J.Jill Q2 Earnings Beat and Outlook
On 9 September 2026, J.Jill, Inc. (NYSE:JILL) announced its fiscal second‑quarter results, which exceeded analyst expectations and triggered a 14.83% rise in pre‑market trading, broadly reported as a 15% jump.
The retailer posted adjusted earnings per share of $1.24 for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.57 by $0.67. Revenue increased 0.5% year‑over‑year to $154.8 million, surpassing the $151.26 million forecast. The earnings uplift was supported by a $13.3 million pre‑tax benefit from IEEPA tariff refunds, which lifted gross margin to 76.8% versus 68.4% in the comparable prior‑year period; excluding the tariff refunds, gross margin stood at 68.3%.
Comparable sales grew 0.5% for the quarter. Direct‑to‑consumer (DTC) sales rose 1.9% and accounted for 47.1% of total net sales. At quarter‑end, J.Jill operated 255 stores, up from 247 stores a year earlier.
Looking ahead, the company projected third‑quarter fiscal 2026 net sales to increase between 3% and 5% year‑over‑year, with a midpoint of 4% growth. Comparable sales for the quarter are expected to rise 1% to 3%, and adjusted EBITDA is guided to $20.0 million‑$22.0 million, with a midpoint of $21.0 million. For the full fiscal year 2026, J.Jill raised its outlook, now anticipating net sales to be flat to up 2% versus fiscal 2025 and adjusted EBITDA in the range of $75 million‑$80 million, midpoint $77.5 million.
"Our second quarter results reflect progress across each of our three strategic priorities – evolving the product assortment, enhancing the customer journey, and advancing the way we work," said Mary Ellen Coyne, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We delivered sales that exceeded our expectations, with underlying profitability at the high end of our outlook before the benefit of tariff refunds."