Barnes & Noble Education (BNED) returns to profit, grows First Day® and reduces net debt
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. reported full-year fiscal 2026 results showing a return to profitability and stronger cash generation. Revenue reached $1.715 billion, up 6.5% year-over-year, with comparable store sales up 4.4% and gross margin improving to 21.4% from 21.0%.
The Company generated $16.9 million in net income versus a prior-year net loss of $(65.8) million, and increased Adjusted EBITDA to $76.5 million, a 28.8% rise. BNC First Day® program revenue grew 28.0% to $760.1 million, while total net debt declined 33% year-over-year to $62.6 million. Adjusted Free Cash Flow improved to $13.4 million from $(118.3) million.
The Company ended the year with $294.4 million of stockholders’ equity and positive working capital of $200.9 million, and introduced an inaugural quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share. For fiscal 2027, it targets Adjusted EBITDA of $85–$92 million and expects further improvements in net income and debt levels.
Positive
- Return to profitability and margin improvement: Fiscal 2026 net income reached $16.9 million versus a $(65.8) million loss in 2025, while gross margin increased to 21.4% from 21.0%, indicating a meaningful turnaround in core earnings quality.
- Strong growth in First Day® programs: BNC First Day® revenue rose 28.0% to $760.1 million, with First Day Complete enrollment up 31% to approximately 1.25 million students, reinforcing a scalable, higher-visibility revenue driver.
- Debt reduction and better cash flow: Total net debt decreased 33% year-over-year to $62.6 million, and Adjusted Free Cash Flow improved to $13.4 million from $(118.3) million, materially strengthening the balance sheet and liquidity profile.
- Higher earnings power and guidance: Adjusted EBITDA increased 28.8% to $76.5 million, and the Company targets $85–$92 million for fiscal 2027, implying continued operating leverage if execution holds.
- Dividend initiation: The introduction of a $0.08 per share quarterly dividend, payable July 30, 2026, reflects management and board confidence in sustainable cash generation and long-term capital return capacity.
Negative
- None.
Insights
BNED delivered a clear turnaround in profitability, cash flow and leverage.
Barnes & Noble Education shifted from a net loss of $(65.8) million to net income of $16.9 million in fiscal 2026, with revenue up 6.5% to $1.715 billion. Adjusted EBITDA rose 28.8% to $76.5 million, driven by growth in the BNC First Day® programs and better store performance.
Leverage metrics improved as total debt fell to $71.0 million and total net debt declined 33% to $62.6 million, supported by Adjusted Free Cash Flow of $13.4 million. Gross margin ticked up to 21.4%, while selling and administrative expenses declined as a percentage of sales.
Management reiterated fiscal 2027 Adjusted EBITDA guidance of $85–$92 million and introduced a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share, signaling confidence in ongoing cash generation. Future filings for fiscal 2027 will show whether First Day® growth, capital discipline and debt reduction continue at similar pace.
8-K Event Classification
2 items: 2.02, 9.01
2 items
Item 2.02
Results of Operations and Financial Condition
Financial
Disclosure of earnings results, typically an earnings press release or preliminary financials.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Key Figures
Revenue: $1.715 billion
Net income: $16.9 million
Adjusted EBITDA: $76.5 million
+5 more
8 metrics
Revenue
$1.715 billion
Full-year fiscal 2026 revenue, up 6.5% year-over-year
Net income
$16.9 million
Fiscal 2026 net income vs $(65.8) million loss in 2025
Adjusted EBITDA
$76.5 million
Fiscal 2026, a 28.8% increase from $59.4 million in 2025
First Day program revenue
$760.1 million
Fiscal 2026 BNC First Day® revenue, up 28.0% year-over-year
Total net debt
$62.6 million
Year-end fiscal 2026 net debt, down 33% year-over-year
Adjusted Free Cash Flow
$13.4 million
Fiscal 2026 vs $(118.3) million in fiscal 2025
Dividend per share
$0.08
Inaugural quarterly dividend payable July 30, 2026
2027 EBITDA outlook
$85–$92 million
Targeted fiscal 2027 Adjusted EBITDA range
Key Terms
Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Free Cash Flow, BNC First Day®, First Day Complete, +2 more
6 terms
Adjusted EBITDA financial
"Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2026 was $76.5 million, an increase of $17.1 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.
