J.Jill, Inc. (NYSE:JILL) shares rose 14.83% in premarket trading on Wednesday after the women’s apparel retailer reported second-quarter earnings and revenue above analyst expectations and raised its full-year fiscal 2026 outlook.
Adjusted earnings per share were $1.24, compared with the analyst consensus estimate of $0.57.
Revenue increased 0.5% year over year to $154.8 million, exceeding the analyst estimate of $151.26 million.
The quarter included a $13.3 million pre-tax benefit from IEEPA tariff refunds. Reported gross margin was 76.8%, compared with 68.4% in the prior-year period. Excluding the tariff refunds, gross margin was 68.3%.
“Our second quarter results reflect progress across each of our three strategic priorities – evolving the product assortment, enhancing the customer journey, and advancing the way we work,” said Mary Ellen Coyne, President and Chief Executive Officer.
“We delivered sales that exceeded our expectations, with underlying profitability at the high end of our outlook before the benefit of tariff refunds.”
Comparable sales increase 0.5%
J.Jill reported a 0.5% increase in comparable sales during the second quarter.
Direct-to-consumer sales rose 1.9% and represented 47.1% of total net sales.
The company operated 255 stores at the end of the quarter, compared with 247 in the same period last year.
J.Jill forecasts Q3 sales growth of 3% to 5%
For the third quarter of fiscal 2026, J.Jill expects net sales to increase between 3% and 5% compared with the prior-year period.
Comparable sales are forecast to rise between 1% and 3%, while adjusted EBITDA is expected to range from $20.0 million to $22.0 million.
The midpoint of the adjusted EBITDA forecast is $21.0 million.
Full-year outlook raised
J.Jill raised its fiscal 2026 guidance and now expects net sales to range from flat to growth of 2% compared with fiscal 2025.
The company forecasts full-year adjusted EBITDA of between $75 million and $80 million, with a midpoint of $77.5 million.
J.Jill stock price
