more beneficial and important for growth-oriented companies than for mature companies. That's because, high cash accumulation enables these companies to undertake new projects without raising expensive outside funds.

Right now, year-over-year cash flow growth for Five Below is 26.2%, which is higher than many of its peers. In fact, the rate compares to the industry average of 3.6%.

While investors should actually consider the current cash flow growth, it's worth taking a look at the historical rate too for putting the current reading into proper perspective. The company's annualized cash flow growth rate has been 24.5% over the past 3-5 years versus the industry average of 5.1%.

Promising Earnings Estimate RevisionsSuperiority of a stock in terms of the metrics outlined above can be further validated by looking at the trend in earnings estimate revisions. A positive trend is of course favorable here. Empirical research shows that there is a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements.

There have been upward revisions in current-year earnings estimates for Five Below. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has surged 0.8% over the past month.

Bottom LineFive Below has not only earned a Growth Score of A based on a number of factors, including the ones discussed above, but it also carries a Zacks Rank #2 because of the positive earnings estimate revisions.

You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

This combination positions Five Below well for outperformance, so growth investors may want to bet on it.

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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, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

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 investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.

#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.94% 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.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

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: Five Below (FIVE - Free Report) Five Below, Inc. is a Pennsylvania-based specialty value retailer offering trend-right merchandise priced mostly at $5 and below, with a select range priced above $5. The chain targets pre-teens, teens and value-focused families with an edited assortment that includes certain brands and licensed merchandise.

FIVE 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. FIVE has a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 36.1% for the current fiscal year.

Three analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2027. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.22 to $9.08 per share. FIVE boasts an average earnings surprise of +70.1%.

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

Looking for a stock that has been consistently beating earnings estimates and might be well positioned to keep the streak alive in its next quarterly report? Five Below (FIVE - Free Report) , which belongs to the Zacks Retail - Miscellaneous industry, could be a great candidate to consider.

When looking at the last two reports, this discount retailer has recorded a strong streak of surpassing earnings estimates. The company has topped estimates by 19.30%, on average, in the last two quarters.

For the most recent quarter, Five Below was expected to post earnings of $1.7 per share, but it reported $2.22 per share instead, representing a surprise of 30.59%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $3.99 per share, while it actually produced $4.31 per share, a surprise of 8.02%.

Price and EPS Surprise

With this earnings history in mind, recent estimates have been moving higher for Five Below. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the company is positive, which is a great sign of an earnings beat, especially when you combine this metric with its nice Zacks Rank.

Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Five Below has an Earnings ESP of +20.80% at the moment, suggesting that analysts have grown bullish on its near-term earnings potential. When you combine this positive Earnings ESP with the stock's Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), it shows that another beat is possibly around the corner.

When the Earnings ESP comes up negative, investors should note that this will reduce the predictive power of the metric. But, a negative value is not indicative of a stock's earnings miss.

Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate.

Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Key Takeaways Five Below, Casey's, Maplebear and Target remain attractive despite softer U.S. consumer confidence.Value, loyal customers, pricing power and omnichannel capabilities help these retailers navigate caution.Sales and EPS estimates point to growth, backed by expansion, innovation and stronger engagement. U.S. consumer sentiment softened in July as households became more cautious about the economy and employment conditions. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index slipped to 90.8 from an upwardly revised 92.2 in June, with the Present Situation Index dropping 3.6 points to 114.9, marking its third consecutive monthly decline. Meanwhile, the Expectations Index held steady at 74.7. The deterioration in confidence was largely driven by weaker assessments of current business conditions and a softer view of the labor market.

Persistent inflationary pressures further dampened sentiment, as higher gasoline and grocery prices continued to strain household budgets. A rise in oil prices, fueled by escalating U.S.-Iran tensions, renewed fears about the cost of living and reduced consumers' purchasing power, making households more cautious about spending.

Although weakening consumer confidence could weigh on discretionary spending in the near term, it does not necessarily diminish the long-term investment appeal of high-quality retail stocks. Retailers with strong brand equity, effective pricing strategies, loyal customer bases and well-developed omnichannel capabilities are often better positioned to navigate periods of cautious consumer spending.

