Genesco Inc. Reports Fiscal 2026 Third Quarter Results

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--( BUSINESS WIRE)--Genesco Inc. (NYSE: GCO) today reported third quarter results for the three months ended November 1, 2025.

Third Quarter Fiscal 2026 Financial Summary

Mimi E. Vaughn, Genesco's Board Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “We delivered another quarter of top and bottom-line growth, marking our fifth consecutive quarter of positive comparable sales increases. The third quarter demonstrated the power of our strategic initiatives, with Journeys delivering strong double-digit comp growth during back-to-school on top of double-digit growth last year. This performance reinforces that when consumers shop for footwear, they are increasingly choosing Journeys, underscoring the momentum of our product elevation and diversification strategy as we continue to gain market share and establish ourselves as the destination for the style-led teen.”

Vaughn continued, “We experienced a meaningful pullback in the back half of the third quarter, as consumers retreated following the back-to-school season when there was less of a reason to shop. Our sales trends improved during the important Black Friday / Cyber Monday period, contributing to a positive start to the fourth quarter.”

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1Excludes charges for store restructuring, severance and asset impairments, net of tax effect in the third quarter of Fiscal 2026 (“Excluded Items”). A reconciliation of earnings (loss) and earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) with the adjusted earnings and earnings per share numbers is set forth on Schedule B to this press release. The Company believes that disclosure of earnings (loss) and earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations adjusted for the items not reflected in the previously announced expectations will be meaningful to investors, especially in light of the impact of such items on the results.

“That said, there are some factors causing us to moderate our view on the remainder of the year in spite of our current momentum. We have materially changed our sales and margin projections for Schuh to reflect the ongoing difficult U.K. market and performance. We have also moderated the growth assumptions for our other businesses based on the lower footwear consumer traffic and spending patterns we’ve recently witnessed on non-peak shopping days.”

Sandra Harris, Genesco's Senior Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer, added, “Based primarily on the margin pressure at Schuh and our more cautious view on sales, we are revising our full year outlook and now expect adjusted earnings per share of approximately $0.95. We remain focused on tight cost control to offset some of this pressure and strong execution as we navigate these trends.”

Vaughn added, “Looking ahead to next year, we are excited to build on the progress of Journeys’ strategic plan and apply the learnings from our work to drive improved performance at Schuh. We feel confident that our footwear focused strategy will fuel top-line growth with accelerating profitability over the near- and long-term.”

Third Quarter Review

Net sales for the third quarter of Fiscal 2026 increased 3% to $616 million compared to $596 million in the third quarter of Fiscal 2025. The net sales increase reflects a 5% increase in same store sales, an increase in wholesale sales and a favorable foreign exchange impact, partially offset by the impact of net store closings and a 3% decrease in e-commerce comparable sales.

Comparable Sales

Comparable Same Store and E-commerce Sales:

3QFY26

3QFY25

Journeys Group

11%

Schuh Group

(2)%

(1)%

Johnston & Murphy Group

(2)%

(1)%

Total Genesco Comparable Sales

Same Store Sales

Comparable E-commerce Sales

(3)%

15%

The overall sales increase of 3% for the third quarter of Fiscal 2026 compared to the third quarter of Fiscal 2025 was driven by an increase of 4% at Journeys, an increase of 2% at Schuh, a 3% increase at Johnston & Murphy and a 3% increase at Genesco Brands. On a constant currency basis, Schuh sales were down 1% for the third quarter this year.

Gross margin for the third quarter this year was 46.8% compared to 47.8% last year. The 100 basis point decrease in gross margin as a percentage of sales compared to Fiscal 2025 is due primarily to lower margins at Genesco Brands Group related to ongoing tariff pressure and the exit of licenses as well as increased promotional activity at Schuh, partially offset by lower shipping and warehouse costs for Journeys and Schuh.

Selling and administrative expenses for the third quarter this year of 44.7% decreased 140 basis points as a percentage of sales from 46.1% last year reflecting our cost savings initiatives, primarily decreased occupancy, freight and performance-based compensation expenses.

Genesco’s GAAP operating income for the third quarter was $8.6 million, or 1.4% of sales this year, compared with $10.2 million, or 1.7% of sales in the third quarter last year. Adjusted for the Excluded Items in the third quarters of both Fiscal 2026 and 2025, operating income for the third quarter was $12.9 million this year compared to $10.3 million last year. Adjusted operating margin was 2.1% of sales in the third quarter of Fiscal 2026 compared to 1.7% in the third quarter last year.

