Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. Announces First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Ollie's Bargain Outlet (NASDAQ: OLLI) reported strong Q1 fiscal 2025 results with net sales increasing 13.4% to $576.8M and comparable store sales rising 2.6%. The company opened 25 new stores, including 18 former Big Lots locations, expanding to 584 stores across 32 states. Adjusted net income per diluted share reached $0.75, while Adjusted EBITDA was $72.2M. The company maintains a strong financial position with $414.9M in total cash and investments, up 21.5% year-over-year. Ollie's Army loyalty program grew 9.2% to 15.5M members. The company reaffirmed its fiscal 2025 outlook, projecting net sales of $2.579-2.599B and plans to open 75 new stores. During Q1, OLLI repurchased 159,757 shares for $17.1M, with $315.5M remaining in the buyback authorization.

Positive

• Net sales increased 13.4% to $576.8M with comparable store sales up 2.6%
• Significant store expansion with 25 new stores opened, including 18 former Big Lots locations
• Strong cash position of $414.9M, up 21.5% year-over-year
• Ollie's Army loyalty program grew 9.2% to 15.5M members
• Active share repurchase program with $315.5M remaining authorization

Negative

• SG&A expenses increased 60 basis points to 28.6% due to higher medical and casualty claims
• Pre-opening expenses increased by $3.9M to $6.7M due to new store growth
• Adjusted EBITDA margin declined to 12.5% from 13.6% year-over-year

Insights

Retail Financial Analyst

Ollie's Q1 shows strong execution with 13.4% sales growth, accelerated store expansion, and healthy cash position despite margin pressures.

Ollie's delivered a robust quarter with $576.8 million in sales, increasing 13.4% year-over-year. The growth was driven by an impressive 25 new store openings (including 18 former Big Lots locations) and a 2.6% comparable store sales increase from higher transaction volumes. This expansion strategy accelerated their footprint to 584 stores, representing 13.2% year-over-year unit growth.

Profitability metrics show a more nuanced picture. While gross margin remained flat at 41.1%, the company faced SG&A deleverage with expenses rising to 28.6% of sales (up 60 basis points) due to higher medical and casualty claims. Pre-opening expenses surged by $3.9 million to $6.7 million, including $1.8 million in dark rent from bankruptcy-acquired locations. Despite these pressures, adjusted earnings per share reached $0.75, exceeding expectations.

The company's balance sheet remains exceptionally strong with $414.9 million in total cash and investments, up 21.5% year-over-year. This financial flexibility supported $17.1 million in share repurchases during the quarter, with $315.5 million remaining in the authorization.

Most importantly, management reaffirmed their fiscal 2025 guidance, projecting 75 new stores, sales between $2.579-$2.599 billion, and adjusted EPS of $3.65-$3.75. The company is clearly executing its value-oriented strategy effectively, capturing consumers seeking bargains while capitalizing on retail industry disruption to accelerate store growth. Their operating model provides significant flexibility in the current choppy retail environment, positioning them well against competitors.

Retail Industry Strategist

Ollie's aggressive expansion strategy leverages retail market disruption while maintaining strong operational performance in challenging environment.

Ollie's strategic opportunism is on full display this quarter, with the company brilliantly capitalizing on retail sector weakness to accelerate expansion. The acquisition of 18 former Big Lots locations through bankruptcy auction represents a tactical masterstroke that would typically take multiple quarters to achieve. This move not only accelerates their physical footprint but does so with likely favorable lease terms while minimizing competitive overlap.

The 9.2% growth in Ollie's Army loyalty membership to 15.5+ million members is particularly noteworthy. This expanding customer base represents a critical competitive moat in the value retail sector, providing both data insights and a committed shopping audience. The transaction-driven comparable store growth of 2.6% indicates their value proposition is resonating with inflation-weary consumers seeking bargains.

The company's operational resilience is evident in their ability to maintain gross margin at 41.1% despite mix shifts. Their countercyclical business model - which thrives on inventory dislocations and supplier distress - positions them ideally for the current retail environment. As traditional retailers struggle with inventory management, Ollie's can access quality merchandise at advantageous prices.