Investors may, therefore, continue to find opportunities in fundamentally strong retail companies — Five Below, Inc. (FIVE - Free Report) , Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY - Free Report) , Maplebear Inc. (CART - Free Report) and Target Corporation (TGT - Free Report) — that can gain market share and deliver consistent earnings growth despite a challenging macroeconomic backdrop.

Past-Year Stock Price Performance of FIVE, CASY, CART & TGT
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

4 Prominent StocksFive Below: Value Retail Strategy Drives Customer MomentumFive Below continues to strengthen its competitive position through a customer-first strategy centered on trend-right merchandise, compelling value and an engaging in-store experience. The company is gaining traction by leveraging social media, digital marketing and data-driven customer engagement to drive traffic, while its merchandising approach emphasizes curated product stories, faster trend adoption and a differentiated assortment. Management also sees significant opportunities to deepen customer relationships through personalized marketing, loyalty initiatives and omnichannel capabilities, while disciplined store expansion and investments in technology support long-term scalability.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Five Below’s current financial-year sales and EPS implies growth of 15.1% and 36.1%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figure. For the next fiscal year, the consensus estimate indicates a 9.2% rise in sales and 9.1% growth in earnings. FIVE, which sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 70.1%, on average. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Casey's: Food Innovation Strengthens GrowthCasey's continues to reinforce its competitive position by combining a differentiated convenience retail model with a growing prepared food business, disciplined store expansion and operational excellence. The company is strengthening guest engagement through menu innovation, exclusive product offerings, an expanding rewards ecosystem and strategic acquisitions while maintaining a compelling value proposition across its stores. Management remains confident in its ability to drive profitable growth through continued investment in food platforms, network expansion and efficiency initiatives, supported by a resilient business model that performs across economic cycles. With an aggressive three-year expansion plan to add at least 400 stores, Casey’s remains a resilient growth play.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Casey's current financial-year sales and EPS implies growth of 16.6% and 10.3%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figure. For the next fiscal year, the consensus estimate indicates a 1% rise in sales and 11.1% growth in earnings. CASY, which carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 18.4%, on average.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Maplebear: AI Innovation and Enterprise Growth Fuel MomentumMaplebear, doing business as Instacart, is strengthening its leadership in grocery technology by building an integrated ecosystem spanning its marketplace, enterprise platform and advertising business, with each reinforcing the others to deepen retailer relationships and enhance the customer experience. The company continues to execute well through AI-driven innovations such as Cart Assistant, expanded enterprise offerings, growing adoption of Storefront Pro and strategic international expansion, while its advertising platform and first-party data capabilities provide additional high-margin growth opportunities. Management's disciplined approach to balancing innovation, profitability, capital returns and strategic acquisitions underscores confidence in the business and its long-term strategy.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Instacart’s current financial-year sales and EPS implies growth of 12.1% and 34.4%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figure. For the next fiscal year, the consensus estimate indicates a 9.5% rise in sales and 23.4% growth in earnings. CART, which carries a Zacks Rank #2, has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 1.8%, on average.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Target: Brand Strength and Omnichannel Reach Drive ResilienceTarget is strengthening its competitive position through a disciplined strategy centered on merchandising leadership, an enhanced omnichannel shopping experience, operational excellence and targeted investments in technology and its store network. Management is seeing encouraging traction from expanded product assortments, exclusive brand partnerships, improved inventory availability and stronger guest engagement, while investments in supply-chain capabilities and store execution are supporting more consistent performance. The company's differentiated combination of style, value and convenience, together with its focus on serving busy families, reinforces its brand appeal and market positioning.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Target’s current financial-year sales and EPS implies growth of 3.9% and 10.3%, respectively, from the year-ago reported figure. For the next fiscal year, the consensus estimate indicates a 2.9% rise in sales and 6.4% growth in earnings. Target, which carries a Zacks Rank #2, has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 8.2%, on average.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Key Takeaways Five Below is expanding its store base while investing in technology and supply chain capabilities.FIVE is gaining customers through value pricing, social-first marketing and broad merchandise appeal.Macy's is advancing its turnaround with Reimagine stores, luxury banners and AI-powered initiatives. Five Below, Inc. (FIVE - Free Report) and Macy’s, Inc. (M - Free Report) are operating in the retail space with strong momentum and improving operational execution. Five Below is a fast-growing value retailer targeting Gen Alpha, Gen Z and millennial families through trend-right merchandise and rapid store expansion. Meanwhile, Macy’s is executing its Bold New Chapter strategy, focused on revitalizing its department store business through investments in digital capabilities, premium nameplates and high-performing stores. The key question for investors is which retailer offers the stronger long-term growth opportunity.

