Barnes & Noble Education Reports Fiscal 2027 First Quarter Financial Results
BNED’s quarter showed slight revenue growth, a smaller net loss, expanding First Day adoption and reaffirmed profitability guidance for fiscal 2027.
Rhea-AI Summary
Barnes & Noble Education (BNED) reported fiscal 2027 first quarter results showing modest revenue growth and improved profitability versus the prior year.
Revenue was $290.6 million, up 0.8% year-over-year, with gross comparable store sales up 3.7%. BNC First Day® program revenue rose 9.0% to $124.7 million. Net loss narrowed to $12.9 million from $18.3 million, and Adjusted EBITDA improved to a loss of $9.3 million from a loss of $11.5 million. Total debt declined year-over-year to $123.5 million, and positive net working capital was $236.8 million. The First Day® Complete program is expected to reach more than 1.43 million students across 263 campuses in Fall 2026, about 26% more than Fall 2025. The company reiterated its fiscal 2027 outlook, targeting Adjusted EBITDA of $85–$92 million and further net income improvement.
Positive
- Revenue $290.6 million, up 0.8% year-over-year in fiscal Q1 2027
- Net loss improved to $12.9 million from $18.3 million year-over-year
- Adjusted EBITDA loss improved to $9.3 million from $11.5 million year-over-year
- BNC First Day® revenue up 9.0% to $124.7 million year-over-year
- Total debt reduced to $123.5 million from $170.0 million year-over-year
- First Day® Complete expected to reach 1.43 million students, ~26% more than Fall 2025
Negative
- Net loss of $12.9 million persists despite year-over-year improvement
- Adjusted EBITDA remains negative at a $9.3 million loss
- Operating loss $17.3 million, though improved from $23.2 million year-over-year
- Cash and cash equivalents relatively low at $7.8 million at quarter-end
- Stockholders’ equity declined to $278.4 million from $294.4 million since May 2, 2026
Key Figures
- Revenue
- $290.6 million
- Fiscal 2027 first quarter; up 0.8% year over year
- BNC First Day revenue
- $124.7 million
- Fiscal 2027 first quarter; up 9.0% year over year
- Net loss
- $12.9 million
- Fiscal 2027 first quarter; improved from $18.3 million loss
- Adjusted EBITDA
- $9.3 million loss
- Fiscal 2027 first quarter; improved from $11.5 million loss
- Total debt
- $123.5 million
- End of fiscal 2027 first quarter versus $170.0 million prior year
- Working capital
- $236.8 million
- Positive balance at the end of fiscal 2027 first quarter
- First Day Complete reach
- More than 1.43 million students
- Fall 2026 across 263 campuses; 26% more than Fall 2025
- Fiscal 2027 Adjusted EBITDA outlook
- $85 million to $92 million
- Company reiterated fiscal 2027 outlook
Previous Earnings Reports
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Fiscal 2026 revenue, profitability, EBITDA and First Day growth were reported.
-
Preliminary fiscal 2026 results showed revenue, EBITDA and First Day growth.
-
Fiscal Q3 revenue and First Day revenue increased year over year.
-
Fiscal 2025 results showed higher EBITDA and improved debt and working capital.
-
Preliminary results showed revenue, EBITDA and First Day enrollment growth.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Key Terms
adjusted ebitda financial
gaap financial
non-gaap financial measure financial
operating leverage financial
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Quarterly Results Reflect Improved Profitability, First Day® Complete Growth and Continued Balance Sheet Progress
Net Income (Loss) Improves
Fall 2026 First Day® Complete Expected to Reach More Than 1.43 Million Students,
Company Reiterates Fiscal 2027 Outlook
FLORHAM PARK, N.J., Sept. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (NYSE: BNED) ("Barnes & Noble Education," “BNED,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”), a leading solutions provider for the education industry, today reported financial results for the fiscal first quarter ended August 1, 2026.
During the first quarter, the Company delivered year-over-year improvement across its key operating and financial measures, including revenue, comparable store sales, BNC First Day® revenue, net income (loss), and Adjusted EBITDA, while further strengthening its balance sheet. Barnes & Noble Education’s business is highly seasonal, with the majority of sales and operating profit typically realized during the second and third fiscal quarters, reflecting the fall and spring academic terms.
“We began fiscal 2027 on plan, with continued momentum across the business and year-over-year improvement across each of our key operating and financial measures,” commented Jonathan Shar, Chief Executive Officer. “These results reflect the continued progress of our strategy and the disciplined execution of our teams.”