Management's commentary about their "unique operating model" providing "flexibility" in a "choppy environment" signals their confidence in navigating potential economic headwinds. Their cash-rich position ($414.9 million) serves as both defensive insurance and offensive capital for continued opportunistic real estate acquisitions, inventory purchases, and shareholder returns. The unchanged annual guidance despite Q1 outperformance suggests appropriate conservatism given persistent retail industry challenges and potential consumer spending constraints ahead.

Opened 25 New Stores

Net Sales Increased 13.4% and Comparable Store Sales Increased 2.6%

Earnings Per Share Ahead of Expectations

Reaffirming Fiscal 2025 Earnings Outlook

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: OLLI) (the “Company”) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended May 3, 2025 (fiscal 2025).

“We had a strong first quarter, highlighted by accelerated store growth and better than expected sales and earnings,” said Eric van der Valk, President and Chief Executive Officer. “As consumers seek out value and the current environment weighs on retailers and suppliers, we believe we are well positioned to benefit and continue to serve our customers with amazing deals. Our unique operating model gives us a ton of flexibility when it comes to navigating a choppy environment, and this puts us in a very strong position versus most retailers.”

		Quarter ended
		May 3,				May 4,
		2025				2024
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Net sales		$	576,767			$	508,818
Yr/yr change			13.4	%			10.8	%
Comparable store sales change (1)			2.6	%			3.0	%
Net income		$	47,560			$	46,342
Net income per diluted share		$	0.77			$	0.75
Adjusted net income per diluted share		$	0.75			$	0.73
Yr/yr change			2.7	%			49.0	%
Adjusted EBITDA		$	72,159			$	69,431
% of net sales			12.5	%			13.6	%
New store openings (2)			25				4
Store growth, yr/yr change			13.2	%			8.4	%
(1) Comparable store sales are calculated based on the comparable number of weeks from the prior year.
(2) New store openings is a gross number that does not include any store closures in the period.

First Quarter Highlights

• Opened 25 new stores, including 18 former Big Lots locations acquired through bankruptcy auction, and ended the quarter with a total of 584 stores in 32 states, an increase of 13.2% year over year.
• Net sales increased 13.4% to $576.8 million, driven by new store unit growth and an increase in comparable store sales.
• Comparable store sales increased 2.6%, driven by an increase in transactions.
• Ollies Army loyalty members increased 9.2% to more than 15.5 million.
• Gross margin was flat at 41.1%. Lower supply chain costs were offset by lower merchandise margin driven by changes in mix.
• SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales increased 60 basis points to 28.6%, driven primarily by higher medical and casualty claims.
• Pre-opening expenses increased $3.9 million to $6.7 million, driven by new store growth, and included $1.8 million of dark rent associated with the bankruptcy acquired stores.
• Adjusted net income per diluted share was $0.75.
• Adjusted EBITDA⁽¹⁾ was $72.2 million and adjusted EBITDA margin⁽¹⁾ was 12.5%.
• Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $369.5 million, with an additional $45.4 million in long-term investments, for a total cash and investment position of $414.9 million, an increase of 21.5% year over year.
• The Company invested $17.1 million of cash to repurchase 159,757 shares of its common stock. At the end of the first quarter, $315.5 million remained available for future share repurchases under the current share repurchase authorization.
  

Fiscal 2025 Outlook

The Company is reaffirming its previously provided earnings outlook for fiscal 2025. This earnings outlook assumes the current tariffs remain in place for the balance of the year and is summarized in the table below.

	Current		Previous
New store openings	75		75
Net sales	$2.579 to $2.599 billion		$2.564 to $2.586 billion
Comparable store sales increase	1.4% to 2.2%		1.0% to 2.0%
Gross margin	40%		40%
Operating income(1)	$283 to $292 million		$283 to $292 million
Adjusted net income(1)(2)(3)	$225 to $232 million		$225 to $232 million
Adjusted net income per diluted share(1)(2)(3)	$3.65 to $3.75		$3.65 to $3.75
Annual effective tax rate (excludes excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation)	25%		25%
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding	62 million		62 million
Capital expenditures	$83 to $88 million		$83 to $88 million

⁽¹⁾ The earnings outlook noted above includes dark rent expenses of approximately $5 million, or $0.06 in adjusted earnings per share, included within pre-opening expenses resulting from the Company’s acquisition of leases of former Big Lots stores.
⁽²⁾ The outlook ranges as provided for adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share exclude the excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation as the Company cannot predict such estimates without unreasonable effort.
⁽³⁾ The earnings outlook noted above includes interest income of approximately $17 million. This assumes the potential for lower interest rates in fiscal 2025.