The Case for FIVEFive Below continues to strengthen its position in the value retail space through disciplined execution, robust traffic and deeper engagement. Higher store visits and increased average ticket size reflect the company’s growing appeal among consumers. Management also highlighted broad-based strength across new and existing shoppers, demographic groups and merchandise categories, reinforcing Five Below’s ability to gain market share in a highly competitive retail environment.

A major strength behind Five Below's momentum is its customer-centric operating strategy. The company continues to sharpen its focus on Gen Alpha, Gen Z and millennial families through compelling product storytelling, constant newness and an engaging shopping experience. At the same time, it has adopted a social-first marketing strategy by increasing investments in creator content, direct customer engagement and AI-powered advertising, while expanding convenience through buy online, pick up in store and third-party delivery.

The company's merchandising and pricing strategy continues to reinforce its value proposition. More than 80% of its assortment remains priced at $5 or below, while higher price points have been integrated throughout stores rather than separated into dedicated Five Beyond sections. This approach has improved merchandising productivity while supporting higher average unit retail. Combined with strength across categories such as games, toys, beauty, fashion, room decor, food and seasonal products, Five Below continues to generate healthy traffic and sustained customer demand.

Another attractive feature of the investment story is Five Below's long runway for expansion. The company opened 49 net new stores during the first quarter, ending the period with 1,970 stores, while management remains committed to opening approximately 150 net new stores during fiscal 2026. Investments in technology, distribution capabilities and store execution further strengthen the company's ability to scale efficiently while maintaining a consistent customer experience across its growing footprint.

Management's confidence is reflected in its higher fiscal 2026 outlook. It had guided net sales of $5.40-$5.48 billion, comparable sales growth of 6-8% and adjusted EPS of $8.65-$9.05, while maintaining plans to invest $230-$250 million in store expansion, supply chain improvements and technology. Supported by strong comparable sales momentum, market share gains and significant whitespace opportunities, Five Below appears well positioned to deliver durable long-term shareholder value.

The Case for Macy'sMacy's is reshaping its business through the Bold New Chapter strategy, which is focused on creating a stronger, more profitable operating model. The initiative is improving execution across merchandising, store operations and customer service while enabling the company to allocate capital toward its highest-return opportunities.

A key strength of Macy's is its diversified portfolio of retail banners. Bloomingdale's continues to strengthen the company's position in luxury retail through premium assortments and brand elevation, while Bluemercury is benefiting from sustained demand in prestige beauty and expansion of new and remodeled stores. These businesses provide exposure to faster-growing retail categories and enhance the overall quality of Macy's revenue mix.

The Reimagine initiative has become the company's primary store optimization program. Expanded to 200 locations, these stores now account for nearly 60% of Macy's go-forward fleet and approximately 75% of Macy's go-forward sales. The initiative focuses on localized assortments, improved visual presentation, better staffing and elevated service standards, creating a scalable model that management intends to replicate across its most productive stores.

Beyond merchandise sales, the company is building additional earnings streams through its credit card business and Macy's Media Network, which together generated $210 million of other revenues in the first quarter of fiscal 2026. At the same time, it continues investing in technology, including automation at its China Grove distribution center, artificial intelligence for inventory management and forecasting, and Ask Macy's, an AI-powered shopping assistant designed to enhance product discovery across digital and physical channels.

Management expects these strategic initiatives to support continued progress through fiscal 2026. On its last earnings call, Macy’s guided net sales of $21.5-$21.75 billion, comparable sales growth of 0.5%-1.2% and adjusted EPS of $2.00-$2.20. The guidance also incorporates continued investment in Reimagine 200 locations and the company's luxury businesses, underscoring Macy's focus on strengthening long-term growth while maintaining flexibility in an evolving retail environment.