“Importantly, the momentum in First Day® Complete continues to build as more institutions recognize the value of improving the affordability, access and convenience of course materials for their students,” continued Shar. “We are excited about the continued growth of First Day® Complete this fall and the opportunity to deepen our partnerships with colleges and universities and demonstrate our ability to deliver solutions that support their broader institutional priorities.”
Mr. Shar continued, “As we enter the important fall semester, we are encouraged by the growth we are seeing in First Day® Complete and remain confident in our outlook for fiscal 2027. We are focused on translating that momentum into continued growth in profitability, stronger cash generation and further improvements in our balance sheet.”
Fiscal 2027 First Quarter Financial Results
Revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2027 was
Revenue from BNC First Day® programs increased by
Net loss for the first quarter of fiscal 2027 was
Total debt at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2027 was
During the quarter, the Company declared a quarterly dividend of
First Day Complete Momentum
The Company continues to generate strong momentum in First Day® Complete, its institution-wide affordable access program. First Day® Complete will be offered across 263 campuses during the Fall 2026 academic term, reaching more than 1.43 million students*, approximately
_________________________
* Represents the undergraduate student population at institutions where First Day® Complete is offered, plus graduate student populations where the program is also offered. Student population data as reported by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) as of January 2, 2026. The figure represents students eligible to participate in First Day® Complete.
The table below reflects the reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the most comparable GAAP financial metric, Net loss, for the first quarter of fiscal 2027 and the related prior period:
Adjusted EBITDA
| 13 weeks ended | |||||||
| ($ in thousands) | August 1, 2026 | August 2, 2025 | |||||
| Net loss | $ | (12,914 | ) | $ | (18,271 | ) | |
| Add: | |||||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense | 8,151 | 9,185 | |||||
| Interest expense, net | 2,718 | 3,745 | |||||
| Income tax benefit | (7,062 | ) | (8,640 | ) | |||
| Other (income) expense, net | (1,298 | ) | (49 | ) | |||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 1,084 | 2,536 | |||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | (9,321 | ) | $ | (11,494 | ) | |
Outlook
Based on its first-quarter performance and current expectations, the Company is reiterating its prior fiscal 2027 outlook. The Company expects continued growth in revenues and is focused on driving operating leverage with disciplined expense management. The Company is targeting Adjusted EBITDA in the range of
Earnings Calls
Following our Investor Day in June, we are continuing to expand our investor engagement activities. As indicated in our fiscal 2026 year-end earnings release, the Company will host earnings conference calls following its fiscal 2027 second quarter and full-year earnings results. With the second quarter following the important back-to-school season and our full-year results coinciding with the conclusion of the academic year, we believe these periods provide the most meaningful opportunities to update investors on our performance, progress against our strategic priorities and outlook for the business. Further details, including the exact date and time, will be announced in advance of each call.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information —Adjusted EBITDA
To supplement the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the Company uses the financial measure of Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure under Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) regulations. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) plus (1) depreciation and amortization; (2) interest expense, net (3) income taxes, (4) stock compensation, and (5) certain other non-cash or non-recurring items, and other adjustments permitted under our credit agreement.
Adjusted EBITDA has been reconciled to the most comparable financial measure presented in accordance with GAAP, consolidated net income (loss). All of the items included in the reconciliation are either (i) non-cash items or (ii) items that management does not consider in assessing our on-going operating performance.
Adjusted EBITDA is not intended as a substitute for and should not be considered superior to measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the Company’s use of Adjusted EBITDA may be different from similarly named measures used by other companies, limiting its usefulness for comparison purposes.
We review Adjusted EBITDA as an internal measure to evaluate our performance at a consolidated level to manage our operations. We believe that this measure is a useful performance measure which is used by us to facilitate a comparison of our on-going operating performance on a consistent basis from period-to-period. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides for a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business than measures under GAAP can provide alone, as it excludes certain items that management believes do not reflect the ordinary performance of our operations in a particular period. Our Board of Directors and management also use Adjusted EBITDA at a consolidated level as one of the primary methods for planning and forecasting expected performance, for evaluating on a quarterly and annual basis actual results against such expectations, and as a measure for performance incentive plans. We believe that the inclusion of Adjusted EBITDA results provides investors useful and important information regarding our operating results, in a manner that is consistent with management’s evaluation of business performance.