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss first quarter fiscal 2025 financial results is scheduled for today, June 3, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. To access the live conference call, please pre-register here. Registrants will receive a confirmation with dial-in instructions. Interested parties can also listen to a live webcast or replay of the conference call by logging on to the Investor Relations section on the Company’s website at https://investors.ollies.com/. A replay of the conference call webcast will be available at the investor relations website for one year.

About Ollie’s

We are America’s largest retailer of closeout merchandise and excess inventory, offering Real Brands and Real Bargain prices®! We offer extreme value on brand name products in a variety of departments, including housewares, food, books and stationery, bed and bath, floor coverings, toys, health and beauty aids, and more. As of May 3, 2025, we operated 584 stores in 32 states and growing! For more information, visit www.ollies.com.

Non-GAAP Reconciliation

The Company’s results are reported in this press release on a GAAP and as adjusted, non-GAAP basis. Adjusted net income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) per diluted share, and adjusted operating income (loss) are non-GAAP measures, and are not intended to replace GAAP financial information, and may be different from non-GAAP measures reported by other companies. The Company believes the income and expense items excluded as non-GAAP adjustments are not reflective of the performance of its core business, and that providing this supplemental disclosure to investors will facilitate comparisons of the past and present performance of its core business.

Please refer to the “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Information to GAAP” later in this press release, which sets forth the non-GAAP operating adjustments for the 13-week periods ended May 3, 2025 and May 4, 2024.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding industry trends, value creation, customer trends, new stores, distribution centers, financial guidance for second quarter 2025 and fiscal 2025, including new store openings, net sales, comparable store sales, gross margin, SG&A, operating income, net income, adjusted net income, adjusted net income per diluted share, effective tax rate, diluted weighted average shares outstanding and capital expenditures. All forward-looking statements are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, are subject to the finalization of the Company’s quarterly financial and accounting procedures, and may be affected by certain risks and uncertainties, any one, or a combination, of which could materially affect the results of the Company’s operations. Forward-looking statements are usually identified by or are associated with such words as “could”, “may”, “might”, “will,” “likely”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “estimates”, “expects”, “continues”, “projects”, “forecasts”, and similar terminology. Actual results could vary materially from the expectations reflected in these statements. As with any business, all phases of our operations are subject to factors outside of our control. These factors include, without limitation, the impact of the recent tariff announcements and the corresponding macroeconomic pressures and those factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Reports or Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company are based on knowledge of its business and the environment in which it operates, but because of the factors listed above, actual results could differ materially from those reflected by any forward-looking statements. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made are qualified by these cautionary statements and those contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. There can be no assurance that the results or developments anticipated by the Company will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to or effects on the Company or its business and operations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

Investor Contact

John Rouleau
Managing Director of Corporate Communication & Business Development
JRouleau@ollies.us

Media Contact

Tom Kuypers
Senior Vice President – Marketing & Advertising
717-657-2300
tkuypers@ollies.us

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) (In thousands except for per share amounts)
		Quarter ended
		May 3,				May 4,
		2025				2024
Net sales		$	576,767			$	508,818
Cost of sales			339,736				299,460
Gross profit			237,031				209,358
Selling, general and administrative expenses			164,832				142,419
Depreciation and amortization expenses			9,357				7,716
Pre-opening expenses			6,656				2,726
Operating income			56,186				56,497
Interest (income), net			(4,788	)			(4,301	)
Income before income taxes			60,974				60,798
Income tax expense			13,414				14,456
Net income		$	47,560			$	46,342
Earnings per common share:
Basic		$	0.78			$	0.76
Diluted		$	0.77			$	0.75
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic			61,343				61,380
Diluted			61,816				61,739
Percentage of net sales:
Net sales			100.0	%			100.0	%
Cost of sales			58.9				58.9
Gross profit			41.1				41.1
Selling, general and administrative expenses			28.6				28.0
Depreciation and amortization expenses			1.6				1.5
Pre-opening expenses			1.2				0.5
Operating income			9.7				11.1
Interest (income), net			(0.8	)			(0.8	)
Income before income taxes			10.6				11.9
Income tax expense			2.3				2.8
Net income			8.2	%			9.1	%
Components may not add to totals due to rounding.

