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Petco Reports First Quarter 2026 Results

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Petco (Nasdaq: WOOF) reported Q1 2026 results with net sales of $1.5 billion, up 0.2%, and comparable sales up 0.7%. Gross profit rose to $574.4 million with a 38.4% margin, and operating income increased 50.5% to $24.6 million.

The company posted a net loss of $15.1 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $97.3 million. Cash rose to $166.8 million, total debt fell to $1.482 billion, and inventory declined 1.9%. Petco reaffirmed its 2026 outlook and guided modest Q2 net sales growth and Adjusted EBITDA of $110–$112 million.

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AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Positive

  • Net sales up 0.2% to $1.5 billion; comps up 0.7%
  • Gross margin expanded 21 bps to 38.4%
  • Operating income up 50.5% to $24.6 million
  • Adjusted EBITDA increased to $97.3 million from $89.4 million
  • Cash balance up $33.5 million to $166.8 million
  • Total debt reduced to $1.482 billion from $1.593 billion
  • Inventory down 1.9% year-over-year versus 0.2% net sales growth
  • Full-year 2026 net sales and Adjusted EBITDA outlook reaffirmed
  • FY 2026 Adjusted EBITDA outlook set at $415–$430 million
  • Q2 2026 Adjusted EBITDA outlook set at $110–$112 million

Negative

  • Net loss widened to $15.1 million from $11.7 million
  • Cash used in operations rose to $31.0 million from $15.5 million
  • Free cash flow outflow increased to $69.1 million from $43.9 million
  • Four net store closures in Q1; 15–20 closures expected in 2026
  • Higher fuel costs assumed for remainder of 2026
  • Q2 impacted by incremental tariffs and lack of prior-year SG&A benefit

News Market Reaction – WOOF

-6.07% 2.7x vol
14 alerts
-6.07% News Effect
-19.2% Trough in 17 hr 53 min
-$64M Valuation Impact
$997.41M Market Cap
2.7x Rel. Volume

On the day this news was published, WOOF declined 6.07%, reflecting a notable negative market reaction. Argus tracked a trough of -19.2% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 14 alerts that day, indicating notable trading interest and price volatility. This price movement removed approximately $64M from the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $997.41M at that time. Trading volume was elevated at 2.7x the daily average, suggesting increased selling activity.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Q1 2026 net sales: $1.5 billion Q1 2026 comparable sales: 0.7% growth Gross margin: 38.4% +5 more
8 metrics
Q1 2026 net sales $1.5 billion Quarterly net sales, up 0.2% year over year
Q1 2026 comparable sales 0.7% growth Returned to positive comp growth versus Q1 2025
Gross margin 38.4% Up 21 basis points year over year in Q1 2026
Operating income $24.6 million Q1 2026 operating income, up 50.5% YoY
Net loss $15.1 million Q1 2026 net loss versus $11.7M loss last year
Adjusted EBITDA $97.3 million Q1 2026 Adjusted EBITDA versus $89.4M in Q1 2025
Total debt $1.482 billion Debt down from $1.593B year over year
FY2026 Adj. EBITDA outlook $415–$430 million Reaffirmed full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance range

Market Reality Check

Price: $2.83 Vol: Volume 2,323,292 is 1.38x...
normal vol
$2.83 Last Close
Volume Volume 2,323,292 is 1.38x the 20-day average of 1,688,427, indicating elevated pre-news activity. normal
Technical Shares at $2.96 are trading slightly below the 200-day MA of $3.04, with the stock about 34.3% under its 52-week high and 32.14% above its 52-week low.

Peers on Argus

WOOF was down 3.27% pre-release with mixed peer moves: BBW (-0.94%), SBH (-2.64%...

WOOF was down 3.27% pre-release with mixed peer moves: BBW (-0.94%), SBH (-2.64%), OLPX (+0.49%), ODP (+0.04%), EYE (+1.40%). The lack of a consistent sector direction and no peers in momentum scanners point to a stock-specific setup around these earnings.