The effective tax rate for the quarter was 28.1% in Fiscal 2026 compared to 311.5% in the third quarter last year. The adjusted tax rate, reflecting Excluded Items, was 28.9% in Fiscal 2026 compared to 27.1% in the third quarter last year. The higher adjusted tax rate for the third quarter this year compared to the third quarter last year reflects a higher expected tax rate for Fiscal 2026 versus Fiscal 2025 due to the impact of the valuation allowance in certain jurisdictions and additional global minimum tax under the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Pillar Two framework. The divergence between the effective tax rate and the adjusted tax rate is due to income tax law changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”) in Fiscal 2026 and recording a $26.3 million U.S. valuation allowance in the third quarter of Fiscal 2025, both of which we have excluded from the adjusted tax rate in Fiscal 2026 and 2025.

GAAP earnings from continuing operations were $5.4 million in the third quarter of Fiscal 2026 compared to a loss from continuing operations of $18.8 million in the third quarter last year. Adjusted for the Excluded Items, third quarter earnings from continuing operations were $8.4 million, or $0.79 per share, in Fiscal 2026, compared to $6.6 million, or $0.61 per share, in the third quarter last year.

Cash, Borrowings and Inventory

Cash as of November 1, 2025 was $27.0 million, compared with $33.6 million as of November 2, 2024. Total debt at the end of the third quarter of Fiscal 2026 was $89.5 million compared with $100.1 million at the end of last year’s third quarter. Inventories increased 7% on a year-over-year basis, reflecting increased inventory at Journeys, Schuh and Johnston & Murphy, partially offset by decreased inventory at Genesco Brands.

Capital Expenditures and Store Activity

For the third quarter this year, capital expenditures were $18 million, related primarily to retail stores and other initiatives. Depreciation and amortization was $13 million. During the quarter, the Company opened four stores and closed 12 stores. The Company ended the quarter with 1,245 stores compared with 1,302 stores at the end of the third quarter last year, or a decrease of 4%. Square footage was down 3% on a year-over-year basis.

Share Repurchases

The Company did not repurchase any shares during the third quarter of Fiscal 2026. The Company currently has $29.8 million remaining on its expanded share repurchase authorization announced in June 2023.

Fiscal 2026 Outlook

For Fiscal 2026, while the Company expects sales and operating income growth to last year, we are revising our outlook and lowering guidance:

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2A reconciliation of the adjusted financial measures cited in the guidance to their corresponding measures as reported pursuant to GAAP is included in Schedule B to this press release.

Conference Call, Management Commentary and Investor Presentation

The Company has posted detailed financial commentary and a supplemental financial presentation of third quarter results on its website, www.genesco.com, in the investor relations section. The Company's live conference call on December 4, 2025, at 7:30 a.m. (Central time), may be accessed through the Company's website, www.genesco.com. To listen live, please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary software.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements, including those regarding future sales, earnings, operating income, gross margins, expenses, capital expenditures, depreciation and amortization, tax rates, store openings and closures, cost reductions, and all other statements not addressing solely historical facts or present conditions. Forward-looking statements are usually identified by or are associated with such words as “intend,” “expect,” “feel,” “should,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “optimistic,” “confident” and similar terminology. Actual results could vary materially from the expectations reflected in these statements. A number of factors could cause differences. These include adjustments to projections reflected in forward-looking statements, including those resulting from weakness in store, e-commerce and shopping mall traffic, the imposition of tariffs (including the timing and amount thereof) on products imported by the Company or its vendors as well as the ability and costs to move production of products in response to tariffs; our ability to pass on price increases to our customers; restrictions on operations imposed by government entities and/or landlords, changes in public safety and health requirements, and limitations on the Company’s ability to adequately staff and operate stores. Differences from expectations could also result from store closures and effects on the business as a result of the level of consumer spending on our merchandise and interest in our brands and in general; the level and timing of promotional activity necessary to maintain inventories at appropriate levels; the Company’s ability to obtain from suppliers products that are in-demand on a timely basis and effectively manage disruptions in product supply or distribution, including disruptions as a result of pandemics or geopolitical events, including shipping disruptions near crucial trade routes; unfavorable trends in fuel costs, foreign exchange rates, foreign labor and material costs, and other factors affecting the cost of products; civil disturbances; our ability to renew our license agreements; impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war, the conflict in Israel and the surrounding areas; and other sources of market weakness in the locations in which we operate; the effectiveness of the Company's omnichannel initiatives; costs associated with changes in minimum wage and overtime requirements; wage pressures; labor shortages; the effects of inflation; weakness in the consumer economy and retail industry; competition and fashion trends in the Company's markets; risks related to the potential for terrorist events; risks related to public health and safety events; changes in buying patterns by significant wholesale customers; retained liabilities associated with divestitures of businesses including potential liabilities under leases as the prior tenant or as a guarantor of certain leases; and changes in the timing of holidays or in the onset of seasonal weather affecting period-to-period sales comparisons. Additional factors that could cause differences from expectations include the ability to secure allocations to refine product assortments to address consumer demand; the ability to renew leases in existing stores and control or lower occupancy costs, to open or close stores in the number and on the planned schedule, and to conduct required remodeling or refurbishment on schedule and at expected expense levels; the Company’s ability to realize anticipated cost savings, including rent savings; the amount and timing of share repurchases; our ability to make our occupancy costs more variable; the Company’s ability to achieve expected digital gains and gain market share; deterioration in the performance of individual businesses or of the Company's market value relative to its book value, resulting in impairments of fixed assets, operating lease right of use assets or intangible assets or other adverse financial consequences and the timing and amount of such impairments or other consequences; unexpected changes to the market for the Company's shares or for the retail sector in general; costs and reputational harm as a result of disruptions in the Company’s business or information technology systems either by security breaches and incidents or by potential problems associated with the implementation of new or upgraded systems; changes in tax laws and tax rates and the Company’s ability to realize any anticipated tax benefits in both the amount and timeframe anticipated; and the cost and outcome of litigation, investigations, environmental matters and other disputes involving the Company.