Adjusted Free Cash Flow financial
"Adjusted Free Cash Flow improved to $13,413 from $(118,349)"
Adjusted free cash flow is the amount of money a company generates from its operations after accounting for essential expenses and investments, like maintaining or upgrading equipment. It shows how much cash is truly available to grow the business, pay debts, or return to shareholders, helping investors see the company's financial health more clearly.
BNC First Day® financial
"Revenues from BNC First Day® programs increased by $166.3 million, or 28.0%, year-over-year"
First Day Complete financial
"A total of 232 campus stores utilized First Day Complete in the spring 2026 academic term"
non-GAAP financial measure regulatory
"Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure under Securities and Exchange Commission regulations"
A non-GAAP financial measure is a way companies present their financial results that excludes certain expenses or income to show how they believe their core business is performing. It matters because it can give a clearer picture of how the company is really doing, but it can also be used to make results look better than they actually are.
extinguishment of debt financial
"The fiscal 2025 net loss includes a $55.2 million non-cash charge related to the extinguishment of debt"
Extinguishment of debt is the process by which a borrower’s obligation is legally ended — for example by paying it off, refinancing it with a different loan, or negotiating a settlement where the lender forgives part or all of what’s owed. For investors, it matters because extinguishing debt can change a company’s cash flow, credit risk and reported profits (sometimes creating one-time gains or costs), much like removing a heavy backpack changes how fast someone can move.
Earnings Snapshot
Revenue: $1.715 billion · Guidance included
Fiscal 2026
Revenue
$1.715 billion
+6.5% year-over-year
Net income
$16.9 million
vs $(65.8) million prior-year loss
Adjusted EBITDA
$76.5 million
+28.8% year-over-year
First Day program revenue
$760.1 million
+28.0% year-over-year
Total net debt
$62.6 million
-33% year-over-year
Guidance
For fiscal 2027, the company targets Adjusted EBITDA of $85–$92 million, expects further significant improvements in net income profitability, and plans approximately $20 million in capital expenditures.
FAQ
How did Barnes & Noble Education (BNED) perform financially in fiscal 2026?
Barnes & Noble Education generated $1.715 billion in revenue for fiscal 2026, up 6.5% year-over-year. The company returned to profitability with net income of $16.9 million, compared with a $(65.8) million loss in 2025, and increased Adjusted EBITDA to $76.5 million.
What drove Barnes & Noble Education’s revenue and EBITDA growth in 2026?
Revenue and EBITDA growth were driven by expansion of BNC First Day® programs, improved comparable store sales and disciplined expense management. First Day® revenue rose 28.0% to $760.1 million, while Adjusted EBITDA increased 28.8% to $76.5 million, reflecting stronger operating leverage.
How much debt does Barnes & Noble Education (BNED) have after fiscal 2026?
At fiscal 2026 year-end, Barnes & Noble Education reported total debt of $71.0 million and cash of $8.4 million, resulting in total net debt of $62.6 million. This represents a 33% year-over-year reduction from $94.0 million of net debt at the end of fiscal 2025.
What is Barnes & Noble Education’s outlook for fiscal 2027 Adjusted EBITDA?
For fiscal 2027, Barnes & Noble Education is targeting Adjusted EBITDA between $85 million and $92 million. Management also anticipates further improvements in net income profitability, better capital efficiency, additional debt reduction and approximately $20 million in capital expenditures during the year.
What dividend did Barnes & Noble Education announce and when will it be paid?