Previous Earnings Reports

5 past events · Latest: Mar 11 (Positive)
Same Type Pattern 5 events
Date Event Sentiment Move Catalyst
Mar 11 FY25 earnings Positive +34.6% FY2025 results beat outlook, leverage reduced, and FY2026 EBITDA guidance introduced.
Nov 25 Q3 2025 earnings Positive +14.5% Q3 margin expansion and outlook raise despite lower net sales and comps.
Aug 28 Q2 2025 earnings Positive +23.5% Improved profitability and higher Adjusted EBITDA with maintained full-year sales outlook.
Jun 5 Q1 2025 earnings Neutral -23.3% Sales and comps declined but margins and EBITDA improved, prompting a sharp negative move.
Mar 26 FY24 earnings Neutral +31.6% Mixed 2024 results with improving losses and double-digit EBITDA improvement outlook for 2025.
Pattern Detected

Earnings releases have often driven sizable moves, with generally positive reactions when guidance and profitability improved, but at least one instance of a sharp selloff despite better margins.

Recent Company History

Over the past year, Petco’s earnings events have focused on stabilizing sales while improving profitability and margins. Prior updates showed expanding gross margin, rising Adjusted EBITDA, and leverage reduction, with FY2025 Adjusted EBITDA at $408.2M and FY2026 guidance of $415M–$430M. Market reactions to earnings have frequently been large, including moves of +34.58%, +31.56%, and -23.34%. Today’s Q1 2026 results, featuring positive comps and reaffirmed 2026 outlook, fit into this narrative of incremental operational improvement against modest top-line growth.

Historical Comparison

+16.2% avg move · In the last five earnings releases, WOOF moved an average of 16.16%, often reacting strongly to chan...
earnings
+16.2%
Average Historical Move earnings

In the last five earnings releases, WOOF moved an average of 16.16%, often reacting strongly to changes in profitability, margins, and guidance. This Q1 2026 update, with modest sales growth but improved comps and reaffirmed EBITDA outlook, resembles prior reports that paired flat revenue with margin and balance sheet progress.

Earnings updates show a progression from declining sales with improving margins in 2024–2025 to 2025–2026 guidance targeting Adjusted EBITDA of $415M–$430M and gradual leverage reduction, with Q1 2026 marking a return to positive comparable sales and continued margin-focused execution.

Market Pulse Summary

The stock moved -6.1% in the session following this news. A negative reaction despite better comps a...
Analysis

The stock moved -6.1% in the session following this news. A negative reaction despite better comps and margin expansion would fit prior episodes where mixed sales trends overshadowed profitability gains. Q1 2026 delivered net sales of $1.5B with 0.7% comp growth and Adjusted EBITDA up to $97.3M, but free cash outflows and ongoing net losses could weigh on sentiment. Historical earnings moves averaging 16.16% suggest results often triggered strong, sometimes contrarian, reactions.

