Shoe Carnival Reports Q1 Net Loss Amid Sales Decline
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 21 2026
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Financial Decline: Shoe Carnival reported a net loss of $5.628 million for Q1 of fiscal 2026, contrasting sharply with a profit of $9.343 million in the same period last year, indicating significant sales challenges, with a net loss per share of $0.21 reflecting financial strain.
- Reduced Adjusted Profit: Excluding certain items, the adjusted profit per share was $0.23, down from $0.34 a year ago, highlighting the impact of additional costs related to the CEO transition and strategic review on profitability.
- Increased Operating Loss: The company faced an operating loss of $6.037 million compared to a profit of $11.965 million last year, primarily driven by selling, general, and administrative expenses of $96.138 million, which rose significantly from $83.812 million in the previous year.
- Annual Guidance Maintained: Despite these challenges, Shoe Carnival maintains its guidance for fiscal 2026, expecting adjusted income of $1.40 to $1.60 per share on sales between $1.125 billion and $1.147 billion, demonstrating confidence in future performance.
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Analyst Views on SCVL
Wall Street analysts forecast SCVL stock price to rise
1 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 17.600
Low
19.00
Averages
19.00
High
19.00
Current: 17.600
Low
19.00
Averages
19.00
High
19.00
About SCVL
Shoe Carnival, Inc. is an omnichannel retailer of footwear and accessories. The Company provides footwear for athletics, daily activities, special events and works through the customer's preferred delivery channel. It offers athletics & sneakers, sandals, clogs & mules, flats, loafers & oxfords, boat shoes & slip-ons, pumps & heels, boots & booties, slippers, and work & safety footwear for women. It also offers athletic sneakers, sandals, casual, dress, boots, and work & safety footwear for men. It provides sport slides, flip-flops, water shoes, outdoor and hiking sandals. Its accessories include slippers, socks, winter essentials, athletic & sports bags, activewear & apparel, backpacks & lunchboxes, hats, handbags, insoles, and water bottles. The Company provides athletics & sneakers, sandals, clogs, dresses, and boots for kids. It also offers bogg bags, crossbody, fashion backpacks, tote bags, clutches & evening bags, and wallets.
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.
Shoe Carnival Reports First Quarter Highlights
- Strong Financial Position: Shoe Carnival ended the first quarter with $129 million in cash and marketable securities, an increase of $36 million year-over-year, and operates with no debt, showcasing robust financial strength that supports future strategic investments.
- Shareholder Return Initiatives: The company repurchased approximately 390,492 shares, returning about $7 million to shareholders during the quarter, indicating a commitment to shareholder value amidst financial stability.
- Store Expansion Plans: Shoe Carnival plans to open 3 to 5 new stores in fiscal 2027, with an expansion to 8 to 10 stores in fiscal 2028 primarily under the Shoe Station banner, aiming to enhance market share.
- Sales Decline Pressure: Although first-quarter sales slightly exceeded expectations, net sales fell 2.1% year-over-year, and Shoe Station experienced a 3.1% decline in sales, reflecting the impact of macroeconomic pressures on consumer spending among moderate-income households.
See More
Shoe Carnival (SCVL) Q4 2025 Earnings Transcript
See More
Shoe Carnival Reports Q1 Net Loss Amid Sales Decline
- Financial Decline: Shoe Carnival reported a net loss of $5.628 million for Q1 of fiscal 2026, contrasting sharply with a profit of $9.343 million in the same period last year, indicating significant sales challenges, with a net loss per share of $0.21 reflecting financial strain.
- Reduced Adjusted Profit: Excluding certain items, the adjusted profit per share was $0.23, down from $0.34 a year ago, highlighting the impact of additional costs related to the CEO transition and strategic review on profitability.
- Increased Operating Loss: The company faced an operating loss of $6.037 million compared to a profit of $11.965 million last year, primarily driven by selling, general, and administrative expenses of $96.138 million, which rose significantly from $83.812 million in the previous year.
