Academy Sports and Outdoors Inc. (NASDAQ: ASO) saw its stock climb sharply in premarket trading on Wednesday after the sporting goods retailer released second-quarter results that topped analyst expectations for adjusted earnings per share.
Adjusted EPS for the quarter was $2.31, above the analyst consensus of $2.08, while revenue came in at $1.65 billion, in line with estimates. The stronger-than-expected profit performance and a raised full-year adjusted EPS forecast pushed shares higher by more than 11% following the disclosure.
On a top-line basis, net sales rose 3.0% year over year from $1.60 billion in the year-ago period. However, comparable sales edged down 0.4% during the quarter. Management highlighted that consumer spending continues to be constrained, particularly among lower-income households, but emphasized that the company’s teams sustained strong execution across channels. Digital sales were a bright spot, with eCommerce revenue up 12.8% for the period.
"We delivered another quarter of profitable growth, with net sales increasing 3.0%," said Chief Executive Officer Steve Lawrence. "We are reinvesting tariff-related benefits into value, expanding compelling new brands and categories, and accelerating initiatives across stores, omni-channel and loyalty."
Alongside the results, Academy raised its fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to a range of $6.50 to $6.90, up from the prior range of $6.40 to $6.80. The midpoint of the new range is $6.70, representing a $0.10 increase from the previous midpoint. The company reaffirmed its net sales guidance, leaving the expected range unchanged at $6.23 billion to $6.36 billion.
On a GAAP basis, diluted EPS was $2.17, an increase of 17.3% from $1.85 in the comparable quarter last year. The quarter’s results included a net tariff refund impact to EPS of $0.06, inclusive of reinvestments.
Academy’s report combines a profit beat and a modest top-line gain with continued investment activity funded in part by tariff-related benefits, according to management. The firm’s stronger eCommerce growth contrasted with a slight decline in comparable-store sales, illustrating differentiated performance across channels as consumer spending remains mixed.
Investors responded positively to the beat and guidance lift, sending the stock notably higher in premarket trading following the announcement.