Key Terms

adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow, leverage ratio, SG&A, +4 more
8 terms
adjusted EBITDA financial
"Adjusted EBITDA2 of $97.3 million versus $89.4 million."
Adjusted EBITDA is a way companies measure how much money they make from their core operations, like running a business, by removing certain costs or income that aren’t part of regular business activities. It helps investors see how well a company is doing without distractions from unusual expenses or gains, making it easier to compare companies or track performance over time.
free cash flow financial
"Free cash flow2 was an outflow of $69.1 million versus an outflow of $43.9 million last year."
Free cash flow is the amount of money a company has left over after paying all its expenses and investing in its business, like buying equipment or updating facilities. It shows how much cash is available to reward shareholders, pay down debt, or save for future growth. This helps investors understand if a company is financially healthy and able to grow.
leverage ratio financial
"remain committed to reducing our leverage ratio to 2x."
Leverage ratio measures how much a company relies on borrowed money compared with its own funds or assets, typically expressed as debt relative to equity or total assets. Like a homeowner with a mortgage, higher leverage can amplify returns when business is strong but also raises the chance of big losses or default if revenue falls, so investors use it to judge financial risk and resilience.
SG&A financial
"The prior-year second quarter included an approximately $9 million SG&A benefit from a favorable semi-annual actuarial true-up"
SG&A stands for Selling, General, and Administrative expenses. It includes the costs a company spends on selling products, running the business day-to-day, and managing staff, like advertising, rent, and salaries. These expenses matter because they affect how much profit a company can make from its sales.
non-GAAP financial measures regulatory
"Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow are non-GAAP financial measures."
Non-GAAP financial measures are numbers companies use to show their financial performance that exclude certain expenses or income. They help investors see how the company might perform without one-time costs or other unusual items, giving a different perspective from official reports. However, since they can be adjusted, they don’t always tell the full story and should be looked at alongside standard financial figures.
Factset consensus financial
"the current Factset consensus of 10 sell-side analyst expectations for Q2 2026 net sales"
FactSet Consensus is the average of financial forecasts—such as earnings, revenue, or other key metrics—compiled from many professional analysts and published by the data firm FactSet. Think of it like the average of multiple weather forecasts: it gives a single expected outcome investors use as a benchmark to judge company results; if a company beats or misses this consensus, markets often react because expectations drive stock prices.
tariffs regulatory
"current or planned tariffs on imports into the U.S. from China and other countries"
Tariffs are taxes imposed by a government on goods imported from other countries. They increase the cost of those goods, which can lead to higher prices for consumers and impact international trade. For investors, tariffs matter because they can influence the profitability of companies, affect supply chains, and shift economic stability across different regions.
IEEPA regulatory
"assumes the benefit of a partial IEEPA tariff refund received in May 2026"
A U.S. law that gives the president broad authority to control trade, freeze assets, and block financial transactions during a declared national emergency. Investors care because those powers can abruptly restrict a company's ability to sell products, access cash, or do business with certain countries or parties, creating sudden risks to revenues, supply chains and share prices — like an emergency brake that can stop or reroute parts of a business overnight.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

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Returns to Positive Comp Growth in Q1, Validating 'Reach for the Sky' Initiatives
Delivers Q1 Sales and Profitability Ahead of Previously Provided Outlook
Reaffirms Fiscal 2026 Outlook and Provides 2Q Outlook*

SAN DIEGO, June 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Petco (Nasdaq: WOOF), the retailer "where the pets go" to find everything they need to live their best lives, today reported its first quarter 2026 financial results.

"Our strong first-quarter results, highlighted by positive comparable sales and profitability that exceeded our outlook, provide clear, early validation that our Phase 3 'Reach for the Sky' strategy is working.  We were particularly pleased to see the improvement in our consumables business, while our differentiated services business continues to outperform and is a key engine of our growth.  This solid start to the year demonstrates the power of our distinct, wholly owned omnichannel ecosystem. As we look ahead, we are pleased with the momentum our initiatives are generating, positioning us to continue to deliver positive comps.  We remain highly confident in our ability to drive consistent, long-term growth," said Joel Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of Petco.

Q1 2026 Overview

For the first quarter of 2026 compared to the first quarter of 2025:

  • Net sales of $1.5 billion increased 0.2%; comparable sales increased 0.7%.
  • Gross profit increased to $574.4 million; gross margin rate increased 21 basis points to 38.4%
  • Operating income increased 50.5% to $24.6 million; operating margin increased 55 basis points to 1.6%.
  • Net loss of $15.1 million versus a net loss of $11.7 million.
  • Adjusted EBITDA2 of $97.3 million versus $89.4 million.
  • The Company closed 4 net stores, ending the quarter with 1,378 stores.

