Consumer Discretionary
Apparel Retail
$140.35B
349K
TJX Companies, Inc. operates as an off-price apparel and home fashions retailer, with over 4,900 stores and six e-commerce sites. The company's primary revenue streams are from the sale of brand name and designer merchandise at prices significantly below those of full-price retailers, creating a value proposition that attracts a wide range of customers. TJX's opportunistic buying strategies and flexible business model differentiate it from traditional retailers, giving it a competitive advantage in the market.
Key insights and themes extracted from this filing
Net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 increased 7% to $14.4 billion compared to $13.5 billion in the prior year, driven by a 4% increase in consolidated comparable store sales and a 2% increase from non-comp sales.
Pre-tax profit margin for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 improved to 11.4%, up 0.5 percentage points from 10.9% in the prior year. This improvement was supported by a 0.3 percentage point decrease in both the cost of sales ratio and the SG&A expense ratio, primarily due to favorable mark-to-market adjustments on inventory/fuel hedges and operational efficiencies.
Net cash provided by operating activities for the first six months of fiscal 2026 was $2.185 billion, a decrease from $2.366 billion in the prior year. This decline was primarily attributed to changes in merchandise inventories net of accounts payable, partially offset by an increase in net income and income taxes payable.
Consolidated comparable store sales increased 4% for both the second quarter and the first six months of fiscal 2026, driven by increased customer transactions. All four segments (Marmaxx, HomeGoods, TJX Canada, TJX International) reported positive comp sales growth in Q2, with TJX Canada leading at 9%.
The Company completed investments in fiscal 2025 for a 49% ownership stake in Multibrand Outlet Stores S.A.P.I. de C.V. (Mexico) for $193 million and a 35% stake in Brands for Less (UAE/Saudi Arabia) for $358 million, expanding its international footprint. These investments did not have a material impact on current period results.
As of August 2, 2025, the total number of stores in operation increased approximately 3% and selling square footage increased approximately 2% compared to the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2025, indicating ongoing physical retail expansion.
Management's ability to reduce the cost of sales ratio by 0.3 percentage points and the SG&A expense ratio by 0.3 percentage points in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 (to 69.3% and 19.5% respectively) demonstrates effective cost control. This was attributed to favorable mark-to-market adjustments on hedges and operational efficiencies in stores.
TJX utilizes derivative financial instruments to hedge portions of its estimated diesel fuel requirements and foreign currency exchange rates on merchandise purchases. These strategies aim to minimize risk from market changes and contributed to favorable mark-to-market adjustments in Q2 FY26.
The company returned $1 billion to shareholders in Q2 FY26 through share repurchases and dividends, and plans to repurchase $2 billion to $2.5 billion in FY26. This consistent return of capital, alongside increased dividends per share ($0.425 vs $0.375 YoY in Q2), signals management's confidence in future performance.
The company continues to monitor changes in international trade relations, economic and monetary policies, and legislation related to tariffs. While TJX has been successful in mitigating tariff pressures, the extent and duration of their impact on general economic conditions and the business remain uncertain, posing a potential risk to pricing and operations.
The filing explicitly states there have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in the 'Risk Factors' section of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2025. This indicates a stable risk profile compared to the previous annual filing.
TJX is evaluating the impact of the OECD's 15% global minimum tax regime (Pillar Two) and new SEC rules for climate-related information (currently stayed). While Pillar Two is not expected to have a material impact on the effective tax rate, these regulatory changes introduce compliance complexities and potential future costs.
The company's mission to deliver great value by selling merchandise 20% to 60% below full-price retailers continues to resonate, as evidenced by a 4% consolidated comparable store sales increase driven primarily by an increase in customer transactions in both Q2 and YTD fiscal 2026.
HomeGoods' segment profit margin increased significantly to 10.0% in Q2 FY26 from 9.1% in Q2 FY25, primarily driven by lower supply chain costs and favorable merchandise margin. This indicates a strong competitive advantage and efficient operations within the home fashions segment.
Despite increased tariff costs, merchandise margin remained flat for both the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2026. This suggests TJX maintains pricing power and effective sourcing strategies to absorb cost pressures without significantly impacting its competitive pricing strategy.
The cost of sales, including buying and occupancy costs, as a percentage of net sales, decreased by 0.3 percentage points to 69.3% in Q2 FY26. This improvement was primarily due to favorable year-over-year impacts related to mark-to-market adjustments on inventory and fuel hedges.
Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased by 0.3 percentage points to 19.5% in Q2 FY26. This reduction was primarily driven by operational efficiencies in stores, partially offset by incremental store wages, demonstrating effective management of overheads.
Consolidated average per store inventories, including inventory at distribution centers, were up 10% at the end of Q2 FY26 compared to the prior year. While this could support future sales, it also suggests a need for efficient inventory management to prevent potential write-downs or carrying costs.
E-commerce sites combined amounted to approximately 2% of total net sales for Marmaxx and 3% for TJX International in both Q2 and YTD fiscal 2026. This indicates a steady, albeit smaller, contribution from digital channels to overall sales.
Capital expenditures for the first six months of fiscal 2026, totaling $958 million, included investments in information technology. This suggests ongoing commitment to enhancing technological capabilities to support operations and growth.
The 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' signed into law on July 4, 2025, makes permanent 100% accelerated depreciation deductions and immediate expensing of domestic research and development costs. This change is expected to reduce current year U.S. cash tax obligations and could incentivize future R&D spending.
The Board authorized a new $2.5 billion stock repurchase program in February 2025, with approximately $2.4 billion remaining available as of August 2, 2025. The company repurchased $1.1 billion (9.2 million shares) in the first six months of fiscal 2026, demonstrating management's confidence in the company's valuation.
TJX declared quarterly dividends of $0.425 per share for the first six months of fiscal 2026, an increase from $0.375 per share in the prior year. Total cash dividends paid amounted to $898 million YTD FY26, reflecting a commitment to returning value to shareholders.
The company anticipates capital spending for the full fiscal year 2026 to be approximately $2.1 billion to $2.2 billion. These investments are prioritized for store improvements, new stores, distribution centers, and information technology, supporting long-term growth initiatives.
The SEC adopted new rules in March 2024 requiring climate-related information, but these rules were voluntarily stayed in April 2024 pending legal challenges. TJX is continuing to monitor the status, indicating awareness and potential future action regarding environmental disclosures.
The provided 10-Q filing does not contain specific details or updates on new environmental commitments, social responsibility initiatives, or significant changes to governance practices beyond standard financial disclosures and regulatory monitoring. This suggests a focus on core financial and operational reporting for this interim period.
The filing indicates no material changes to critical accounting estimates or internal controls over financial reporting, and references the Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of accounting standards. This implies stable governance practices as previously disclosed.
TJX continues to closely monitor changes in international trade relations, economic and monetary policies, and legislation related to tariffs. The company notes that tariffs have led to significant volatility in the global economy, and their overall impact on consumer demand and pricing remains uncertain.
The 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' signed into law on July 4, 2025, makes permanent certain expiring tax provisions, including 100% accelerated depreciation and immediate R&D expensing. This is expected to reduce the company's current year U.S. cash tax obligations, providing a positive impact from the regulatory environment.
The OECD's 15% global minimum tax regime (Pillar Two), effective January 1, 2024, has been enacted in several countries. TJX states these changes did not have a material impact on its effective tax rate, results of operations, or financial position for the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2026, indicating manageable impact from this regulatory shift.