Earnings Call Insights: Zumiez (ZUMZ) Q1 fiscal 2026 Management View "First quarter comparable sales increased 4%, marking our eighth consecutive quarter of positive comparable sales growth" (CEO & Director Richard Brooks), adding that North America posted a "4.4% comparable sales gain" and Europe delivered "5.5% comparable sales gains" while management "observed increasing pressure on consumers d...
Earnings Call Insights: Zumiez (ZUMZ) Q1 fiscal 2026 Management View "First quarter comparable sales increased 4%, marking our eighth consecutive quarter of positive comparable sales growth" (CEO & Director Richard Brooks), adding that North America posted a "4.4% comparable sales gain" and Europe delivered "5.5% comparable sales gains" while management "observed increasing pressure on consumers during the latter part of the quarter." "Private label performance remains a standout success story" and "at 34% of sales in the first quarter, we've maintained the highest penetration levels in company history" (CEO Brooks), alongside a continuation of product newness as "the momentum from introducing over 150 new and emerging brands in fiscal 2025 has carried forward into 2026." "We ended the first quarter with cash and marketable securities of $124 million, up from $101 million a year ago" (CEO Brooks), tying liquidity to shareholder returns: "This financial flexibility enables us to continue investing in our strategic objectives while delivering value to shareholders through our share repurchase program." "Net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 increased 4.9% to $193.3 million" and "gross margin was 31.7% of sales for the quarter compared with 30% in the first quarter of fiscal 2025" (Chief Financial Officer Christopher Work), with the gross margin change "primarily driven" by improvements including "a 70 basis points increase in product margin" and "20 basis points of benefit from decreased inventory shrinkage." Outlook "We are anticipating total sales to be between $210 million and $215 million" for Q2 (13 weeks ended August 1, 2026) and said the range reflects "increased pressure on consumer discretionary spending" (CFO Work). "Consolidated operating income for the second quarter is expected to be between negative 1.5% of sales and breakeven" and "earnings per share will be between a loss of $0.23 and $0.08 compared to a loss of $0.06 in the prior year" (CFO W...
Earnings Call Insights: Torrid Holdings (CURV) Q1 fiscal 2026 Management View "For the first quarter, we reported net sales of $245.8 million, slightly above our guidance and adjusted EBITDA of $17.6 million at the high end of our guidance range," said CEO Lisa Harper. "Total company comparable sales declined 1.7% in Q1. Excluding footwear, Q1 comparable sales would have been plus 1.2%," Harper sa...
Earnings Call Insights: Torrid Holdings (CURV) Q1 fiscal 2026 Management View "For the first quarter, we reported net sales of $245.8 million, slightly above our guidance and adjusted EBITDA of $17.6 million at the high end of our guidance range," said CEO Lisa Harper. "Total company comparable sales declined 1.7% in Q1. Excluding footwear, Q1 comparable sales would have been plus 1.2%," Harper said, adding, "our fundamentally restructured footwear sourcing strategy and assortment mix is creating the first half comp headwind that we expect to resolve and turn positive in the second half of the year." "They're off to a good start in the new fiscal year with the first quarter growth of 75% over last year," Harper said of Sub-Brands, and reiterated, "We continue to plan Sub-Brands growth at approximately 60% for the full year, reaching roughly $110 million, up from $70 million in 2025 and expanding from approximately 7% of total net sales to 12%." "In Q1, we substantially completed our store optimization program with an additional 20 closures of structurally unproductive locations, bringing the total to 171 closures since we initiated the program," Harper said. "We grew paid media revenue on less spend in Q1, driving significant ROAS," said Executive VP & Chief Commercial Officer Ashlee Wheeler, and added, "We've seen a substantive incremental lift in retained and reactivated customers attributable to direct mail." "Net sales for the quarter were $245.8 million compared to $266 million in the prior year," said CFO Paula Dempsey. "Gross margin was 35.3% compared to 38.1% in the prior year, reflecting a combination of tariffs and planned targeted promotions." Outlook "For the full year, we continue to expect net sales of $940 million to $960 million and adjusted EBITDA of $65 million to $75 million," Dempsey said. "For the second quarter, we expect sales of $232 million to $240 million and adjusted EBITDA of $12 million to $16 million," Dempsey said, adding, "Our outlook...
Good morning from Melbourne, where the sun is finally starting to break through after days of rain. The outlook is less bright for KPMG Australia, with both the Reserve Bank and super fund Rest saying they were reviewing their involvement with the consulting firm. Also on Thursday, RBA Governor Michele Bullock said there were signs that the bank’s interest rate increases were having an effect on t...
Good morning from Melbourne, where the sun is finally starting to break through after days of rain. The outlook is less bright for KPMG Australia, with both the Reserve Bank and super fund Rest saying they were reviewing their involvement with the consulting firm. Also on Thursday, RBA Governor Michele Bullock said there were signs that the bank’s interest rate increases were having an effect on the economy. Meanwhile, one Australian company is trying to steer toward clearer skies - Penfolds maker Treasury Wine has ordered a review of its long-troubled operations in the US as the winemaker seeks a luxury pivot. — Ben Westcott, Asia Agriculture Reporter What’s happening now Australia’s central bank and one of the country’s biggest super funds are scrutinizing and distancing themselves from KPMG Australia as whistleblower misconduct allegations trigger a widening crisis for the Big Four accounting firm. RBA Governor Michele Bullock told senators at a hearing Thursday it will likely not reappoint KPMG to run its whistleblower phone hotline. During that testimony, Bullock said the Reserve Bank has already seen some signs that its interest-rate increases are starting to work through the economy, with the governor reiterating that the monetary policy board will do what’s necessary to achieve its mandate. Penfolds’ maker Treasury Wine Estates saw its shares jump by the most in six weeks after it unveiled plans to review its long-troubled US operations, with Chief Executive Officer Sam Fischer telling Bloomberg in an interview that he wasn’t seeing the results he expected from its American brands. Industry players and pension funds are among the suitors eyeing a stake of 50-60% in BlackRock-backed Australian battery developer Akaysha Energy, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Akaysha would also consider a total acquisition, the people said. Fresh polling has delivered one of the biggest political shocks in decades: Pauline Hanson’s One Nation is now Australia...