Sabrina Simmons, Chief Financial Officer of Petco, added, "Our strong first-quarter results—which marked a return to positive comparable sales growth—demonstrate that our operational and economic improvements are materializing. We are pleased to reaffirm our full-year outlook. As our strategic initiatives continue to take hold, we continue to be focused on strengthening our retail and financial fundamentals to support sustainable, profitable growth and remain committed to reducing our leverage ratio to 2x."1

Q1 2026 Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

  • Ending cash balance grew by $33.5 million to $166.8 million versus $133.3 million last year.
  • Inventory fell 1.9% year-over-year versus the 0.2% increase in net sales.
  • Cash used in operating activities was $31.0 million compared to $15.5 million last year.
  • Free cash flow2 was an outflow of $69.1 million versus an outflow of $43.9 million last year.  
  • Total debt was $1.482 billion, down from $1.593 billion last year.

2026 Outlook

The company reaffirmed its full year 2026 net sales and EBITDA outlook and provided its outlook for the second quarter of 2026.

Assumptions in the outlook include that economic conditions, currency rates and the tax and regulatory landscape remain generally consistent, and that current or planned tariffs on imports into the U.S. from China and other countries as of June 3, 2026, will remain at current levels. Additionally, our outlook assumes the benefit of a partial IEEPA tariff refund received in May 2026, with no additional refunds assumed for the balance of the year, and now assumes that fuel prices remain elevated at approximately those experienced in the first quarter for the remainder of the year, compared to our prior outlook which assumed higher fuel prices for the first quarter only.

With respect to the second quarter specifically, the benefit of the tariff refund received in May 2026 is expected to be approximately offset by incremental tariffs and higher fuel costs anticipated in the period. The prior-year second quarter included an approximately $9 million SG&A benefit from a favorable semi-annual actuarial true-up related to employee optimization work, which the Company does not expect to recur in the second quarter of 2026.

Full Year 2026 Outlook 


FY 2026 Outlook*

    Net Sales

Flat to up 1.5% year over year

    Adjusted EBITDA2

$415 million to $430 million

    Net Interest Expense

~$125 million

    Capital Expenditures

~$140 million

    Depreciation & Amortization

~$200 million

    Net Store Closures

~15-20

Second Quarter 2026 Outlook    


Q2 2026 Outlook*

    Net Sales 3

Up about 0.3% year over year, in line with consensus  

Adjusted EBITDA 2

$110 million to $112 million



(1)

Leverage ratio is defined as net debt divided by Adjusted EBITDA



(2)

Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow are non-GAAP financial measures. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for additional information on non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP measures.



(3)

According to Company-compiled data as of May 28, 2026, the current Factset consensus of 10 sell-side analyst expectations for Q2 2026 net sales implies a year-over-year growth rate of 0.3%.


* Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and has not been reconciled to the most comparable GAAP outlook because it is not possible to do so without unreasonable efforts due to the uncertainty and potential variability of reconciling items, which are dependent on future events and often outside of management's control and which could be significant. Because such items cannot be reasonably predicted with the level of precision required, we are unable to provide outlook for the comparable GAAP measures. Forward-looking estimates of Adjusted EBITDA are made in a manner consistent with the relevant definitions and assumptions noted herein and in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Earnings Conference Call Webcast Information:

Management will host an earnings conference call on June 3, 2026 at approximately 4:15 PM Eastern Time to discuss the company's financial results. A live webcast of the conference call will be available on the company's Investor Relations page at https://ir.petco.com/news-and-events/events-and-presentations. A replay of the webcast will be available through the same link approximately two hours after the conference call. 