The Company urges investors to carefully review the GAAP financial information included as part of the Company’s Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 1, 2026. We do not provide a reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP financial metrics, because reconciling information is not available without an unreasonable effort, such as attempting to make assumptions that cannot reasonably be made on a forward-looking basis to determine the corresponding GAAP metric.
ABOUT BARNES & NOBLE EDUCATION, INC.
Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (NYSE: BNED) is a leading solutions provider for the education industry, driving affordability, access and achievement at hundreds of academic institutions nationwide and ensuring millions of students are equipped for success in the classroom and beyond. Through its family of brands, BNED offers campus retail services and academic solutions, wholesale capabilities and more. BNED is a company serving all who work to elevate their lives through education, supporting students, faculty and institutions as they make tomorrow a better and smarter world. For more information, visit www.bned.com.
Media & Investor Contact:
Greg McKinley / Rob Fink
FNK IR
BNED@fnkir.com
952-393-4255 / 646-809-4048
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and information relating to us and our business that are based on the beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to our management. When used in this communication, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “forecasts,” “projections,” “continue to,” “committed to,” and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management, identify forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, and such statements include but are not limited to those related to continued acceleration in demand for our BNC First Day® offerings, expected enrollment in our First Day® Complete program, continued expansion of our new offerings, expansion of institutional partnerships, future opportunities to accelerate profitable growth, generate strong cash flow, strategic and operational objectives, expected trends in financial results, including those related to seasonality, continued expense discipline and improved capital efficiency, margin improvement, and Adjusted EBITDA guidance. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events, the outcome of which is subject to certain risks, including, but not limited to: the amount of our indebtedness and ability to comply with covenants contained in our credit agreement; our ability to maintain adequate liquidity levels to support ongoing inventory purchases and related vendor payments in a timely manner; slower than anticipated pace of adoption of our BNC First Day® equitable and inclusive access course material models; our dependency on strategic service provider relationships and the potential for adverse operational and financial changes to these strategic service provider relationships; non-renewal of our managed bookstore, physical and/or online store contracts; general competitive conditions; a decline in college enrollment or decreased funding available for students; technological changes, including the adoption of artificial intelligence technologies for educational content; disruptions to our information technology systems, infrastructure, data, supplier systems, and customer ordering and payment systems due to computer malware, viruses, hacking and phishing attacks; disruption of or interference with third party service providers and our own proprietary technology; and changes in applicable domestic and international laws, rules or regulations or changes in enforcement practices, including, without limitation, U.S. tax reform, changes in tax rates, tariffs, import and export control laws and regulations, changes to consumer data privacy rights legislation, as well as related guidance. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment and new risks may emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In addition, the declaration of any future dividends will be subject to further review and approval by the Board in accordance with applicable law. The Board reserves the right to adjust or withdraw any quarterly dividend in future periods as it reviews our capital allocation strategy from time-to-time and ensures compliance with any applicable restrictions, including those set forth in our credit agreement with our lenders.
For a more detailed discussion of these factors, and other factors that could cause actual results to vary materially, interested parties should review the risk factors listed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 2, 2026. Any forward-looking statements made by us in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and we do not intend to update these forward-looking statements after the date of this press release, except as required by law.