How Does the Zacks Consensus Estimate Compare for FIVE & Macy's?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Five Below’s current fiscal-year sales and EPS implies growth of 15.1% and 36.1%, respectively, from the year-ago period’s actuals. For the next fiscal year, the consensus estimate indicates a 9.2% rise in sales and 9.1% growth in earnings. The consensus estimates for EPS for the current and next fiscal year have increased 12 cents over the past 30 days to $9.08 and $9.91, respectively.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Macy's current fiscal-year sales is expected to remain almost flat year over year, while EPS is expected to decrease 5.6% from the year-ago period's actuals. For the next fiscal year, the consensus estimate indicates a 0.1% decline in sales and 6.1% growth in earnings. The consensus estimate for EPS for the current and next fiscal year has increased 3 cents and 5 cents over the past 30 days to $2.19 and $2.33, respectively.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Stock Performances of FIVE & Macy'sShares of Five Below have jumped 49.7% in the past year, whereas Macy’s has skyrocketed 100.4%.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Stock Valuations of FIVE & Macy'sFive Below is trading at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) multiple of 2.01, above its median of 1.98 in the past year. Macy’s forward 12-month P/S multiple sits at 0.30, above its median of 0.25 in the past year.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

FIVE or Macy's: Which is the Better Bet Now?Both Five Below and Macy's are executing well and have made meaningful progress in strengthening their businesses. Macy's deserves credit for improving operational efficiency, expanding its higher-growth luxury banners and diversifying its revenue streams, making it an attractive option for investors seeking a turnaround story. However, Five Below appears to be the stronger investment at this stage. Its business is supported by consistent customer demand, a differentiated value-focused retail model, a long runway for store expansion, and multiple growth drivers that are still in the early stages. While Macy's is focused on stabilizing and optimizing its existing business, Five Below is expanding from a position of strength, offering greater long-term growth potential. For investors looking for the more compelling retail opportunity today, Five Below holds the edge over Macy's.

Five Below and Macy’s currently sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 28th, 2026

Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its holdings in shares of Five Below, Inc. (NASDAQ:FIVE – Free Report) by 1.9% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 258,218 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after acquiring an additional 4,711 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership owned about 0.47% of Five Below worth $58,998,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Bayban bought a new stake in Five Below during the fourth quarter valued at about $34,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Five Below during the fourth quarter worth about $35,000. Spire Wealth Management bought a new stake in Five Below during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Advisory Services Network LLC bought a new stake in Five Below during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. lifted its holdings in Five Below by 182.5% in the 4th quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 226 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 146 shares in the last quarter.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts have recently commented on FIVE shares. HSBC raised shares of Five Below to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. Susquehanna downgraded shares of Five Below to a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 21st. Raymond James Financial upgraded shares of Five Below to an “outperform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 21st. Mizuho raised shares of Five Below from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $225.00 to $220.00 in a report on Thursday, July 9th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group restated a “hold” rating on shares of Five Below in a research report on Thursday, June 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have given a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $254.05.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on FIVE

Five Below Trading Up 1.9% Shares of Five Below stock opened at $207.14 on Tuesday. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $198.56 and its 200-day moving average price is $209.66. The firm has a market cap of $11.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.15, a P/E/G ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 1.00. Five Below, Inc. has a 12 month low of $130.00 and a 12 month high of $251.63.

Five Below (NASDAQ:FIVE – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, June 3rd. The specialty retailer reported $2.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.77 by $0.45. Five Below had a net margin of 8.67% and a return on equity of 21.31%. The firm had revenue of $1.29 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.23 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.86 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 32.5% on a year-over-year basis. Five Below has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.650-9.050 EPS and its Q2 2026 guidance at 1.170-1.290 EPS. Analysts forecast that Five Below, Inc. will post 9.08 earnings per share for the current year.