About Petco:  

We're proud to be "where the pets go" to find everything they need to live their best lives for more than 60 years — from their favorite meals and toys, to trusted supplies and expert support from people who get it, because we live it. We believe in the universal truths of pet parenthood — the boundless boops, missing slippers, late night zoomies and everything in between. And we're here for it. Every tail wag, every vet visit, every step of the way. We nurture the pet-human bond in the aisles of more than 1,500 Petco stores across the U.S., Mexico and Chile. Customers experience our exclusive selection of pet care products, services, expertise and membership offerings in stores and online at petco.com, and on the Petco app. In 1999, we founded Petco Love. Together, we support thousands of local animal welfare groups nationwide, and have helped find homes for over 7 million animals through in-store adoption events.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This earnings release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 as contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, concerning expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance and underlying assumptions and other statements that are not statements of historical fact, including, but not limited to, statements regarding our Q2 and full year 2026 outlook, operational reset of our business, our competitive positioning, profitability, cash generation through our economic model, expense leverage, operating margin expansion, cost action plans and associated cost-savings, our path to sustainable, profitable growth and our expectations regarding tariffs and associated impacts. Such forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as "believes," "expects," "may," "intends," "will," "shall," "should," "anticipates," "opportunity," "illustrative," "estimates," "projects", "forecasts" or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events and reflect our beliefs regarding such future events and do not represent historical facts or statements of current condition. Although Petco believes that the expectations and assumptions reflected in these statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct or that any forward-looking results will occur or be realized. Nothing contained in this earnings release is, or should be relied upon as, a promise or representation or warranty as to any future matter, including any matter in respect of the operations or business or financial condition of Petco. All forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions about future events that may or may not be correct or necessarily take place and that are by their nature subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are outside the control of Petco. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the potential results or events discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those identified in this earnings release as well as the following: (i) increased competition (including from multi-channel retailers, mass and grocery retailers, and e-Commerce providers); (ii) reduced consumer demand for our products and/or services; (iii) our reliance on key vendors; (iv) our ability to attract and retain qualified employees; (v) risks arising from statutory, regulatory and/or legal developments; (vi) macroeconomic pressures in the markets in which we operate, including inflation, prevailing interest rates and the impact of tariffs; (vii) failure to effectively manage our costs; (viii) our reliance on our information technology systems; (ix) our ability to prevent or effectively respond to a data privacy or security breach; (x) our ability to effectively manage or integrate strategic ventures, alliances or acquisitions and realize the anticipated benefits of such transactions; (xi) economic or regulatory developments that might affect our ability to provide attractive promotional financing; (xii) business interruptions and other supply chain issues; (xiii) catastrophic events, political tensions, conflicts and wars (such as the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East), government shutdowns, health crises, and pandemics; (xiv) our ability to maintain positive brand perception and recognition; (xv) product safety and quality concerns; (xvi) changes to labor or employment laws or regulations; (xvii) our ability to effectively manage our real estate portfolio; (xviii) constraints in the capital markets or our vendor credit terms; (xix) changes in our credit ratings; (xx) impairments of the carrying value of our goodwill and other intangible assets; (xxi) our ability to successfully implement our operational adjustments, achieve the expected benefits of our cost action plans and drive improved profitability; (xxii) our ability to deliver sustainable, profitable growth and (xxiii) the other risks, uncertainties and other factors identified under "Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K  and elsewhere in Petco's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The occurrence of any such factors could significantly alter the results set forth in these statements.

Petco cautions that the foregoing list of risks, uncertainties and other factors is not complete, and forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Petco undertakes no duty to update publicly any such forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law, regulation or other competent legal authority

PETCO HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMPANY, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited and subject to reclassification)









13 Weeks Ended



May 2,
2026


May 3,
2025


Net sales:






Products


$    1,228,087


$    1,241,891


Services and other


268,645


251,508


Total net sales


1,496,732


1,493,399


Cost of sales:






Products


757,778


766,285


Services and other


164,529


157,146


Total cost of sales


922,307


923,431


Gross profit


574,425


569,968


Selling, general and administrative expenses


549,799


553,609


Operating income


24,626


16,359


Interest income


(1,497)


(1,359)


Interest expense


32,785


33,494


Loss on extinguishment and modification of debt


11,840



Loss before income taxes and income from
   equity method investees


(18,502)


(15,776)