| BARNES & NOBLE EDUCATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (In thousands, except share and per share data) | |||||||
| 13 weeks ended | |||||||
| August 1, 2026 | August 2, 2025 | ||||||
| Sales: | |||||||
| Product sales and other | $ | 276,859 | $ | 274,179 | |||
| Rental income | 13,736 | 13,981 | |||||
| Total sales | 290,595 | 288,160 | |||||
| Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization expense): | |||||||
| Product and other cost of sales | 226,783 | 225,363 | |||||
| Rental cost of sales | 6,765 | 7,420 | |||||
| Total cost of sales | 233,548 | 232,783 | |||||
| Gross profit | 57,047 | 55,377 | |||||
| Selling and administrative expenses | 67,316 | 67,861 | |||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense | 8,151 | 9,185 | |||||
| Other (income) expense, net | (1,162 | ) | 1,497 | ||||
| Operating loss | (17,258 | ) | (23,166 | ) | |||
| Interest expense, net | 2,718 | 3,745 | |||||
| Loss before income taxes | (19,976 | ) | (26,911 | ) | |||
| Income tax expense | (7,062 | ) | (8,640 | ) | |||
| Net loss | $ | (12,914 | ) | $ | (18,271 | ) | |
| Earnings per share - Basic and Diluted | |||||||
| Net loss attributable to BNED shareholders - basic | $ | (0.37 | ) | $ | (0.54 | ) | |
| Net loss attributable to BNED shareholders - diluted | $ | (0.37 | ) | $ | (0.54 | ) | |
| Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding - basic | 34,531,798 | 34,053,847 | |||||
| Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding - diluted | 34,531,798 | 34,053,847 | |||||
| 13 weeks ended | |||||
| Dollars in thousands | August 1, 2026 | August 2, 2025 | |||
| Sales: | |||||
| Product sales and other | 95.3 | % | 95.1 | % | |
| Rental income | 4.7 | % | 4.9 | % | |
| Total sales | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | |
| Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization expense): | |||||
| Product and other cost of sales | 81.9 | % | 82.2 | % | |
| Rental cost of sales | 49.3 | % | 53.1 | % | |
| Total cost of sales | 80.4 | % | 80.8 | % | |
| Gross profit | 19.6 | % | 19.2 | % | |
| Selling and administrative expenses | 23.2 | % | 23.5 | % | |
| Depreciation and amortization expense | 2.8 | % | 3.2 | % | |
| Other (income) expense, net | (0.4)% | 0.5 | % | ||
| Operating loss | (5.9)% | (8.0)% | |||
| Interest expense, net | 0.9 | % | 1.3 | % | |
| Loss before income taxes | (6.9)% | (9.3)% | |||
| Income tax expense | (2.4)% | (3.0)% | |||
| Net loss | (4.4)% | (6.3)% | |||
| (a) | Represents the percentage these costs bear to the related sales, instead of total sales. |
| BARNES & NOBLE EDUCATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (In thousands, except share and per share data) | |||||||
| August 1, 2026 | May 2, 2026 | ||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||
| Current assets: | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 7,806 | $ | 8,418 | |||
| Accounts receivable, net | 176,686 | 116,526 | |||||
| Merchandise inventories, net | 366,296 | 298,347 | |||||
| Textbook rental inventories | 5,844 | 27,035 | |||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 37,237 | 34,137 | |||||
| Total current assets | 593,869 | 484,463 | |||||
| Property and equipment, net | 33,648 | 34,123 | |||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | 148,920 | 145,594 | |||||
| Intangible assets, net | 53,732 | 58,092 | |||||
| Deferred tax assets, net | 149 | — | |||||
| Other noncurrent assets | 16,411 | 17,625 | |||||
| Total assets | $ | 846,729 | $ | 739,897 | |||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | |||||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 210,999 | $ | 135,564 | |||
| Accrued liabilities | 78,887 | 80,990 | |||||
| Current operating lease liabilities | 67,213 | 67,050 | |||||
| Total current liabilities | 357,099 | 283,604 | |||||
| Long-term deferred taxes, net | — | — | |||||
| Long-term operating lease liabilities | 82,497 | 85,455 | |||||
| Other long-term liabilities | 5,263 | 5,399 | |||||
| Long-term borrowings | 123,500 | 71,000 | |||||
| Total liabilities | 568,359 | 445,458 | |||||
| Commitments and contingencies | |||||||
| Stockholders' equity: | |||||||
| Preferred stock, | — | — | |||||
| Common stock, | 347 | 345 | |||||
| Additional paid-in-capital | 1,009,192 | 1,012,349 | |||||
| Accumulated deficit | (708,613 | ) | (695,699 | ) | |||
| Treasury stock, at cost | (22,556 | ) | (22,556 | ) | |||
| Total stockholders' equity | 278,370 | 294,439 | |||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 846,729 | $ | 739,897 | |||
| BARNES & NOBLE EDUCATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow (Unaudited) (In thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||
| 13 weeks ended | ||||||||
| August 1, 2026 | August 2, 2025 | |||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (12,914 | ) | $ | (18,271 | ) | ||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense | 8,151 | 9,185 | ||||||
| Amortization of deferred financing costs | 916 | 916 | ||||||
| Deferred taxes | (149 | ) | 1,432 | |||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 1,084 | 2,536 | ||||||
| Changes in operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities | (6,121 | ) | 4,711 | |||||
