Buckle (NYSE:BKE) Issues Quarterly Earnings Results

Key Points

• Beat on earnings and revenue: Buckle reported Q4 EPS of $1.59 versus $1.51 expected and Q4 revenue of $399.1M (up ~5.3% YoY), with full‑year sales of $1.298B and net income of $209.7M.
• Strong profitability and cash returns: Gross margin remained healthy (Q4 52.6%), the company exited the quarter with $306.6M in cash after paying $225.1M in dividends, and plans to open and remodel 12–14 stores each in fiscal 2026.
• Inventory build is a red flag: Inventory rose about 15.5% to $139.5M, which could tie up working capital if demand softens; shares trade near $50.50 with a consensus "Hold" and $55 price target.

Buckle (NYSE:BKE - Get Free Report) posted its earnings results on Friday. The company reported $1.59 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.08, Briefing.com reports. Buckle had a return on equity of 44.42% and a net margin of 16.13%.The business had revenue of $399.14 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $396.45 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.53 EPS. The company's quarterly revenue was up 5.2% compared to the same quarter last year.

Here are the key takeaways from Buckle's conference call:

• Q4 and full-year earnings improved — Q4 net income was $80.8M ($1.59/share) versus $77.2M a year ago, and full-year net income was $209.7M ($4.14) versus $195.5M, while Q4 sales rose 5.3% to $399.1M and full-year sales increased 6.6% to $1.298B.
• Profitability remained strong — Q4 gross margin was stable at 52.6% and full-year gross margin improved to 49.0%, with operating margin roughly flat to slightly higher year-over-year.
• Product momentum concentrated in women's and kids — women's sales grew ~12% in the quarter (now ~46% of sales) with denim up 10.5% and higher AURs, and the kids business grew about 16%.
• Inventory increased meaningfully — inventory rose ~15.5% to $139.5M, which could tie up working capital or present risk if demand softens despite management saying the increase was to support heightened denim demand.
• Healthy cash and shareholder returns, plus expansion plans — the company ended with $306.6M in cash and investments after paying $225.1M in dividends, completed $45.4M in annual capex, and plans to open 12–14 new stores and remodel 12–14 locations in fiscal 2026.

Buckle Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE BKE traded down $0.16 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $50.50. 241,288 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 473,778. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.38 and a beta of 1.17. Buckle has a one year low of $33.12 and a one year high of $61.69. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $52.39 and a two-hundred day moving average of $55.18.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "hold (c+)" rating on shares of Buckle in a research report on Wednesday, January 21st. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Buckle from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, February 7th. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating on shares of Buckle in a report on Friday, January 9th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat, Buckle presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $55.00.

Institutional Trading of Buckle

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. PharVision Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Buckle during the 3rd quarter valued at about $369,000. State of Wisconsin Investment Board lifted its stake in shares of Buckle by 47.1% in the 4th quarter. State of Wisconsin Investment Board now owns 6,573 shares of the company's stock worth $351,000 after purchasing an additional 2,105 shares during the period. Twinbeech Capital LP purchased a new position in shares of Buckle in the fourth quarter worth approximately $347,000. Rafferty Asset Management LLC grew its position in Buckle by 12.6% during the fourth quarter. Rafferty Asset Management LLC now owns 6,460 shares of the company's stock valued at $345,000 after buying an additional 725 shares during the period. Finally, Freestone Grove Partners LP bought a new stake in Buckle during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $249,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 53.93% of the company's stock.

About Buckle

Buckle, Inc is a retailer specializing in casual apparel, footwear and accessories for young men and women. The company is known for its denim-focused collections, offering both private-label lines and curated brand-name merchandise. Its product assortment includes jeans, tops, outerwear, shoes and a variety of accessories such as belts, jewelry and handbags, all aimed at blending contemporary style with everyday comfort.

Founded in 1948 in Kearney, Nebraska, Buckle began as a single clothing store and has since expanded into a nationwide chain.

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