 

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) (In thousands)
		May 3,				May 4,
Assets		2025				2024
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	199,018			$	212,250
Short-term investments			170,490				129,250
Inventories			611,852				527,469
Accounts receivable			2,348				916
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			14,313				8,897
Total current assets			998,021				878,782
Property and equipment, net			346,151				282,669
Operating lease right-of-use assets			639,664				472,525
Goodwill			444,850				444,850
Trade name			230,559				230,559
Long-term investments			45,355				-
Other assets			2,379				2,083
Total assets		$	2,706,979			$	2,311,468
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt		$	566			$	599
Accounts payable			137,869				103,495
Income taxes payable			14,364				29,227
Current portion of operating lease liabilities			99,767				89,607
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities			95,238				87,864
Total current liabilities			347,804				310,792
Revolving credit facility			-				-
Long-term debt			925				1,077
Deferred income taxes			81,006				71,628
Long-term portion of operating lease liabilities			547,431				395,547
Total liabilities			977,166				779,044
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock			68				67
Additional paid-in capital			739,333				697,816
Retained earnings			1,415,273				1,214,293
Treasury - common stock			(424,861	)			(379,752	)
Total stockholders’ equity			1,729,813				1,532,424
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	2,706,979			$	2,311,468

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) (In thousands)
		Quarter ended
		May 3,				May 4,
		2025				2024
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	28,702			$	40,184
Net cash used in investing activities			(18,266	)			(68,515	)
Net cash used in financing activities			(16,541	)			(25,681	)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents			(6,105	)			(54,012	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period			205,123				266,262
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period		$	199,018			$	212,250

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (unaudited) (In thousands except for per share amounts)
		Quarter ended
		May 3,				May 4,
		2025				2024
Net income		$	47,560			$	46,342
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation (1)			(1,487	)			(1,132	)
Adjusted net income		$	46,073			$	45,210
Net income per diluted share		$	0.77			$	0.75
Adjustments as noted above, per dilutive share:
Excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation (1)			(0.02	)			(0.02	)
Adjusted net income per diluted share		$	0.75			$	0.73
Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding			61,816				61,739
Net income		$	47,560			$	46,342
Interest income, net			(4,788	)			(4,301	)
Depreciation and amortization expenses			12,809				9,785
Income tax expense			13,414				14,456
EBITDA			68,995				66,282
Non-cash stock-based compensation expense			3,164				3,149
Adjusted EBITDA		$	72,159			$	69,431
Components may not add to totals due to rounding.
(1) Amount represents the impact from the recognition of excess tax benefits pursuant to Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, Stock Compensation.

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. Key Statistics (unaudited) (Dollars in thousands)
		Quarter ended
		May 3,				May 4,
		2025				2024
Number of stores open at beginning of period			559				512
Number of new stores			25				4
Number of stores open at end of period			584				516
Yr/yr store growth			13.2	%			8.4	%
Average net sales per store (1)		$	1,005			$	993
Comparable store count – end of period			508				466
Comparable stores sales change			2.6	%			3.0	%
Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments		$	369,508			$	341,500
Long-term investments		$	45,355			$	-
Capital expenditures		$	26,740			$	26,865
Share repurchases		$	17,107			$	25,007
(1) Average net sales per store represents the weighted average of total net weekly sales divided by the number of stores open at the end of each week for the respective periods presented.

FAQ

What were Ollie's (OLLI) Q1 2025 earnings per share?

Ollie's reported adjusted net income per diluted share of $0.75, compared to $0.73 in the previous year.

How many new stores did Ollie's open in Q1 2025?

Ollie's opened 25 new stores in Q1 2025, including 18 former Big Lots locations acquired through bankruptcy auction.

What is Ollie's (OLLI) store count and presence as of Q1 2025?

Ollie's operates 584 stores across 32 states, representing a 13.2% increase year over year.

What is Ollie's revenue guidance for fiscal 2025?

Ollie's expects net sales between $2.579 billion to $2.599 billion with comparable store sales growth of 1.4% to 2.2%.

How much cash does Ollie's (OLLI) have on its balance sheet?

Ollie's has $414.9M in total cash and investments, consisting of $369.5M in cash and short-term investments plus $45.4M in long-term investments.