Bath & Body Works surges on earnings beat despite sales decline

Investing.com -- Bath & Body Works, Inc. (NYSE: BBWI) reported first-quarter results that exceeded analyst expectations, sending shares up around 15% premarket despite ongoing sales challenges.

The home fragrance and personal care retailer posted adjusted earnings per share of $0.32, beating the analyst consensus of $0.29 by $0.03. Revenue came in at $1.4 billion, topping estimates of $1.36 billion, though sales declined 3% YoY from $1.4 billion in the prior-year quarter. CEO Daniel Heaf acknowledged the results "exceeded guidance, but remain below the standard our brand is capable of delivering."

The stock gained 4.4% following the release, reflecting investor approval of the better-than-expected quarterly performance. Heaf noted that efforts to strengthen hero categories and modernize the brand "are beginning to resonate with consumers."

For the second quarter, Bath & Body Works issued guidance of $0.20 to $0.25 per share. The midpoint of $0.225 aligns with the analyst consensus of $0.20. The company expects second-quarter sales to decline 3% to 5% compared to $1.5 billion in the prior-year period.

For the full year, the company maintained its adjusted earnings guidance of $2.40 to $2.65 per share. The midpoint of $2.525 falls slightly below the analyst consensus of $2.63. Bath & Body Works expects full-year sales to decline 2.5% to 4.5% compared to $7.3 billion in fiscal 2025.

The company announced that CFO Eva Boratto will step down effective June 12 to pursue another opportunity. Tom Javitch, a 16-year Bath & Body Works veteran, has been appointed interim CFO while the company conducts a search for a permanent replacement.

You May Also Be Interested In

• Micron surges 5.5% on blockbuster Anthropic AI deal ahead of earnings
• Credo Technology pops 3.5% as Evercore initiates with monster $325 price target
• Worried the AI trade has gone too far? Evercore likes these 4 stocks