- Annual Guidance Maintained: Despite these challenges, Shoe Carnival maintains its guidance for fiscal 2026, expecting adjusted income of $1.40 to $1.60 per share on sales between $1.125 billion and $1.147 billion, demonstrating confidence in future performance.
See More
Shoe Carnival Q1 Earnings Highlights
- Earnings Performance: Shoe Carnival reported a Q1 non-GAAP EPS of $0.23, meeting expectations, while revenue of $270.7 million, down 2.5% year-over-year, exceeded forecasts by $3.4 million, demonstrating resilience amid challenges.
- Future Guidance: The company reaffirmed its Fiscal 2026 guidance, projecting net sales between $1.125 billion and $1.147 billion, reflecting a cautious optimism about market stability with a slight range of decline or growth compared to Fiscal 2025.
- Margin Compression: Expected gross profit margin of approximately 34% indicates a compression of about 260 basis points versus Fiscal 2025, highlighting challenges in cost control and pricing strategies that may impact future profitability.
- Cost Reduction Initiatives: The company plans to reduce adjusted SG&A expenses by $12 to $14 million, aiming to enhance operational efficiency and alleviate profit pressures, showcasing management's focus on cost control.
See More
Shoe Carnival Reports First Quarter Highlights
- Sales Decline: In Q1 2026, net sales were $270.7 million, down 2.5% from $277.7 million in Q1 2025, indicating competitive pressure despite improved sales trends for the Shoe Carnival brand.
- Gross Margin Drop: The gross profit margin fell to 33.3% in Q1 2026 from 34.5% in Q1 2025, a decrease of 120 basis points primarily due to increased promotional activities and higher e-commerce shipping costs, highlighting challenges in cost management.
- Shareholder Returns: The company repurchased approximately 390,492 shares for about $7 million and paid $5 million in dividends during Q1, reflecting a proactive stance in capital management despite financial pressures.
- Debt-Free Operations: By the end of Q1 2026, the company held approximately $129.3 million in cash and cash equivalents, a 39% increase year-over-year, and operated debt-free, demonstrating financial stability amidst operational challenges.
See More
Shoe Carnival Set to Announce Q1 Earnings on May 21
- Earnings Announcement: Shoe Carnival (SCVL) is set to release its Q1 earnings on May 21 before market open, with consensus EPS estimate at $0.23, reflecting a 32.4% year-over-year decline, and revenue estimate at $267.3 million, down 3.8% year-over-year, indicating profitability challenges ahead.
- Historical Performance: Over the past year, SCVL has beaten EPS estimates 75% of the time but only 25% for revenue, suggesting a stable performance in earnings but challenges in revenue growth.
- Estimate Revisions: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen one upward revision with no downward adjustments, while revenue estimates also experienced one upward revision, indicating cautious optimism from the market regarding the company's future performance.
- Strategic Adjustments: Shoe Carnival is prioritizing inventory reduction while setting an EPS target of $1.40 to $1.60, and is slowing down its rebannering strategy to better navigate the current market environment.
See More
Shoe Carnival Reports First Quarter Highlights
- Strong Financial Position: Shoe Carnival ended the first quarter with $129 million in cash and marketable securities, an increase of $36 million year-over-year, and operates with no debt, showcasing robust financial strength that supports future strategic investments.
- Shareholder Return Initiatives: The company repurchased approximately 390,492 shares, returning about $7 million to shareholders during the quarter, indicating a commitment to shareholder value amidst financial stability.
- Store Expansion Plans: Shoe Carnival plans to open 3 to 5 new stores in fiscal 2027, with an expansion to 8 to 10 stores in fiscal 2028 primarily under the Shoe Station banner, aiming to enhance market share.
- Sales Decline Pressure: Although first-quarter sales slightly exceeded expectations, net sales fell 2.1% year-over-year, and Shoe Station experienced a 3.1% decline in sales, reflecting the impact of macroeconomic pressures on consumer spending among moderate-income households.