Income tax expense


2,199


495


Income from equity method investees


(5,555)


(4,610)


Net loss attributable to Class A and B-1 common
   stockholders


$       (15,146)


$       (11,661)








Net loss per Class A and B-1 common share:






Basic


$            (0.05)


$            (0.04)


Diluted


$            (0.05)


$            (0.04)








Weighted average shares used in computing net loss per Class A
   and B-1 common share:






Basic


283,684


277,548


Diluted


283,684


277,548


 

PETCO HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMPANY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited and subject to reclassification)






 May 2,
2026 


 January 31,
2026 

ASSETS





Current assets:





Cash and cash equivalents


$       166,804


$       256,736

Receivables, less allowance for credit losses1


36,928


45,812

Merchandise inventories, net


632,912


590,210

Prepaid expenses


64,036


51,747

Other current assets


60,164


75,281

Total current assets


960,844


1,019,786

Fixed assets


2,404,132


2,378,208

Less accumulated depreciation


(1,758,226)


(1,722,060)

Fixed assets, net


645,906


656,148

Operating lease right-of-use assets


1,265,299


1,288,593

Goodwill


980,064


980,064

Trade name


1,025,000


1,025,000

Other long-term assets


207,473


203,834

Total assets


$    5,084,586


$    5,173,425

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY





Current liabilities:





Accounts payable and book overdrafts


$       480,656


$       450,552

Accrued salaries and employee benefits


107,784


154,148

Accrued expenses and other liabilities


216,183


204,751

Current portion of operating lease liabilities


312,399


320,082

Current portion of long-term debt and other lease liabilities


13,245


4,608

Total current liabilities


1,130,267


1,134,141

Senior secured credit facilities, net, excluding current portion


874,116


1,488,527

Senior notes, net


590,146


Operating lease liabilities, excluding current portion


994,995


1,047,185

Deferred taxes, net


235,197


234,911

Other long-term liabilities


104,560


104,407

Total liabilities


3,929,281


4,009,171

Commitments and contingencies





Stockholders' equity:





Class A common stock2


247


244

Class B-1 common stock3


38


38

Class B-2 common stock4



Preferred stock5



Additional paid-in-capital


2,318,877


2,312,354

Accumulated deficit


(1,155,139)


(1,139,993)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss


(8,718)


(8,389)

Total stockholders' equity


1,155,305


1,164,254

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity


$    5,084,586


$    5,173,425






¹ Allowances for credit losses are $858 and $779, respectively

² Class A common stock, $0.001 par value: Authorized - 1.0 billion shares;
        Issued and outstanding - 247.4  million and 243.7  million shares, respectively

³ Class B-1 common stock, $0.001 par value: Authorized - 75.0 million shares;
        Issued and outstanding - 37.8 million shares

⁴ Class B-2 common stock, $0.000001 par value: Authorized - 75.0 million shares;
        Issued and outstanding - 37.8 million shares

⁵ Preferred stock, $0.001 par value: Authorized - 25.0 million shares;
        Issued and outstanding - none

 

PETCO HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMPANY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited and subject to reclassification)








13 Weeks Ended



May 2,
2026


May 3,
2025

Cash flows from operating activities:





Net loss


$        (15,146)


$        (11,661)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in
  operating activities:





Depreciation and amortization


49,041


49,811

Amortization of debt discounts and issuance costs


1,337


1,246

Provision for deferred taxes


288


(9,218)

Equity-based compensation


9,451


9,420

Loss on extinguishment and modification of debt


11,840


Income from equity method investees


(5,555)


(4,610)

Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss


51


(212)

Non-cash operating lease costs


103,080


102,132

Changes in assets and liabilities:





     Receivables


8,884


4,229

     Merchandise inventories


(42,702)


7,857

     Prepaid expenses and other assets


(8,299)


(1,673)

     Accounts payable and book overdrafts


30,577


(19,028)

     Accrued salaries and employee benefits


(46,362)