Mother, who thought daughter was being examined by GP, says girl began to bleed and scream in pain after device was inserted A five-year-old was left traumatised, bleeding and in severe pain after a physician associate wrongly prescribed her a vaginal pessary, according to a damning report by the health ombudsman. The parliamentary and health service ombudsman said there were “multiple failures” i...
Mother, who thought daughter was being examined by GP, says girl began to bleed and scream in pain after device was inserted A five-year-old was left traumatised, bleeding and in severe pain after a physician associate wrongly prescribed her a vaginal pessary, according to a damning report by the health ombudsman. The parliamentary and health service ombudsman said there were “multiple failures” in the care of the girl, who saw a physician associate (PA) at a GP practice in the East Midlands after complaining of itching and vaginal discharge. Continue reading...
Despite being the lowest-ranked team at the tournament, All Whites are hoping Chris Wood can help fire them to a first appearance in the knockout rounds This article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network , a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-u...
Despite being the lowest-ranked team at the tournament, All Whites are hoping Chris Wood can help fire them to a first appearance in the knockout rounds This article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network , a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June. Continue reading...
Signs are omnipresent that mainland Chinese investors are rotating out of Hong Kong stocks and back to the onshore yuan-denominated market, as they recalibrate to add domestic exposure to the fervour surrounding the artificial intelligence buildout. Onshore investors sold a combined HK$3.6 billion (US$459.5 million) of Hong Kong stocks through the cross-border exchange link programme in May, marki...
Signs are omnipresent that mainland Chinese investors are rotating out of Hong Kong stocks and back to the onshore yuan-denominated market, as they recalibrate to add domestic exposure to the fervour surrounding the artificial intelligence buildout. Onshore investors sold a combined HK$3.6 billion (US$459.5 million) of Hong Kong stocks through the cross-border exchange link programme in May, marking the first monthly outflow in three years, according to data from the city’s...
Explore the exciting world of Merck (NYSE: MRK) with our contributing expert analysts in this Motley Fool Scoreboard episode. Check out the video below to gain valuable insights into market trends and potential investment opportunities! *Stock prices used were the prices of April 22, 2026. The video was published on June 11, 2026. Continue reading
Explore the exciting world of Merck (NYSE: MRK) with our contributing expert analysts in this Motley Fool Scoreboard episode. Check out the video below to gain valuable insights into market trends and potential investment opportunities! *Stock prices used were the prices of April 22, 2026. The video was published on June 11, 2026. Continue reading
Sempra Infrastructure said it began producing liquefied natural gas from Mexico’s first West Coast export terminal, with plans to ultimately ship the fuel to Asia in a move that could add relief to a market hurt by tightened global supply due to the Iran war. The Costa Azul export plant at Ensenada in Mexico’s Baja California state has supply contracts with Sempra’s joint venture partner TotalEner...
Sempra Infrastructure said it began producing liquefied natural gas from Mexico’s first West Coast export terminal, with plans to ultimately ship the fuel to Asia in a move that could add relief to a market hurt by tightened global supply due to the Iran war. The Costa Azul export plant at Ensenada in Mexico’s Baja California state has supply contracts with Sempra’s joint venture partner TotalEnergies SE, and Japanese trading firm Mitsui & Co. Ltd for a combined 2.5 million metric tons a year. The terminal, known as ECA LNG, is the latest in North America to start operations following the outbreak of the Middle East conflict in late February, which has disrupted one-fifth of the world’s LNG and driven up gas prices in Asia and Europe. The facility, initially built as a terminal to import Indonesian LNG supplies for southern California, was turned into an export plant in 2020 after Sempra ’s infrastructure subsidiary made its final investment decision. The operation now gets gas from the US for eventual export to Asia, adding it to a growing list of LNG facilities tracked by US gas traders monitoring demand for LNG exports. The plant’s first phase is 3.25 million metric tons a year, with a second phase under development at the same location, according to Sempra Infrastructure. Mexico first began LNG exports in 2024 from a smaller floating LNG export project operated by New Fortress Energy Inc. located offshore of Altamira on Mexico’s Gulf Coast.
Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ: RGTI) stock went on a massive run in May, surging over 46%. Shares got a boost from a marketwide rally that saw the Nasdaq Composite gain more than 8%, but better-than-expected Q1 earnings and a major announcement from the federal government both sent the stock higher. On May 21, the U.S. Department of Commerce signed letters of intent to award $2 billion in federal gran...
Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ: RGTI) stock went on a massive run in May, surging over 46%. Shares got a boost from a marketwide rally that saw the Nasdaq Composite gain more than 8%, but better-than-expected Q1 earnings and a major announcement from the federal government both sent the stock higher. On May 21, the U.S. Department of Commerce signed letters of intent to award $2 billion in federal grants to nine quantum computing companies under the CHIPS and Science Act. Aimed at accelerating the development of "utility-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computing ," the program was seen as a major endorsement from the federal government. Continue reading