| Changes in other long-term assets and liabilities and other, net | 110 | 788 | ||||||
| Changes in other operating assets and liabilities, net: | ||||||||
| Receivables, net | (60,160 | ) | (63,897 | ) | ||||
| Merchandise inventories | (67,949 | ) | (101,003 | ) | ||||
| Textbook rental inventories | 21,191 | 17,549 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | (9,077 | ) | (14,990 | ) | ||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 72,049 | 93,441 | ||||||
| Changes in other operating assets and liabilities, net | (43,946 | ) | (68,900 | ) | ||||
| Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities | (52,869 | ) | (67,603 | ) | ||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||
| Purchases of property and equipment | (3,529 | ) | (3,736 | ) | ||||
| Net cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities | (3,529 | ) | (3,736 | ) | ||||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||
| Proceeds from borrowings | 150,100 | 163,300 | ||||||
| Repayments of borrowings | (97,600 | ) | (96,400 | ) | ||||
| Dividends paid | (2,775 | ) | — | |||||
| Payment of equity issuance costs | — | (1,900 | ) | |||||
| Net cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities | 49,725 | 65,000 | ||||||
| Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | (6,673 | ) | (6,339 | ) | ||||
| Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year | 28,219 | 28,723 | ||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of year | $ | 21,546 | $ | 22,384 | ||||
| Supplemental cash flow information: | ||||||||
| Cash paid during the period for: | ||||||||
| Interest paid | $ | 1,664 | $ | 2,927 | ||||
| Income taxes paid (net of refunds) | $ | 255 | $ | 185 | ||||
| BARNES & NOBLE EDUCATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Non-GAAP Information (In thousands) (Unaudited) | ||||||||
| 13 weeks ended | ||||||||
| Dollars in thousands | August 1, 2026 | August 2, 2025 | ||||||
| Net loss | $ | (12,914 | ) | $ | (18,271 | ) | ||
| Reconciling items | (214 | ) | 2,487 | |||||
| Adjusted Net loss | $ | (13,128 | ) | $ | (15,784 | ) | ||
| Reconciling items | ||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 1,084 | 2,536 | ||||||
| Other (income) expense, net | (1,298 | ) | (49 | ) | ||||
| Reconciling items | $ | (214 | ) | $ | 2,487 | |||
| Adjusted EBITDA | 13 weeks ended | |||||||
| Dollars in thousands | August 1, 2026 | August 2, 2025 | ||||||
| Net loss | $ | (12,914 | ) | $ | (18,271 | ) | ||
| Add: | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense | 8,151 | 9,185 | ||||||
| Interest expense, net | 2,718 | 3,745 | ||||||
| Income tax benefit | (7,062 | ) | (8,640 | ) | ||||
| Other (income) expense, net(a) | (1,298 | ) | (49 | ) | ||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 1,084 | 2,536 | ||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | (9,321 | ) | $ | (11,494 | ) | ||
| (a) | Other (income) expense is exclusive of Investigation Costs of |
Adjusted Free Cash Flow
| 13 weeks ended | ||||||||
| Dollars in thousands | August 1, 2026 | August 2, 2025 | ||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | (9,321 | ) | $ | (11,494 | ) | ||
| Less: | ||||||||
| Capital expenditures(a) | 3,529 | 3,736 | ||||||
| Cash interest paid | 1,664 | 2,927 | ||||||
| Cash taxes (refund) paid, net | 255 | 185 | ||||||
| Adjusted Free Cash Flow | $ | (14,769 | ) | $ | (18,342 | ) | ||
| (a) | Purchases of property and equipment are also referred to as capital expenditures. Our investing activities consist principally of capital expenditures for contractual capital investments associated with renewing existing contracts, new store construction, and enhancements to internal systems and our website. The following table provides the components of total purchases of property and equipment. |
Capital Expenditures
| 13 weeks ended | ||||||
| Dollars in thousands | August 1, 2026 | August 2, 2025 | ||||
| Physical store capital expenditures | $ | 2,727 | $ | 2,201 | ||
| Product and system development | 722 | 1,400 | ||||
| Other | 80 | 135 | ||||
| Total Capital Expenditures | $ | 3,529 | $ | 3,736 | ||
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information - Adjusted Net Income (Loss), Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow
To supplement the Company’s consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the Company uses the financial measures of Adjusted Net Income (Loss), Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted Free Cash Flow, which are non-GAAP financial measures under Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") regulations. We define Adjusted Net Income (Loss) as net income (loss) adjusted for certain reconciling items that are subtracted from or added to net income (loss). We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) plus (1) depreciation and amortization; (2) interest expense, net, (3) income taxes, (4) stock compensation, and (5) certain other non-cash or non-recurring items, and adjustments defined in the Company’s credit agreement. We define Adjusted Free Cash Flow as Cash Flows from Operating Activities less capital expenditures, cash interest and cash taxes.