Additional factors are cited in the "Risk Factors," "Legal Proceedings" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of, and elsewhere in, the Company’s SEC filings, copies of which may be obtained from the SEC website, www.sec.gov, or by contacting the investor relations department of Genesco via the Company’s website, www.genesco.com. Many of the factors that will determine the outcome of the subject matter of this release are beyond Genesco's ability to control or predict. Genesco undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Forward-looking statements reflect the expectations of the Company at the time they are made. The Company disclaims any obligation to update such statements.

About Genesco Inc.

Genesco Inc. (NYSE: GCO) is a footwear focused company with distinctively positioned retail and lifestyle brands and proven omnichannel capabilities offering customers the footwear they desire in engaging shopping environments, including more than 1,240 retail stores and branded e-commerce websites. Its Journeys, Little Burgundy and Schuh brands serve teens, kids and young adults with on-trend fashion footwear inspired by youth culture in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Johnston & Murphy serves the successful, affluent men and women with premium footwear, apparel and accessories in the U.S. and Canada, and Genesco Brands Group sells branded lifestyle footwear to leading retailers under licensed brands including Wrangler, Dockers and Starter. Founded in 1924, Genesco is based in Nashville, Tennessee. For more information on Genesco and its operating divisions, please visit www.genesco.com.

2025

2024

616,217

100.0%

596,328

100.0%

327,589

53.2%

311,072

52.2%

288,628

46.8%

285,256

47.8%

275,720

44.7%

274,912

46.1%

4,332

0.7%

134

0.0%

8,576

1.4%

10,210

1.7%

149

0.0%

884

0.1%

1,213

0.2%

7,543

1.2%

8,911

1.5%

2,121

0.3%

27,759

4.7%

5,422

0.9%

(18,848

)

-3.2%

(66

)

0.0%

(84

)

0.0%

5,356

0.9%

(18,932

)

-3.2%

0.52

(1.76

)

0.52

(1.76

)

0.51

(1.76

)

0.50

(1.76

)

10,334

10,737

10,674

10,737

(1) Includes a $4.3 million charge in the third quarter of Fiscal 2026 which includes $3.9 million for store restructuring, $0.2 million for asset impairments and $0.2 million for severance.

Includes a $0.1 million charge in the third quarter of Fiscal 2025 for asset impairments.

2025

2024

1,636,155

100.0%

1,579,113

100.0%

876,397

53.6%

831,937

52.7%

759,758

46.4%

747,176

47.3%

789,020

48.2%

777,878

49.3%

4,747

0.3%

1,490

0.1%

(34,009

)

-2.1%

(32,192

)

-2.0%

477

0.0%

281

0.0%

3,682

0.2%

3,448

0.2%

(38,168

)

-2.3%

(35,921

)

-2.3%

(3,922

)

-0.2%

17,144

1.1%

(34,246

)

-2.1%

(53,065

)

-3.4%

(96

)

0.0%

(206

)

0.0%

(34,342

)

-2.1%

(53,271

)

-3.4%

(3.30

)

(4.88

)

(3.31

)

(4.90

)

(3.30

)

(4.88

)

(3.31

)

(4.90

)

10,374

10,870

10,374

10,870

(2) Includes a $4.7 million charge in the first nine months of Fiscal 2026 which includes $3.9 million for store restructuring, $0.6 million for severance and $0.2 million for asset impairments.

