Five Below Surpasses Expectations with Q4 Results
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 20 2026
0mins
Should l Buy FIVE?
Source: Fool
- Significant Sales Growth: Five Below's sales surged 24.3% to $1.73 billion in its fiscal Q4 ending January 31, exceeding market expectations and demonstrating strong performance in the competitive discount retail sector.
- Ongoing Store Expansion: The retailer opened a net of 14 new stores in the quarter, totaling 150 openings over the past 12 months, bringing its total to 1,921 locations across 46 states, further solidifying its market position.
- Improved Profitability: Five Below's adjusted net income rose 24.5% to $239.6 million, with earnings per share at $4.31, surpassing Wall Street's estimate of $4, reflecting effective cost control and profitability strategies.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: Management projects sales to rise to approximately $5.25 billion in fiscal 2026, up from $4.76 billion in 2025, driven by 150 new store openings and comparable sales growth of 3% to 5%, indicating strong confidence in future growth.
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Analyst Views on FIVE
Wall Street analysts forecast FIVE stock price to fall
19 Analyst Rating
11 Buy
7 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 221.720
Low
132.00
Averages
193.47
High
242.00
Current: 221.720
Low
132.00
Averages
193.47
High
242.00
About FIVE
Five Below, Inc. is a specialty value retailer offering merchandise targeted at the tween and teen demographics. Its assortment of products, including select brands and licensed merchandise. It is engaged in offering a group of products, including leisure, fashion and home, and snacks and seasonal. Leisure includes items such as sporting goods, games, toys, tech, books, electronic accessories, arts and crafts, and party. Fashion and home include items, such as personal accessories, attitude t-shirts, beauty offerings, home goods and storage options. Snack and seasonal include items, such as seasonal goods, greeting cards, candy and other snacks, and beverages. It also offers its merchandise on the Internet, through its fivebelow.com e-commerce Website, offering home delivery and the option to buy online and pick up in store. It also sells its merchandise through on-demand third-party delivery services to enable its customers to shop online and receive convenient delivery.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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See More
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See More
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- Sales Growth Expectations: Analysts predict that if demand persists through 2026, it could contribute an incremental 100-200 basis points to same-store sales, further validating the effectiveness of the company's strategy.
- Increased Market Attention: Google Trends data indicates a 100% year-over-year increase in searches for Five Below, suggesting accelerating consumer interest in the brand and the new toy, enhancing market awareness.
- Stock Price Upside Potential: Analysts raised Five Below's price target from $275 to $291, implying a 26% upside from Tuesday's close, reflecting optimistic market expectations for its future performance.
See More
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- Mining Potential: Buenaventura (BVN) has achieved a 104.4% rise in stock price, indicating strong performance in Peru's polymetallic mining sector, which is expected to drive future profit growth for the company.
- Investment Strategy Effectiveness: The success rate of selecting momentum stocks based on the Driehaus strategy is high, with AAII research showing that strong earnings growth and beating estimates are key factors, further validating the effectiveness of this strategy.
See More
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- Inflation and Job Market: The retail sector is grappling with short-term concerns due to persistent inflation impacting consumer spending and a weakening job market, particularly exacerbated by the onset of the Iran war, which has led to a spike in energy prices and rapid increases in gasoline costs, further straining consumer finances.
- Strong Performance of Ross Stores: Ross Stores reported a 9% increase in same-store sales for the fiscal fourth quarter ending January 31, with management projecting a 3% to 4% increase in same-store sales and a 6% to 11% growth in earnings per share this year, demonstrating robust execution and market appeal amid economic challenges.
- Five Below's Continued Expansion: Five Below achieved a remarkable 15.4% increase in same-store sales for the fiscal fourth quarter ending January 31, with expectations for 3% to 5% growth in 2026, while planning to add 227 and 150 stores in 2024 and 2025 respectively, indicating strong market demand and expansion potential.
- Investment Opportunities Arise: Despite facing short-term challenges, Ross Stores and Five Below's stock prices are currently 4.9% and 8.2% below their 52-week highs, respectively, presenting potential buying opportunities for long-term investors and encouraging patient growth investors to take a closer look at these stocks.
See More
Retail Sector Challenges Amid Growth for Ross Stores and Five Below
- Significant Sales Growth: Ross Stores reported a 9% increase in same-store sales for the fiscal fourth quarter, with expectations of 3% to 4% growth this year, demonstrating strong performance amid economic challenges and reinforcing its market position.
- Ongoing Expansion Plans: The company ended the year with 1,904 stores across 44 states, an increase of 73 stores from the previous year, while also adding 8 dd's stores, indicating its potential for market expansion and confidence in future growth.
- Strong Performance for Five Below: Five Below achieved a remarkable 15.4% increase in same-store sales for the fiscal fourth quarter, with guidance for 3% to 5% growth in 2026, reflecting its appeal in the teen market and sustained consumer demand.
- Store Expansion Strategy: Five Below plans to open 227 and 150 new stores in 2024 and 2025 respectively, aiming for a total of 3,500 stores, showcasing its proactive response to market demand and long-term growth strategy.
See More