These non-GAAP measures have been reconciled to the most comparable financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP as follows: the reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income (Loss) to net income (loss); the reconciliation of consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated net income (loss); and the reconciliation of Adjusted Free Cash Flow to Cash Flows from Operating Activities. All of the items included in the reconciliations are either (i) non-cash items or (ii) items that management does not consider in assessing our on-going operating performance.
These non-GAAP financial measures are not intended as substitutes for and should not be considered superior to measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the Company's use of these non-GAAP financial measures may be different from similarly named measures used by other companies, limiting their usefulness for comparison purposes.
We review these non-GAAP financial measures as internal measures to evaluate our performance at a consolidated level to manage our operations. We believe that these measures are useful performance measures which are used by us to facilitate a comparison of our on-going operating performance on a consistent basis from period-to-period. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures provide for a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business than measures under GAAP can provide alone, as they exclude certain items that management believes do not reflect the ordinary performance of our operations in a particular period. Our Board of Directors and management also use Adjusted EBITDA at a consolidated level as one of the primary methods for planning and forecasting expected performance, for evaluating on a quarterly and annual basis actual results against such expectations, and as a measure for performance incentive plans. We believe that the inclusion of Adjusted Net Income (Loss) and Adjusted EBITDA results provides investors useful and important information regarding our operating results, in a manner that is consistent with management’s evaluation of business performance. We believe that Adjusted Free Cash Flow provides useful additional information concerning cash flow available to meet future debt service obligations and working capital requirements and assists investors in their understanding of our operating profitability and liquidity as we manage the business to maximize margin and cash flow.
The Company urges investors to carefully review the GAAP financial information included as part of the Company’s Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 1, 2026. We do not provide a reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP financial metrics, because reconciling information is not available without an unreasonable effort, such as attempting to make assumptions that cannot reasonably be made on a forward-looking basis to determine the corresponding GAAP metric.
FAQ
How did comparable store performance trend for Barnes & Noble Education in fiscal Q1 2027?
Gross comparable store sales increased by $10.7 million, or 3.7%, year-over-year in the first quarter of fiscal 2027. The company attributes the revenue increase primarily to growth in BNC First Day® programs, partially offset by store closures, including exits from certain less profitable locations.
What is the scale and growth of the First Day® Complete program for Fall 2026?
For the Fall 2026 academic term, First Day® Complete will be offered across 263 campuses, reaching more than 1.43 million students, which is approximately 26% more than in Fall 2025. Due to business seasonality and the academic calendar, the financial impact of this expanded participation will primarily appear in the second and subsequent quarters of fiscal 2027.
What guidance did BNED provide for fiscal 2027 profitability and investment?
The company reiterated its fiscal 2027 outlook, targeting Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $85 million to $92 million and expecting further significant improvements in net income profitability. It anticipates approximately $20 million in capital expenditures and expects to be a normal cash taxpayer in fiscal 2027. The company also sees opportunities to reduce debt and interest expense through better capital efficiency.
How is BNED addressing its balance sheet and working capital position?
Total debt at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2027 was $123.5 million, down from $170.0 million at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2026. The company reported a positive net working capital position of $236.8 million as of quarter-end and stated that it aims to drive additional reductions in debt and interest expense through improved capital efficiency.
What dividend did Barnes & Noble Education pay during the quarter?
The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share, which was paid on July 30, 2026 to shareholders of record as of July 16, 2026.
When will BNED hold earnings conference calls in fiscal 2027?
BNED plans to host earnings conference calls following its fiscal 2027 second quarter and full-year earnings results. The company stated that these periods, which follow the back-to-school season and conclude the academic year, provide the most meaningful opportunities to update investors. Exact dates and times will be announced in advance of each call.
How does BNED define and use Adjusted EBITDA?
The company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) plus depreciation and amortization, interest expense (net), income taxes, stock compensation, and certain other non-cash or non-recurring items and other adjustments permitted under its credit agreement. Management and the board use Adjusted EBITDA as a primary method for planning, forecasting, evaluating performance, and for performance incentive plans, and the company believes it provides investors with additional insight into ongoing operating performance.