The company announced an inaugural quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share. This dividend will be payable on July 30, 2026 to shareholders of record on July 16, 2026, marking a new capital return component alongside its ongoing debt reduction efforts.
How are BNC First Day® and First Day Complete performing for BNED?
BNC First Day® program revenue grew 28.0% year-over-year to $760.1 million in fiscal 2026. First Day Complete adoption expanded to 232 campus stores, serving approximately 1,249,301 students in spring 2026, up 31% from 957,000 students the prior year.
What were Barnes & Noble Education’s key cash flow and capital expenditure figures?
Net cash flows from operating activities were $50.1 million in fiscal 2026, versus $(85.4) million in 2025. Adjusted Free Cash Flow improved to $13.4 million, after $16.2 million of capital expenditures, $12.5 million of cash interest and $7.9 million of cash taxes paid.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 9, 2026
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company □
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. □
Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On July 9, 2026, Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its financial results for the fiscal year ended May 2, 2026 (the “Press Release”). A copy of the Press Release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
The information in this Form 8-K and the Exhibit attached hereto pertaining to the Company’s financial results shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
| Exhibit No. | Description | |||||||
| 99.1 | Press Release of Barnes & Noble Education, Inc., dated July 9, 2026. | |||||||
| 99.2 | Financial Statements and Non-GAAP Reconciliation Tables, dated July 9, 2026 | |||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). | |||||||
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date: July 9, 2026
BARNES & NOBLE EDUCATION, INC.
By: /s/ Christopher Neumann
Name: Christopher Neumann
Title: General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Barnes & Noble Education Reports Full-Year Fiscal 2026 Financial Results
Results Consistent with Preliminary Ranges
$16.9 million of Net Income and $76.5 million of Adjusted EBITDA Reported for Fiscal 2026
BNC First Day Program Revenue Increases 28% to $760.1 million
Total Net Debt Decreases 33% Year-Over-Year to $62.6 million
Company Reiterates Fiscal 2027 Outlook of $85 million to $92 million of Adjusted EBITDA
Florham Park, NJ, July 9, 2026 - Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (NYSE: BNED), (“Barnes & Noble Education,” “BNED,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” “our”), a leading solutions provider for the education industry, today announced its financial results for the fiscal year ended May 2, 2026.
FY2026 Financial Results
Full-year revenue in fiscal 2026 was $1.715 billion, an increase of $104.6 million, or 6.5%, over the prior year. Fiscal 2026 comprised 52 weeks compared with 53 weeks in fiscal 2025, which modestly understates growth on a comparable-period basis. Comparable store sales increased by $71.3 million, or 4.4%, year-over-year. In addition, total gross margin dollars increased by $28.4 million, or 8.4% year-over year, with the Company’s gross margin percentage increasing to 21.4% from 21.0% in the prior fiscal year.
Revenues from BNC First Day® programs increased by $166.3 million, or 28.0%, year-over-year, to $760.1 million, as First Day® Complete continues to see strong growth in institutional adoption. A total of 232 campus stores utilized First Day Complete in the spring 2026 academic term with a total enrollment of approximately 1,249,301* undergraduate and graduate students, up 31% from 957,000 in the prior year.
Full-year fiscal 2026 net income was $16.9 million compared to a net loss of $(65.8) million in the prior year. The fiscal 2025 net loss includes a $55.2 million non-cash charge related to the extinguishment of debt.
Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2026 was $76.5 million, an increase of $17.1 million, from $59.4 million in the prior fiscal year, representing an increase of 28.8%.
Total debt at year-end was $71.0 million compared to $103.1 million at the end of fiscal 2025. After subtracting $8.4 million of cash on hand, total net debt was $62.6 million, representing a $31.4 million, or approximately 33% year-over-year decrease. The Company’s net working capital position remained strong with $200.9 million of positive working capital at year-end, representing a 7.9% increase year-over-year.
The Company also recently introduced an inaugural quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share which will be payable on July 30, 2026 to shareholders of record on July 16, 2026.