Five Below Company Profile (Free Report)

Five Below, Inc (NASDAQ:FIVE) is an American specialty discount retailer offering a broad assortment of merchandise priced primarily at $5 or below. Since its founding in 2002 by David Schlessinger and Tom Vellios, the company has pursued a value-focused retail model targeting tweens, teens and beyond, with stores designed to deliver trend-driven products at an accessible price point. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Five Below has grown into a national chain operating in dozens of U.S.

See Also Five stocks we like better than Five Below AirJoule’s Kubota Deal Is a Major Validation—But the Hard Part Comes Next Dividend Stocks May Be the Quiet Rotation Trade Investors Are Missing Now Refiner Stocks Are Near Record Highs—Can Iran-Driven Margins Keep Them There? Verizon May Be an AI Infrastructure Stock Hiding in Plain Sight Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FIVE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Five Below, Inc. (NASDAQ:FIVE – Free Report).

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Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 24th, 2026

Atika Capital Management LLC trimmed its position in shares of Five Below, Inc. (NASDAQ:FIVE – Free Report) by 29.8% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 39,480 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after selling 16,720 shares during the quarter. Five Below makes up approximately 1.1% of Atika Capital Management LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest position. Atika Capital Management LLC owned about 0.07% of Five Below worth $9,020,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in FIVE. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. boosted its holdings in shares of Five Below by 40,774,210.3% during the 4th quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 55,453,062 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $10,445,139,000 after purchasing an additional 55,452,926 shares during the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP grew its position in shares of Five Below by 54.6% in the fourth quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 1,785,169 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $336,254,000 after purchasing an additional 630,710 shares in the last quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Five Below by 3.1% in the fourth quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 1,508,393 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $284,121,000 after purchasing an additional 45,761 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its holdings in shares of Five Below by 40.6% in the fourth quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,192,697 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $224,656,000 after purchasing an additional 344,592 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Five Below by 176.0% during the fourth quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 1,168,832 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock worth $220,161,000 after buying an additional 745,272 shares in the last quarter.

Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms have weighed in on FIVE. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Five Below in a research note on Thursday, June 4th. Wall Street Zen raised Five Below from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, May 16th. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Five Below from $240.00 to $224.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, June 5th. UBS Group restated a “buy” rating and set a $285.00 price target on shares of Five Below in a report on Thursday, June 4th. Finally, HSBC raised shares of Five Below to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have issued a Buy rating, nine have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $254.05.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on FIVE

Five Below Stock Down 1.7% NASDAQ:FIVE opened at $201.31 on Friday. Five Below, Inc. has a 52 week low of $130.00 and a 52 week high of $251.63. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $198.99 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $209.58. The company has a market cap of $11.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.00.

Five Below (NASDAQ:FIVE – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, June 3rd. The specialty retailer reported $2.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.77 by $0.45. The business had revenue of $1.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.23 billion. Five Below had a return on equity of 21.31% and a net margin of 8.67%.The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 32.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.86 earnings per share. Five Below has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.650-9.050 EPS and its Q2 2026 guidance at 1.170-1.290 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Five Below, Inc. will post 9.08 EPS for the current year.

Five Below Profile (Free Report)

Five Below, Inc (NASDAQ:FIVE) is an American specialty discount retailer offering a broad assortment of merchandise priced primarily at $5 or below. Since its founding in 2002 by David Schlessinger and Tom Vellios, the company has pursued a value-focused retail model targeting tweens, teens and beyond, with stores designed to deliver trend-driven products at an accessible price point. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Five Below has grown into a national chain operating in dozens of U.S.

Read More Five stocks we like better than Five Below Premium Retail’s Stress Test Is Separating Winners From Losers D-Wave Quantum or a Quantum ETF: Which Is the Better Bet? GE Vernova Just Sent a Mixed AI Signal to Investors Alphabet Crushed Earnings, But One Number Spooked the Market Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FIVE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Five Below, Inc. (NASDAQ:FIVE – Free Report).