(51,130)

     Accrued expenses and other liabilities


11,559


12,426

     Operating lease liabilities


(139,677)


(103,780)

     Other long-term liabilities


664


(1,263)

          Net cash used in operating activities


(30,969)


(15,454)

Cash flows from investing activities:





Cash paid for fixed assets


(38,153)


(28,412)

Insurance recoveries


230


Proceeds from sale of assets



1,279

Cash received from partial surrender of officers' life insurance


74


          Net cash used in investing activities


(37,849)


(27,133)

Cash flows from financing activities:





Borrowings under long-term debt agreements


1,500,000


Repayments of long-term debt


(1,500,000)


Debt refinancing costs and original issue discount


(28,442)


Payments for finance lease liabilities


(1,110)


(1,143)

Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan and stock option exercises


1,008


967

Tax withholdings on stock-based awards


(4,094)


(158)

          Net cash used in financing activities


(32,638)


(334)






Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash


(101,456)


(42,921)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period


269,412


181,665

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period


$       167,956


$       138,744

 

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

The following information provides definitions and reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures presented in this earnings release to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The company has provided this non-GAAP financial information, which is not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP, as information supplemental and in addition to the financial measures presented in this earnings release that are calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Such non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered superior to, as a substitute for or alternative to, and should be considered in conjunction with, the GAAP financial measures presented in this earnings release. The non-GAAP financial measures in this earnings release may differ from similarly titled measures used by other companies.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is considered a non-GAAP financial measure under the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) rules because it excludes certain amounts included in net income calculated in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is a meaningful measure to share with investors because it facilitates comparison of the current period performance with that of the comparable prior period. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA affords investors a view of what management considers to be Petco's core operating performance as well as the ability to make a more informed assessment of such operating performance as compared with that of the prior period. Please see the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2026 filed with the SEC on March 13, 2026 for additional information on Adjusted EBITDA.

The table below reflects the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA for the thirteen weeks ended May 2, 2026 compared to the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2025.

(dollars in thousands)


13 Weeks Ended

Reconciliation of Net Loss Attributable to Class A and B-1
   Common Stockholders to Adjusted EBITDA


May 2,
2026


May 3,
2025

Net loss attributable to Class A and B-1 common stockholders


$       (15,146)


$       (11,661)

Add (deduct):





Interest expense, net


31,288


32,135

Income tax expense


2,199


495

Depreciation and amortization


49,041


49,811

Income from equity method investees


(5,555)


(4,610)

Loss on extinguishment and modification of debt


11,840


Equity-based compensation


9,451


9,420

Mexico joint venture EBITDA (1)


12,916


10,198

Other costs (2)


1,297


3,661

Adjusted EBITDA


$         97,331


$         89,449

Net sales


$    1,496,732


$    1,493,399

Net margin (3)


(1.0 %)


(0.8 %)

Adjusted EBITDA Margin


6.5 %


6.0 %



(1)

Mexico joint venture EBITDA represents 50 percent of the entity's operating results for all periods, as adjusted to reflect the results on a basis comparable to Adjusted EBITDA. In the financial statements, this joint venture is accounted for as an equity method investment and reported net of depreciation and income taxes because such a presentation would not reflect the adjustments made in the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA, we include the 50 percent interest in the company's Mexico joint venture on an Adjusted EBITDA basis to ensure consistency. The table below presents a reconciliation of Mexico joint venture net income to Mexico joint venture EBITDA.

 



13 Weeks Ended

(in thousands)


May 2,
2026


May 3,
2025

Net income


$         11,104


$            9,220

Depreciation


8,306


6,597

Income tax expense


5,194


4,166

Foreign currency loss (gain) 


144


(292)

Interest expense, net


1,083


704

EBITDA


$         25,831


$         20,395

50% of EBITDA


$         12,916


$         10,198



(2)

Other costs include, as incurred: restructuring costs and restructuring-related severance costs; legal reserves associated with significant, non-ordinary course legal or regulatory matters; and costs related to certain significant strategic transactions.