* Total undergraduate and graduate student enrollment as reported by National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) as of January 2, 2026.
The tables below reflect the reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the most comparable GAAP financial metric, Net income for fiscal 2026 and the related prior period:
| 52 weeks ended | 53 weeks ended | ||||||||||
| ($ in thousands) | May 2, 2026 | May 3, 2025 | |||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 16,872 | $ | (65,825) | |||||||
| Add: | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense | 32,754 | 37,939 | |||||||||
| Impairment expense | 12,584 | 1,713 | |||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 15,866 | 22,260 | |||||||||
| Income tax expense | 3,800 | 4,256 | |||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | — | 55,233 | |||||||||
| Other (income) expense, net | (11,577) | (1,572) | |||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 6,214 | 5,386 | |||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) | $ | 76,513 | $ | 59,390 | |||||||
__________
Management Commentary
“Fiscal 2026 marked another year of meaningful progress for Barnes & Noble Education,” said Jonathan Shar, Chief Executive Officer. “We achieved solid revenue growth, significantly increased Adjusted EBITDA, returned to net income profitability, and realized meaningful debt reduction. These results were driven by continued growth in First Day®, improved comparable store performance, disciplined expense management, and strong sales contributions from new store partnerships secured through recent business wins.”
Mr. Shar continued, “As we enter fiscal 2027, we believe we are well positioned to build on this momentum. Demand for our BNC First Day® offerings continues to accelerate, with fall 2026 First Day Complete enrollment expected to reach approximately 1.4 million undergraduate and graduate students, up approximately 23% from fall 2025. We are excited about the expansion of new offerings, including Room Service, and are focused on creating long-term value for our institutional partners, students, employees, and shareholders. Our recent initiation of a quarterly dividend reflects our strong confidence in the business.”
Outlook
Barnes & Noble Education is reiterating the fiscal 2027 outlook provided on June 24, 2026. 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 $85 millon to $92 million and anticipates further significant improvements in net income profitability. The Company also sees opportunities to drive better capital efficiency, which should contribute to additional reductions in debt and interest expense. The Company anticipates approximately $20 million in capital expenditures and should be a normal cash taxpayer in fiscal 2027.
Earnings Calls
Beginning with the second quarter of fiscal 2027, the Company will host earnings conference calls following its second quarter and full-year earnings releases. Given the highly seasonal nature of the Company's business, these periods provide the most meaningful opportunity to discuss operating performance, financial results and business trends. Further details, including the exact date and time, will be announced in advance of each call. In the meantime, the Company will continue to report quarterly financial results in accordance with applicable SEC reporting requirements and be available for investor questions following the release of quarterly results.
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, and (4) as adjusted for 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-K for the fiscal year-ended May 2, 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:
Rob Fink and Greg McKinley
FNK IR
BNED@fnkir.com
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 in Fall 2026, continued expansion of our new offerings, future opportunities to accelerate profitable growth, generate strong cash flow and creation of long-term value, our positioning, strategic and operational objectives, broader market trends, expected trends in financial results, including those related to seasonality, as well as forward-looking continued top line and net income growth, , continued expense discipline and improved capital efficiency, Adjusted EBITDA, debt levels, interest costs, capital expenditures and long-term projected growth in Adjusted EBITDA. 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)