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Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 23rd, 2026

California Public Employees Retirement System increased its position in shares of Five Below, Inc. (NASDAQ:FIVE – Free Report) by 10.0% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 106,692 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock after buying an additional 9,682 shares during the quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System owned about 0.19% of Five Below worth $24,377,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Five Below by 143.0% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 1,096 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $82,000 after purchasing an additional 645 shares during the last quarter. United Services Automobile Association purchased a new position in shares of Five Below during the 1st quarter worth $268,000. Empowered Funds LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Five Below during the 1st quarter worth about $1,416,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC raised its holdings in Five Below by 13.3% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 184,518 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $13,825,000 after buying an additional 21,625 shares during the period. Finally, Focus Partners Wealth raised its holdings in Five Below by 63.8% in the 1st quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 3,858 shares of the specialty retailer’s stock valued at $289,000 after buying an additional 1,503 shares during the period.

Five Below Trading Up 0.6% Five Below stock opened at $204.87 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.87, a P/E/G ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 1.00. Five Below, Inc. has a twelve month low of $130.00 and a twelve month high of $251.63. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $199.27 and its 200-day simple moving average is $209.52.

Five Below (NASDAQ:FIVE – Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, June 3rd. The specialty retailer reported $2.22 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.77 by $0.45. Five Below had a return on equity of 21.31% and a net margin of 8.67%.The firm had revenue of $1.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.23 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.86 EPS. Five Below’s revenue for the quarter was up 32.5% on a year-over-year basis. Five Below has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.650-9.050 EPS and its Q2 2026 guidance at 1.170-1.290 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Five Below, Inc. will post 9.08 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein raised shares of Five Below from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and boosted their price target for the company from $247.00 to $250.00 in a research note on Tuesday. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of Five Below from $240.00 to $224.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, June 5th. Susquehanna lowered Five Below to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday. Weiss Ratings cut Five Below from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research note on Friday, June 5th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets started coverage on Five Below in a research report on Tuesday. They set an “outperform” rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have assigned a Buy rating, nine have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $254.05.

Read Our Latest Analysis on FIVE

About Five Below (Free Report)

Five Below, Inc (NASDAQ:FIVE) is an American specialty discount retailer offering a broad assortment of merchandise priced primarily at $5 or below. Since its founding in 2002 by David Schlessinger and Tom Vellios, the company has pursued a value-focused retail model targeting tweens, teens and beyond, with stores designed to deliver trend-driven products at an accessible price point. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Five Below has grown into a national chain operating in dozens of U.S.

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Macro Bank (BMA - Free Report) : This leading bank in Argentina has a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 10.4% over the last 60 days.

Macro Bank has a PEG ratio of 0.58 compared with 0.86 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of A.

Five Below, Inc. (FIVE - Free Report) : This specialty retail company carries a Zacks Rank #1, and has witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 10.4% over the last 60 days.

Five Below has a PEG ratio of 1.07 compared with 2.14 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of A.

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Dycom Industries has a PEG ratio of 0.68 compared with 1.24 for the industry. The company possesses a Growth Score of A.

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Learn more about the Growth score and how it is calculated here.

Key Takeaways Five Below outperformed peers with a 41% one-year stock gain and strong first-quarter momentum.FIVE expects fiscal 2026 sales of $5.40-$5.48 billion and comparable sales growth of 6-8%.Five Below plans about 150 net new stores and continued investments in technology and infrastructure. Shares of Five Below, Inc. (FIVE - Free Report) have risen 41.3% over the past year, outperforming the Zacks Retail – Miscellaneous industry's decline of 14%. The company has also outpaced the Retail-Wholesale sector’s return of 4.5% and the S&P 500's rally of 25.4% during the same period.

FIVE’s Past Year Performance

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Five Below has also outperformed its peers, including Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings (OLLI - Free Report) , Dollar Tree Inc. (DLTR - Free Report) and Dollar General Corporation (DG - Free Report) , over the past year.

Shares of Ollie's Bargain have declined 49.4%, while Dollar Tree and Dollar General have increased 16.6% and 17.8%, respectively.

FIVE vs. Peer Performances

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Closing at $197.71 yesterday, the FIVE stock stands 21.4% below its 52-week high of $251.63 reached on April 21, 2026. The stock has also moved above its 200-day simple moving average of $194.39, signaling a favorable technical setup.

