BNED News & Events

Gross Comparable Store Sales increased by $54.4M, or 6.0%, year-over-year. Revenues from BNC First Day programs increased by $91.7M, or 29.0%, year-over-year, as First Day Complete continues to see strong growth in institutional adoption. A total of 224 campus stores utilized First Day Complete in the fall 2025 academic term with a total enrollment of approximately 1.1M undergraduate and graduate students, up 22.2% from 0.9M in the prior year. Net income for the first half of fiscal 2026 was $6.7M compared to a net loss of $60.8M in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA for the first half of fiscal 2026 was $38.3M, an increase of $4.4M, from the $33.9M in the first half of the prior fiscal year. "Building on the accelerating success of our BNC First Day program, we continue to drive improved Adjusted EBITDA and strengthen our balance sheet by reducing our net debt," commented Jonathan Shar, CEO. "With the filing of our first and second quarter 10-Qs, we are now current with our SEC reporting. The continued expansion of the First Day Complete enrollment, combined with solid comparable store sales growth and disciplined expense management, position us for continued success going forward. We are looking forward to hosting an Investor Day in the coming months. We will share more details when we report our fiscal third quarter results."

Looking ahead to fiscal 2027, the Company sees meaningful opportunities to improve gross margins and is seeking to grow Adjusted EBITDA in the range of 15% to 20% or more.

Barnes & Noble Education is reiterating its prior Outlook as shared on November 25, 2025 and continues to expect top line growth in fiscal 2026 despite one fewer operating week and broader market uncertainties in the higher education and retail sectors. The Company currently expects Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $65M to $75M, supported by anticipated gross profit dollar growth and continued expense discipline. The Company anticipates a material reduction in interest costs versus last fiscal year, approximately $20M in capital expenditures, and expects to be a normal cash taxpayer.

Barnes & Noble College announced a new partnership with the University of California, Berkeley. Under the agreement, beginning January 20, 2026, Barnes & Noble College will manage all retail, course material, and e-commerce operations for the University's Cal Student Store, the Anchor House, and the new Cal Memorial Stadium Store.