Culp, Inc. (CULP) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Net Sales $50.7 million for the first quarter, down from $56.5 million in the prior year period, driven primarily by continued market softness and tariff-driven pause in residential upholstery shipments.
Gross Profit $7.2 million or 14.3% of sales, up from $5.1 million or 9% of sales in the prior year period, a 530 basis point improvement driven by cost and efficiency benefits from restructuring initiatives in the bedding segment.
Operating Income $1.6 million compared to a loss of $6.9 million in the prior year period. Adjusted for restructuring credits and expenses, the non-GAAP operating loss was $1.9 million compared to $4.1 million in the prior year period.
Net Loss $231,000 or $0.02 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $7.3 million or $0.58 per diluted share in the prior year period.
EBITDA Adjusted EBITDA was negative $1.1 million for the first quarter, compared to negative $2.7 million in the prior year period.
Bedding Segment Sales $28 million, generally flat compared to the prior year period, with gross profit improving to $2.9 million or 10.5% of sales from negative $326,000 or negative 1.2% of sales in the prior year period, driven by restructuring benefits.
Upholstery Segment Sales $22.6 million, down approximately 20% from $28.5 million in the prior year period, due to softness in the home furnishings market, tariff-related challenges, and uneven purchasing by a large customer in the prior year.
Upholstery Segment Gross Profit $4.3 million or 18.9% of sales, down from $5.5 million or 19.4% of sales in the prior year period, driven by lower comparable sales.
Capital Expenditures $179,000 for the first quarter, down from $501,000 in the prior year period, reflecting strategic efforts to manage capital and focus on efficiency initiatives.
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- Acquisition Announcement: A consortium of private equity firms led by Permira and Warburg Pincus has announced a deal to acquire Clearwater Analytics for approximately $8.4 billion, including debt, indicating strong market interest in investment and accounting software companies.
- Stock Price Reaction: Clearwater Analytics shares surged 7.6% to $23.93 in pre-market trading, reflecting positive investor sentiment regarding the acquisition news, which may enhance the company's future market performance.
- Market Impact: This acquisition not only provides Clearwater Analytics with financial backing but also has the potential to accelerate its technological innovation and market expansion, strengthening its position in the highly competitive software industry.
- Industry Trend: With private equity firms continuing to invest in the software sector, more similar transactions are expected, further consolidating market resources and enhancing industry competitiveness.
Quarterly Performance: Culp, Inc. reported a quarterly loss of $0.30 per share, worse than the expected loss of $0.18, and a decline in revenues to $53.2 million compared to $55.67 million a year ago.
Market Comparison: Culp shares have decreased by 34.2% since the start of the year, contrasting with a 16.3% gain in the S&P 500, raising concerns about the stock's future performance.
Earnings Outlook: The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is -$0.07, with revenues projected at $54.01 million, while the Zacks Rank for Culp is #3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the market.
Industry Context: The Textile - Home Furnishing industry, to which Culp belongs, is currently ranked in the top 8% of Zacks industries, suggesting that industry trends could significantly influence Culp's stock performance.

- Sales Growth: CULP reported consolidated net sales of $53.2 million in Q2, an improvement from $50.7 million in Q1 despite a 4.4% year-over-year decline, indicating a gradual recovery in the bedding segment.
- Gross Margin Improvement: The gross profit for the quarter was $5.8 million, or 10.9% of sales, comparable to $6.0 million (10.8%) in the prior year, reflecting cost and efficiency gains from restructuring initiatives.
- Reduced Operating Loss: The company recorded an operating loss of $3.5 million, an improvement from a $5.4 million loss in the prior year, with an adjusted operating loss of $2.0 million, showcasing effective cost control measures.
- Future Outlook: CULP anticipates over $20 million in annualized cost savings by fiscal 2027, positioning the company for improved profitability as restructuring efforts take effect.

- Improved Financial Performance: Culp reported a net loss of $4.3 million for Q2 of fiscal 2026, reflecting a 23.7% decrease compared to the previous year, indicating positive progress in cost control and market adaptability.
- Sales Fluctuations: Although total sales declined by 4.4% to $53.2 million year-over-year, bedding segment sales increased both sequentially and year-over-year, suggesting a gradual recovery in market share.
- Cost Structure Optimization: The company anticipates over $20 million in annualized cost savings by the time it enters fiscal 2027 through integration and restructuring initiatives, enhancing future profitability.
- Market Environment Challenges: Despite pressures from a weak housing market and tariff volatility, Culp maintained solid gross margins, demonstrating resilience and adaptability in an uncertain environment.
Earnings Report: CULP INC reported a loss of -$4.31 million for the second quarter, improving from a loss of -$5.64 million in the same period last year.
Earnings Per Share: The company's earnings per share (EPS) were -$0.34, compared to -$0.45 in the previous year.
Revenue Decline: Revenue decreased by 4.4% to $53.20 million, down from $55.67 million a year ago.
Financial Overview: The financial results indicate a slight improvement in losses year-over-year, despite a decline in revenue.







