← Academy Sports Outdoors overview

Academy Sports Outdoors vs Sally Beauty: why the prices moved differently

Weekly · monthly · quarterly news summaries, side by side in time

Academy Sports Outdoors Inc (ASO)

Q3 2026
▲3

Academy beats Q2, raises guidance, expands delivery and brand partnerships

  • Q2 beat and raised guidance Academy's Q2 revenue rose 3.1% and adjusted EPS jumped 19.1%, prompting management to raise full-year EPS guidance to $6.05-$6.45 (adjusted $6.50-$6.90). The beat and raise signal stronger profitability, which lifts investor confidence and supports a higher stock price.

    This is the core new financial event that directly drives the stock higher.

  • Tariff refunds boost margins Gross margin expanded 440 basis points, mostly from one-time tariff refunds. Academy is reinvesting some of that into lower prices to keep shoppers coming. While the refund boost won't repeat, it gave a big profit lift this quarter and helped fund growth.

    Tariff refunds were a major driver of the earnings beat and margin expansion.

  • New delivery and brand partnerships Academy teamed up with Instacart for same-day delivery from over 300 stores and expanded its Ariat western-wear shops to 200 locations. These moves widen reach and boost apparel sales, which already grew 4.7% last quarter, supporting future revenue growth.

    These partnerships are new growth initiatives that can drive incremental sales.

  • Analyst targets up, but caution remains Four analysts raised price targets after the Q2 beat, yet all kept neutral ratings. Traffic from lower-income households fell sharply, footwear sales dipped, inventory rose, and short interest is high at 23%. These mixed signals cap upside and add risk.

    This shows the balanced view: positive analyst moves but real headwinds that could limit gains.

August 2026
▲3

Academy beats Q2, raises guidance, expands delivery and brand partnerships

  • Q2 beat and raised guidance Academy's Q2 revenue rose 3.1% and adjusted EPS jumped 19.1%, prompting management to raise full-year EPS guidance to $6.05-$6.45 (adjusted $6.50-$6.90). The beat and raise signal stronger profitability, which lifts investor confidence and supports a higher stock price.

    This is the core new financial event that directly drives the stock higher.

  • Tariff refunds boost margins Gross margin expanded 440 basis points, mostly from one-time tariff refunds. Academy is reinvesting some of that into lower prices to keep shoppers coming. While the refund boost won't repeat, it gave a big profit lift this quarter and helped fund growth.

    Tariff refunds were a major driver of the earnings beat and margin expansion.

  • New delivery and brand partnerships Academy teamed up with Instacart for same-day delivery from over 300 stores and expanded its Ariat western-wear shops to 200 locations. These moves widen reach and boost apparel sales, which already grew 4.7% last quarter, supporting future revenue growth.

    These partnerships are new growth initiatives that can drive incremental sales.

  • Analyst targets up, but caution remains Four analysts raised price targets after the Q2 beat, yet all kept neutral ratings. Traffic from lower-income households fell sharply, footwear sales dipped, inventory rose, and short interest is high at 23%. These mixed signals cap upside and add risk.

    This shows the balanced view: positive analyst moves but real headwinds that could limit gains.

Latest
▲3

Academy beats Q2, raises guidance, expands delivery and brand partnerships

  • Q2 beat and raised guidance Academy's Q2 revenue rose 3.1% and adjusted EPS jumped 19.1%, prompting management to raise full-year EPS guidance to $6.05-$6.45 (adjusted $6.50-$6.90). The beat and raise signal stronger profitability, which lifts investor confidence and supports a higher stock price.

    This is the core new financial event that directly drives the stock higher.

  • Tariff refunds boost margins Gross margin expanded 440 basis points, mostly from one-time tariff refunds. Academy is reinvesting some of that into lower prices to keep shoppers coming. While the refund boost won't repeat, it gave a big profit lift this quarter and helped fund growth.

    Tariff refunds were a major driver of the earnings beat and margin expansion.

  • New delivery and brand partnerships Academy teamed up with Instacart for same-day delivery from over 300 stores and expanded its Ariat western-wear shops to 200 locations. These moves widen reach and boost apparel sales, which already grew 4.7% last quarter, supporting future revenue growth.

    These partnerships are new growth initiatives that can drive incremental sales.

  • Analyst targets up, but caution remains Four analysts raised price targets after the Q2 beat, yet all kept neutral ratings. Traffic from lower-income households fell sharply, footwear sales dipped, inventory rose, and short interest is high at 23%. These mixed signals cap upside and add risk.

    This shows the balanced view: positive analyst moves but real headwinds that could limit gains.