2025

2024

376,707

61.1%

362,517

60.8%

123,766

20.1%

121,826

20.4%

81,157

13.2%

78,463

13.2%

34,587

5.6%

33,522

5.6%

616,217

100.0%

596,328

100.0%

20,566

5.5%

13,166

3.6%

669

0.5%

3,119

2.6%

(595

)

-0.7%

(91

)

-0.1%

541

1.6%

3,729

11.1%

(12,605

)

-2.0%

(9,713

)

-1.6%

8,576

1.4%

10,210

1.7%

149

0.0%

884

0.1%

1,213

0.2%

7,543

1.2%

8,911

1.5%

2,121

0.3%

27,759

4.7%

5,422

0.9%

(18,848

)

-3.2%

(66

)

0.0%

(84

)

0.0%

5,356

0.9%

(18,932

)

-3.2%

2025

2024

967,530

59.1%

920,808

58.3%

346,276

21.2%

338,736

21.5%

226,785

13.9%

228,707

14.5%

95,564

5.8%

90,862

5.8%

1,636,155

100.0%

1,579,113

100.0%

284

0.0%

(16,807

)

-1.8%

(5,473

)

-1.6%

4,562

1.3%

(1,877

)

-0.8%

1,861

0.8%

1,892

2.0%

5,415

6.0%

(28,835

)

-1.8%

(27,223

)

-1.7%

(34,009

)

-2.1%

(32,192

)

-2.0%

477

0.0%

281

0.0%

3,682

0.2%

3,448

0.2%

(38,168

)

-2.3%

(35,921

)

-2.3%

(3,922

)

-0.2%

17,144

1.1%

(34,246

)

-2.1%

(53,065

)

-3.4%

(96

)

0.0%

(206

)

0.0%

(34,342

)

-2.1%

(53,271

)

-3.4%

27,034

33,578

55,830

52,373

558,059

523,152

48,211

50,600

689,134

659,703

241,070

230,090

480,247

424,886

36,181

36,444

58,670

25,471

25,728

1,472,103

1,435,521

212,668

214,935

19,727

120,156

123,397

83,412

83,750

435,963

422,082

69,774

100,114

404,009

348,672

48,582

47,749

513,775

516,904

1,472,103

1,435,521

1,063

1,006

974

122

124

119

156

148

152

1,341

1,278

1,245

984

974

120

119

149

152

1,253

1,245

2025

2024

2025

2024

11%

-2%

-1%

-2%

-3%

-2%

-1%

-3%

-2%

-3%

15%

5,422

0.51

(18,848

)

($1.76

)

0.00

225

163

0.02

134

103

0.01

3,891

2,870

0.27

0.00

216

156

0.01

0.00

0.02

4,332

3,189

0.30

134

106

0.03

(166

)

(0.02

)

0.00

26,250

2.42

)

0.00

(920

)

(0.08

)

(171

)

(0.02

)

25,330

2.34

8,440

0.79

6,594

0.61

20,566

669

(595

)

(595

)

541

(12,605

)

4,332

(8,273

)

8,576

4,332

12,908

1.4

2.1

13,361

26,269

4.3

13,166

3,119

(91

)

(91

)

3,729

(9,713

)

134

(9,579

)

10,210

134

10,344

1.7

13,054

23,398

3.9

(34,246

)

($3.30

)

(53,065

)

($4.88

)

0.00

1,750

1,333

0.12

259

187

0.02

494

376

0.03

3,891

2,870

0.28

0.00

597

429

0.04

996

758

0.07

4,747

3,486

0.34

1,490

1,134

0.10

0.00

722

0.07

6,683

0.64

0.00

26,250

2.42

(721

)

(0.07

)

(1,842

)

(0.17

)

5,962

0.57

25,130

2.32

(24,798

)

($2.39

)

(25,468

)

($2.34

)

284

(5,473

)

(5,473

)

(1,877

)

(1,877

)

1,892

(28,835

)

4,747

(24,088

)

(34,009

)

4,747

(29,262

)

-2.1

-1.8

40,228

10,966

0.7

(16,807

)

(16,807

)

4,562

1,861

5,415

1,750

7,165

(27,223

)

1,490

(25,733

)

(32,192

)

3,240

(28,952

)

-2.0

-1.8

39,460

10,508

0.7

759,758

747,176

46.4

47.3

1,750

759,758

748,926

46.4

47.4

5.1

0.48

5.0

0.47

5.0

0.47

10.1

0.95