| 52 weeks ended | 53 weeks ended | ||||||||||
| May 2, 2026 | May 3, 2025 | ||||||||||
| Sales: | |||||||||||
| Product sales and other | $ | 1,564,365 | $ | 1,463,245 | |||||||
| Rental income | 150,405 | 146,925 | |||||||||
| Total sales | 1,714,770 | 1,610,170 | |||||||||
| Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization expense): | |||||||||||
| Product and other cost of sales | 1,269,051 | 1,193,015 | |||||||||
| Rental cost of sales | 79,551 | 79,351 | |||||||||
| Total cost of sales | 1,348,602 | 1,272,366 | |||||||||
Gross profit | 366,168 | 337,804 | |||||||||
| Selling and administrative expenses | 288,573 | 283,800 | |||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense | 32,754 | 37,939 | |||||||||
Impairment loss | 12,584 | 1,713 | |||||||||
| Other (income) expense, net | (4,281) | (1,572) | |||||||||
Operating income (loss) | 36,538 | 15,924 | |||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | — | 55,233 | |||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 15,866 | 22,260 | |||||||||
| Income (loss) before income taxes | 20,672 | (61,569) | |||||||||
Income tax expense | 3,800 | 4,256 | |||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 16,872 | $ | (65,825) | |||||||
| Earning per share - Basic and Diluted | |||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to BNED shareholders - basic | $ | 0.49 | $ | (2.50) | |||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to BNED shareholders - diluted | $ | 0.49 | $ | (2.50) | |||||||
| Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding - Basic | 34,330,274 | 26,298,984 | |||||||||
| Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding - Diluted | 34,614,155 | 26,298,984 | |||||||||
| 52 weeks ended | 53 weeks ended | ||||||||||
| Dollars in thousands | May 2, 2026 | May 3, 2025 | |||||||||
| Sales: | |||||||||||
| Product sales and other | 91.2 | % | 90.9 | % | |||||||
| Rental income | 8.8 | % | 9.1 | % | |||||||
| Total sales | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | |||||||
| Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization expense): | |||||||||||
| Product and other cost of sales | 81.1 | % | 81.5 | % | |||||||
| Rental cost of sales | 52.9 | % | 54.0 | % | |||||||
| Total cost of sales | 78.6 | % | 79.0 | % | |||||||
Gross profit | 21.4 | % | 21.0 | % | |||||||
| Selling and administrative expenses | 16.8 | % | 17.6 | % | |||||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense | 1.9 | % | 2.4 | % | |||||||
Impairment loss | 0.7 | % | 0.1 | % | |||||||
| Other (income) expense, net | (0.2) | % | (0.1) | % | |||||||
Operating income (loss) | 2.1 | % | 1.0 | % | |||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | — | % | 3.4 | % | |||||||
| Interest expense, net | 0.9 | % | 1.4 | % | |||||||
| Income (loss) before income taxes | 1.2 | % | (3.8) | % | |||||||
Income tax expense | 0.2 | % | 0.3 | % | |||||||
| Net income (loss) | 1.0 | % | (4.1) | % | |||||||
(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)
| May 2, 2026 | May 3, 2025 | ||||||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||||
| Current assets: | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 8,418 | $ | 9,058 | |||||||
| Accounts receivable, net | 116,526 | 98,077 | |||||||||
| Merchandise inventories, net | 298,347 | 299,562 | |||||||||
| Textbook rental inventories | 27,035 | 26,439 | |||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 34,137 | 32,249 | |||||||||
| Total current assets | 484,463 | 465,385 | |||||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 34,123 | 40,229 | |||||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | 145,594 | 183,695 | |||||||||
| Intangible assets, net | 58,092 | 78,241 | |||||||||
| Other noncurrent assets | 17,625 | 22,735 | |||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 739,897 | $ | 790,285 | |||||||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY | |||||||||||
| Current liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 135,564 | $ | 148,848 | |||||||
| Accrued liabilities | 80,990 | 65,853 | |||||||||
| Current operating lease liabilities | 67,050 | 64,524 | |||||||||
| Total current liabilities | 283,604 | 279,225 | |||||||||
| Long-term deferred taxes, net | — | 1,135 | |||||||||
| Long-term operating lease liabilities | 85,455 | 115,495 | |||||||||
| Other long-term liabilities | 5,399 | 19,142 | |||||||||