FIVE Trades Above 200-Day Moving Averages

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The recent rise in the stock has contributed to its premium status. FIVE trades at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 21.11, higher than the industry’s average of 14.24. The company’s peers, Ollie's Bargain, Dollar Tree and Dollar General are trading at lower forward P/E ratios of 14.21, 17.52 and 16.59, respectively, than Five Below.

FIVE’s Valuation Snapshot

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Five Below’s Customer-Centric Strategy Strengthens Growth ProspectsFive Below continues to strengthen its long-term growth story through a customer-centric strategy that combines compelling value, trend-right merchandise and an engaging shopping experience. Management remains focused on delivering newness across categories while enhancing store execution and digital engagement. This integrated approach is reinforcing the company's competitive positioning and expanding its appeal among both existing and new customers.

The strategy is translating into broad-based business momentum. During the first quarter of fiscal 2026, comparable sales increased 22.7%, supported by a 19% increase in transactions and a 4% rise in average ticket. Growth was broad-based, with 15 of 18 merchandise departments posting positive comparable sales while all districts, store vintages and income cohorts delivered positive performance. These results suggest that demand is supported by healthy underlying customer engagement rather than isolated product trends.

Marketing has emerged as another important growth driver. Five Below continues to leverage creator partnerships, AI-powered content and social media to identify and amplify emerging trends while expanding its customer database for more personalized outreach. These initiatives are strengthening brand awareness, improving customer acquisition and supporting deeper customer relationships over time.

The company's merchandising strategy further enhances its competitive positioning. More than 80% of the assortment remains priced at $5 and below, preserving its core value proposition, while curated higher-priced products expand customer choice without diluting affordability. Simplified pricing, integrated Five Beyond merchandise and stronger product storytelling are making stores easier to shop and improving the overall customer experience.

Store expansion remains another key pillar of growth. Five Below opened 49 net new stores during the first quarter, ending the period with 1,970 locations across 46 states. Since then, the company has reached another significant milestone with the opening of its 2,000th store, highlighting the scalability of its retail concept and management's confidence in the brand's long-term expansion potential. Management continues to see significant white-space opportunities across the United States, with disciplined expansion expected to support market share gains and long-term revenue growth.

What to Expect From FIVE in the Future?Following a stronger-than-expected first quarter, Five Below raised its fiscal 2026 outlook, reflecting management's confidence in the company's business momentum and execution. The company now expects net sales of $5.40-$5.48 billion, indicating approximately 14% year-over-year growth at the midpoint, while comparable sales are projected to increase 6-8%. The higher outlook reflects sustained customer demand, continued traffic growth and confidence in the company's operating strategy.

Five Below also expects continued profitability improvement during fiscal 2026. The company projects adjusted diluted earnings per share of $8.65-$9.05, while adjusted operating margin is expected to expand approximately 170 basis points to 11.6%. Gross margin expansion, fixed-cost leverage and distribution efficiencies are expected to offset higher investments in marketing, store labor and employee incentives, supporting both earnings growth and future investments.

The company remains committed to investing in long-term expansion. Five Below expects to open approximately 150 net new stores during fiscal 2026 while investing $230-$250 million in capital expenditures to support store growth, technology upgrades and infrastructure improvements. These investments are expected to strengthen the company's nationwide footprint and provide a solid foundation for scalable, sustainable growth.

Upward Estimate Revisions Signal Optimism on FIVE’s EarningsReflecting positive sentiment around Five Below, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPS has seen upward revisions. In the past seven days, the consensus estimates for the current and next fiscal years have increased by 5 cents to $9.01 and by 10 cents to $9.89 per share, respectively.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

How to Play FIVE Stock?Five Below offers a compelling opportunity for long-term investors, backed by broad-based customer demand, strong traffic trends and a highly scalable store expansion strategy. The company's differentiated value proposition, customer-centric initiatives, merchandising innovation and growing digital engagement continue to strengthen its competitive position. Coupled with its raised fiscal 2026 outlook and upward earnings estimate revisions, Five Below appears well-positioned to deliver sustainable revenue and earnings growth.

Existing investors may consider maintaining their positions, while new investors can view the stock as an attractive long-term buying opportunity. Five Below currently flaunts a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.