See More
Shoe Carnival (SCVL) Q4 2025 Earnings Transcript
See More
Shoe Carnival Reports Q1 Net Loss Amid Sales Decline
- Financial Decline: Shoe Carnival reported a net loss of $5.628 million for Q1 of fiscal 2026, contrasting sharply with a profit of $9.343 million in the same period last year, indicating significant sales challenges, with a net loss per share of $0.21 reflecting financial strain.
- Reduced Adjusted Profit: Excluding certain items, the adjusted profit per share was $0.23, down from $0.34 a year ago, highlighting the impact of additional costs related to the CEO transition and strategic review on profitability.
- Increased Operating Loss: The company faced an operating loss of $6.037 million compared to a profit of $11.965 million last year, primarily driven by selling, general, and administrative expenses of $96.138 million, which rose significantly from $83.812 million in the previous year.
- Annual Guidance Maintained: Despite these challenges, Shoe Carnival maintains its guidance for fiscal 2026, expecting adjusted income of $1.40 to $1.60 per share on sales between $1.125 billion and $1.147 billion, demonstrating confidence in future performance.
See More
Shoe Carnival Q1 Earnings Highlights
- Earnings Performance: Shoe Carnival reported a Q1 non-GAAP EPS of $0.23, meeting expectations, while revenue of $270.7 million, down 2.5% year-over-year, exceeded forecasts by $3.4 million, demonstrating resilience amid challenges.
- Future Guidance: The company reaffirmed its Fiscal 2026 guidance, projecting net sales between $1.125 billion and $1.147 billion, reflecting a cautious optimism about market stability with a slight range of decline or growth compared to Fiscal 2025.
- Margin Compression: Expected gross profit margin of approximately 34% indicates a compression of about 260 basis points versus Fiscal 2025, highlighting challenges in cost control and pricing strategies that may impact future profitability.
- Cost Reduction Initiatives: The company plans to reduce adjusted SG&A expenses by $12 to $14 million, aiming to enhance operational efficiency and alleviate profit pressures, showcasing management's focus on cost control.
See More
Shoe Carnival Reports First Quarter Highlights
- Sales Decline: In Q1 2026, net sales were $270.7 million, down 2.5% from $277.7 million in Q1 2025, indicating competitive pressure despite improved sales trends for the Shoe Carnival brand.
- Gross Margin Drop: The gross profit margin fell to 33.3% in Q1 2026 from 34.5% in Q1 2025, a decrease of 120 basis points primarily due to increased promotional activities and higher e-commerce shipping costs, highlighting challenges in cost management.
- Shareholder Returns: The company repurchased approximately 390,492 shares for about $7 million and paid $5 million in dividends during Q1, reflecting a proactive stance in capital management despite financial pressures.
- Debt-Free Operations: By the end of Q1 2026, the company held approximately $129.3 million in cash and cash equivalents, a 39% increase year-over-year, and operated debt-free, demonstrating financial stability amidst operational challenges.
See More
Shoe Carnival Set to Announce Q1 Earnings on May 21
- Earnings Announcement: Shoe Carnival (SCVL) is set to release its Q1 earnings on May 21 before market open, with consensus EPS estimate at $0.23, reflecting a 32.4% year-over-year decline, and revenue estimate at $267.3 million, down 3.8% year-over-year, indicating profitability challenges ahead.
- Historical Performance: Over the past year, SCVL has beaten EPS estimates 75% of the time but only 25% for revenue, suggesting a stable performance in earnings but challenges in revenue growth.
- Estimate Revisions: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen one upward revision with no downward adjustments, while revenue estimates also experienced one upward revision, indicating cautious optimism from the market regarding the company's future performance.
- Strategic Adjustments: Shoe Carnival is prioritizing inventory reduction while setting an EPS target of $1.40 to $1.60, and is slowing down its rebannering strategy to better navigate the current market environment.
See More