| Long-term borrowings | 71,000 | 103,100 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities | 445,458 | 518,097 | |||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies | |||||||||||
| Stockholders' equity: | |||||||||||
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; authorized, 5,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding, none | — | — | |||||||||
| Common stock, $0.01 par value; authorized, 200,000,000 shares; issued, 34,456,977 and 34,081,114 shares, respectively; outstanding, 34,429,710 and 34,053,847 shares, respectively | 345 | 341 | |||||||||
| Additional paid-in-capital | 1,012,349 | 1,006,974 | |||||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (695,699) | (712,571) | |||||||||
| Treasury stock, at cost | (22,556) | (22,556) | |||||||||
| Total stockholders' equity | 294,439 | 272,188 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 739,897 | $ | 790,285 | |||||||
BARNES & NOBLE EDUCATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow (Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share data)
| 52 weeks ended | 53 weeks ended | |||||||||||||
| May 2, 2026 | May 3, 2025 | |||||||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 16,872 | $ | (65,825) | ||||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities | ||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense | 32,754 | 37,939 | ||||||||||||
| Impairment loss (non cash) | 12,584 | 1,713 | ||||||||||||
| Loss on debt extinguishment | — | 55,233 | ||||||||||||
| Amortization of deferred financing costs | 3,662 | 5,164 | ||||||||||||
| Deferred taxes | (1,135) | (829) | ||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 6,214 | 5,386 | ||||||||||||
| Changes in operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities | 6,795 | (4,218) | ||||||||||||
| Changes in other long-term assets and liabilities and other, net | (10,906) | 7,072 | ||||||||||||
| Changes in other operating assets and liabilities, net: | ||||||||||||||
| Receivables, net | (18,449) | 761 | ||||||||||||
| Merchandise inventories | 1,215 | 44,475 | ||||||||||||
| Textbook rental inventories | (596) | 1,876 | ||||||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | (1,799) | 7,096 | ||||||||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 2,846 | (181,256) | ||||||||||||
| Changes in other operating assets and liabilities, net | (16,783) | (127,048) | ||||||||||||
| Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | 50,057 | $ | (85,413) | ||||||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||||||||
| Purchases of property and equipment | $ | (16,196) | $ | (12,894) | ||||||||||
| Proceeds from the sale of fixed assets | — | 793 | ||||||||||||
| Net cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities | $ | (16,196) | $ | (12,101) | ||||||||||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from borrowings | $ | 812,900 | $ | 887,055 | ||||||||||
| Repayments of borrowings | (845,000) | (948,920) | ||||||||||||
| Payment of deferred financing costs | (1,900) | (5,569) | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from Private Equity Investment | — | 50,000 | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from Rights Offering | — | 45,000 | ||||||||||||
| Payment of equity issuance costs | — | (9,914) | ||||||||||||
| Principal stockholder expense reimbursement | — | 1,940 | ||||||||||||
| Payment on principal portion of finance lease | (365) | (370) | ||||||||||||
| Shares sold under at-the-market offering, net of commissions | — | 78,450 | ||||||||||||
| Purchase of treasury shares | — | (5) | ||||||||||||
| Net cash flows (used in) provided by financing activities | $ | (34,365) | $ | 97,667 | ||||||||||
| Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash | $ | (504) | $ | 153 | ||||||||||
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year | 28,723 | 28,570 | ||||||||||||
| Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of year | $ | 28,219 | $ | 28,723 | ||||||||||
| Supplemental cash flow information: | ||||||||||||||
| Cash paid during the period for: | ||||||||||||||
| Interest paid | $ | 12,531 | $ | 17,912 | ||||||||||
| Income taxes paid (net of refunds) | $ | 7,917 | $ | 2,130 | ||||||||||
BARNES & NOBLE EDUCATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Non-GAAP Information
(In thousands) (Unaudited)