(3)

We define net margin as net loss attributable to Class A and B-1 common stockholders divided by net sales and Adjusted EBITDA margin as Adjusted EBITDA divided by net sales.

Free Cash Flow

Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP financial measure that is calculated as net cash provided by operating activities less cash paid for fixed assets. Management believes that Free Cash Flow, which measures the ability to generate additional cash from business operations, is an important financial measure for use in evaluating the company's financial performance.

The table below reflects the calculation of Free Cash Flow for the thirteen weeks ended May 2, 2026 compared to the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2025.

(in thousands)


13 Weeks Ended



May 2,
2026


May 3,
2025

Net cash used in operating activities


$      (30,969)


$      (15,454)

Cash paid for fixed assets


(38,153)


(28,412)

Free Cash Flow


$      (69,122)


$      (43,866)

Net Debt 

The table below reflects the calculation for net debt as of May 2, 2026 compared to January 31, 2026 and May 3, 2025.

(dollars in thousands)


May 2,
2026


January 31,
2026


May 3,
2025

Total debt:







Senior secured credit facilities, net, including current portion


$            883,116


$         1,488,527


$         1,579,338

Senior notes, net


590,146



Finance leases, including current portion


8,886


9,683


13,203

Total debt


1,482,148


1,498,210


1,592,541

Less: cash and cash equivalents


(166,804)


(256,736)


(133,343)

Net Debt


$         1,315,344


$         1,241,474


$         1,459,198

 

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SOURCE Petco - Investor Relations

FAQ

What were Petco (Nasdaq: WOOF) Q1 2026 financial results?

Petco reported Q1 2026 net sales of $1.5 billion, up 0.2%, and a net loss of $15.1 million. According to Petco, comparable sales grew 0.7%, gross margin reached 38.4%, operating income was $24.6 million, and Adjusted EBITDA was $97.3 million.

How did Petco’s comparable sales perform in Q1 2026 versus 2025?

Petco returned to positive comparable sales in Q1 2026, posting 0.7% growth year over year. According to Petco, this performance was supported by improvement in its consumables business and continued strength in its differentiated services segment within its omnichannel ecosystem.

What is Petco’s full-year 2026 outlook for net sales and Adjusted EBITDA (WOOF)?

For full-year 2026, Petco expects net sales to be flat to up 1.5% and Adjusted EBITDA of $415–$430 million. According to Petco, guidance assumptions include stable economic conditions, current tariff levels, a partial IEEPA tariff refund, and elevated fuel prices through year-end.

What guidance did Petco give for Q2 2026 net sales and Adjusted EBITDA?

For Q2 2026, Petco projects net sales growth of about 0.3% year over year, in line with consensus, and Adjusted EBITDA of $110–$112 million. According to Petco, tariff refunds, incremental tariffs, and higher fuel costs are expected to roughly offset each other in the quarter.

How did Petco’s balance sheet and cash flow change in Q1 2026?

Petco ended Q1 2026 with $166.8 million in cash and $1.482 billion in total debt. According to Petco, cash rose $33.5 million year over year, inventory fell 1.9%, cash used in operations was $31.0 million, and free cash flow outflow was $69.1 million.

What store footprint and capital spending does Petco expect for 2026?

Petco plans net store closures of about 15–20 locations in fiscal 2026 and capital expenditures of roughly $140 million. According to Petco, depreciation and amortization are expected to total about $200 million, reflecting ongoing investment in its omnichannel retail ecosystem.

How might tariffs and fuel prices affect Petco’s 2026 results (WOOF)?

Petco’s 2026 outlook assumes current U.S. tariff levels and elevated fuel prices similar to Q1 for the full year. According to Petco, a partial IEEPA tariff refund benefits results, while incremental tariffs and higher fuel costs are expected to weigh particularly on Q2 performance.