Sally Beauty Holdings Inc (SBH)

Q3 2026
▲3

Sally Beauty's profit gains and cost cuts offset weak sales

  • Q3 profit and EPS beat, guidance raised Sally Beauty's fiscal third-quarter profit rose to $54.08 million, or $0.55 per share, up from $0.44 a year earlier, beating estimates. Revenue edged up 0.2% to $935.5 million. The company raised the low end of its full-year EPS guidance to $2.04–$2.08. This supports the stock by showing improving profitability.

    This is the core new earnings event that directly drives SBH's valuation and investor sentiment.

  • Fuel for Growth cost savings boost margins The Fuel for Growth program delivered $9 million in pretax benefits in Q3, lifting gross margin by 40 basis points to 52.4%. Management expects about $45 million in fiscal 2026 savings, with cumulative run-rate savings near $120 million. Cost cuts help profits even when sales are flat, supporting the stock.

    This explains a key driver of margin expansion and future earnings power, which investors care about.

  • Weak sales and BSG segment decline Total revenue rose only 0.2% and comparable sales were flat. The Beauty Systems Group segment saw sales fall 2.4% due to softness in the Care category. This drags on the stock because it shows the company is not growing its core business, even as profits improve.

    This is the main counterweight: weak demand limits upside and explains why shares fell after the earnings beat.

  • New products and digital growth support outlook E-commerce sales rose 11% to $110 million, and management highlighted strength in color products. New categories like fragrances and men's products are expected to help win market share. This gives investors confidence in future growth, pushing the stock up.

    This points to future revenue drivers that can offset current weak sales and support the stock.

August 2026
▲3

Sally Beauty's profit gains and cost cuts offset weak sales

  • Q3 profit and EPS beat, guidance raised Sally Beauty's fiscal third-quarter profit rose to $54.08 million, or $0.55 per share, up from $0.44 a year earlier, beating estimates. Revenue edged up 0.2% to $935.5 million. The company raised the low end of its full-year EPS guidance to $2.04–$2.08. This supports the stock by showing improving profitability.

    This is the core new earnings event that directly drives SBH's valuation and investor sentiment.

  • Fuel for Growth cost savings boost margins The Fuel for Growth program delivered $9 million in pretax benefits in Q3, lifting gross margin by 40 basis points to 52.4%. Management expects about $45 million in fiscal 2026 savings, with cumulative run-rate savings near $120 million. Cost cuts help profits even when sales are flat, supporting the stock.

    This explains a key driver of margin expansion and future earnings power, which investors care about.

  • Weak sales and BSG segment decline Total revenue rose only 0.2% and comparable sales were flat. The Beauty Systems Group segment saw sales fall 2.4% due to softness in the Care category. This drags on the stock because it shows the company is not growing its core business, even as profits improve.

    This is the main counterweight: weak demand limits upside and explains why shares fell after the earnings beat.

  • New products and digital growth support outlook E-commerce sales rose 11% to $110 million, and management highlighted strength in color products. New categories like fragrances and men's products are expected to help win market share. This gives investors confidence in future growth, pushing the stock up.

    This points to future revenue drivers that can offset current weak sales and support the stock.

Latest
▲3

Sally Beauty's profit gains and cost cuts offset weak sales

  • Q3 profit and EPS beat, guidance raised Sally Beauty's fiscal third-quarter profit rose to $54.08 million, or $0.55 per share, up from $0.44 a year earlier, beating estimates. Revenue edged up 0.2% to $935.5 million. The company raised the low end of its full-year EPS guidance to $2.04–$2.08. This supports the stock by showing improving profitability.

    This is the core new earnings event that directly drives SBH's valuation and investor sentiment.

  • Fuel for Growth cost savings boost margins The Fuel for Growth program delivered $9 million in pretax benefits in Q3, lifting gross margin by 40 basis points to 52.4%. Management expects about $45 million in fiscal 2026 savings, with cumulative run-rate savings near $120 million. Cost cuts help profits even when sales are flat, supporting the stock.

    This explains a key driver of margin expansion and future earnings power, which investors care about.

  • Weak sales and BSG segment decline Total revenue rose only 0.2% and comparable sales were flat. The Beauty Systems Group segment saw sales fall 2.4% due to softness in the Care category. This drags on the stock because it shows the company is not growing its core business, even as profits improve.

    This is the main counterweight: weak demand limits upside and explains why shares fell after the earnings beat.

  • New products and digital growth support outlook E-commerce sales rose 11% to $110 million, and management highlighted strength in color products. New categories like fragrances and men's products are expected to help win market share. This gives investors confidence in future growth, pushing the stock up.

    This points to future revenue drivers that can offset current weak sales and support the stock.