| 52 weeks ended | 53 weeks ended | |||||||||||||
| Dollars in thousands | May 2, 2026 | May 3, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Net Income (loss) | $ | 16,872 | $ | (65,825) | ||||||||||
Reconciling items | 5,390 | 4,108 | ||||||||||||
| Adjusted Net income (loss) | $ | 22,262 | $ | (61,717) | ||||||||||
Reconciling items | ||||||||||||||
| Impairment loss | $ | 12,584 | $ | 1,713 | ||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense | 6,214 | 5,386 | ||||||||||||
| Other (income) expense, net | ||||||||||||||
| Participation interest purchase agreement settlement | (12,625) | — | ||||||||||||
| Severance and cost reduction initiatives | — | 4,058 | ||||||||||||
| Legal settlement and related legal fees | — | 1,059 | ||||||||||||
| Settlement of obligations and actuarial gain related to frozen retirement plan | — | (8,780) | ||||||||||||
| Other professional services fees | 1,048 | 2,091 | ||||||||||||
Estimated tax effect on reconciling items above (a) | (1,831) | (1,419) | ||||||||||||
Reconciling items | $ | 5,390 | $ | 4,108 | ||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | 52 weeks ended | 53 weeks ended | ||||||||||||
| Dollars in thousands | May 2, 2026 | May 3, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 16,872 | $ | (65,825) | ||||||||||
| Add: | ||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense | 32,754 | 37,939 | ||||||||||||
| Impairment expense | 12,584 | 1,713 | ||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 15,866 | 22,260 | ||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 3,800 | 4,256 | ||||||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | — | 55,233 | ||||||||||||
Other (income) expense, net (b) | (11,577) | (1,572) | ||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation expense | 6,214 | 5,386 | ||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 76,513 | $ | 59,390 | ||||||||||
(a)The tax effect on reconciling items was calculated for Fiscal 2026 using the statutory rate of 25.36%. The tax effect on reconciling items was calculated for Fiscal 2025 using the statutory rate of 25.67%.
(b)Other (income) expense is exclusive of Investigation Costs of $7.3 million incurred during the 52 weeks ended May 2, 2026.
Adjusted Free Cash Flow
| 52 weeks ended | 53 weeks ended | |||||||||||||
| Dollars in thousands | May 2, 2026 | May 3, 2025 | ||||||||||||
Net cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities (a) | $ | 50,057 | $ | (85,413) | ||||||||||
| Less: | ||||||||||||||
Capital expenditures (b) | 16,196 | 12,894 | ||||||||||||
| Cash interest | 12,531 | 17,912 | ||||||||||||
| Cash taxes (refund) paid, net | 7,917 | 2,130 | ||||||||||||
| Adjusted Free Cash Flow | $ | 13,413 | $ | (118,349) | ||||||||||
(a)Given the growth of our BNC First Day® programs, the timing of cash collection from our school partners may shift to periods subsequent to when the revenue is recognized. When a school adopts our BNC First Day® affordable access course material program offerings, cash collection from the school generally occurs after the institution's drop/add dates, which is later in the working capital cycle, particularly in our third quarter given the timing of the Spring Term and our quarterly reporting period, as compared to direct-to-student point-of-sale transactions where cash is generally collected during the point-of-sale transaction or within a few days from the credit card processor. As a higher percentage of our sales shift to BNC First Day® affordable access course material program offerings, we are focused on efforts to better align the timing of our cash outflows to course material vendors and cash inflows from collections from schools.
(b)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
| 52 weeks ended | 53 weeks ended | |||||||||||||
| Dollars in thousands | May 2, 2026 | May 3, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Physical store capital expenditures | $ | 10,527 | $ | 8,866 | ||||||||||
| Product and system development | 4,597 | 3,063 | ||||||||||||
| Other | 1,072 | 965 | ||||||||||||
| Total Capital Expenditures | $ | 16,196 | $ | 12,894 | ||||||||||
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 and (3) income taxes, (4) as adjusted for 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-K dated May 3, 2025, filed with the SEC on December 23, 2025. 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.