Revolve Q2 Earnings Beat on Expanding Customer Base & Higher Margins

Demand indicators remained favorable. Trailing 12-month active customers increased 11% year over year to 3.041 million, which exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 2.954 million. Total orders grew 11% to 2.701 million, surpassing the consensus estimate of 2.649 million. Average order value was $299 compared with $300 a year earlier, with the slight decline reflecting a greater contribution from lower-priced Grow-Good beauty products. The Zacks Consensus Estimate of average order value was pegged at $303.

RVLV Shows Broad-Based Growth Across Segments

Revolve’s segment results underscored the balance of the quarter’s top-line performance. Net sales in the REVOLVE segment rose 13% year over year to $302.5 million, while FWRD net sales increased 11% to $44.9 million. This marked the third consecutive quarter of double-digit growth across both operating segments. The Zacks Consensus Estimate of the REVOLVE and FWRD segments’ net sales was pegged at $296 million and $45.2 million, respectively, in the second quarter.

Geographically, U.S. net sales climbed 11% year over year to $269.1 million, beating the consensus estimate of $264 million. International net sales grew 16% to $78.4 million and accounted for nearly 23% of total revenues, the highest mix reported by the company. Management noted growth across all regions, with Mexico remaining strong and the Middle East rebounding from a weak start to deliver double-digit growth for the quarter.

Revolve Expands Gross Margin on Tariff Refunds

RVLV posted gross profit of $196.7 million, up 18% year over year, as gross margin expanded 254 basis points to 56.6%. The increase included a 162-basis-point benefit from IEEPA tariff refunds. Excluding the refunds, gross margin still improved about 92 basis points, helped by AI and data-driven recalibration of markdown algorithms.

The REVOLVE segment’s gross profit increased 18% year over year to $176.9 million. Its segment gross margin was about 58.5%, compared with roughly 55.9% a year earlier, and included a $5.2 million tariff-refund benefit.

FWRD gross profit rose 15% to $19.7 million. The segment’s gross margin improved to about 44% from roughly 42.2% in the prior-year quarter and included a $0.5 million tariff-refund benefit.

Income from operations increased 23% year over year to $22.1 million. The operating margin expanded to 6.4% from 5.8%, despite higher investments in marketing, physical retail, the REVOLVE Los Angeles label and the Grow-Good beauty venture.

Adjusted EBITDA rose 17% to $26.8 million, including a $5.6 million benefit from tariff refunds. The adjusted EBITDA margin increased 30 basis points year over year to 7.7% from 7.4%.

RVLV Raises Marketing Spend as Distribution Costs Climb

Revolve increased marketing spending to support major growth initiatives during the second quarter. Marketing expenses rose to $57.5 million, or 16.5% of net sales, from $47.1 million, or 15.2%, in the year-ago quarter. The increase mainly reflected investments in the REVOLVE Los Angeles namesake label, brand-building initiatives and newer marketing channels, including connected television.

Selling and distribution expenses increased to $62.1 million, or 17.9% of net sales, from $53.8 million, or 17.4%, a year earlier. Management attributed the reduced efficiency to higher customer shipping costs, including variable fuel and other surcharges in international markets, partially offset by a lower product return rate.

Fulfillment costs were $11.6 million, or 3.3% of net sales, compared with $9.8 million, or 3.2%, in the prior-year quarter. The increase primarily reflected higher compensation expenses for fulfillment staff, partly offset by the lower return rate.

General and administrative expenses rose to $43.4 million, or 12.5% of net sales, from $38.3 million, or 12.4%. Higher spending was tied largely to investments in the REVOLVE Los Angeles label, physical retail expansion and the Grow-Good beauty venture developed with Cardi B.

Revolve Maintains Strong Liquidity Despite Q2 Cash Outflow

RVLV used $8.2 million of cash in operating activities during the second quarter, compared with $12.6 million generated in the year-ago period. Free cash flow was negative $10.9 million versus positive $9.6 million a year earlier, primarily because unfavorable working-capital movements more than offset the increase in net income.

For the first six months of 2026, operating cash flow remained positive at $41.2 million, while free cash flow totaled $34 million. The company repurchased 497,675 Class A shares for $9.9 million during the quarter at an average price of $19.98 per share.

The balance sheet remained a key financial strength. Cash and cash equivalents were $311.6 million at June 30, 2026, up slightly from $310.7 million a year earlier and the company remained debt-free.

Inventory ended the quarter at $275.8 million, up 25% year over year and 9.5% from the end of 2025. Management noted that the year-over-year comparison was affected by tariff-related shipment delays that reduced inventory in the prior-year period. On a two-year stacked basis, net sales growth exceeded inventory growth by approximately 5 percentage points.

RVLV Details Growth Initiatives

Revolve said the second REVOLVE Los Angeles collection delivered stronger early sell-through than the initial assortment. Management plans to establish the namesake label with premium products before expanding into additional categories and price points to support more meaningful sales volumes from 2027 onward.

Grow-Good beauty products, developed with Cardi B, also generated strong early demand, with the first three product drops selling out within hours. The company expects to begin receiving a significantly larger inventory restock in the fall. Management added that Grow-Good carries gross margins that are highly accretive to the overall business and attracts customers with limited overlap with REVOLVE and FWRD.

Management also emphasized international expansion, physical retail and artificial intelligence. Mexico continued to post strong growth following marketing and service improvements, while the Middle East rebounded from a weak start to deliver double-digit growth for the quarter. Revolve remains on track to open its third physical store at Aventura Mall in greater Miami during the fourth quarter.

On the technology front, RVLV plans to test an AI-powered image-search feature that will allow shoppers to upload a photograph and find identical or similar products. The company is using AI-powered internal analytics tools that allow employees to query enterprise data in plain English while monitoring traffic and conversion trends across its physical stores.

Revolve Updates 2026 Outlook

Revolve’s updated 2026 outlook reflects continued investment in growth initiatives amid geopolitical uncertainty, tariffs, inflation, supply-chain pressures and foreign currency volatility. Management noted that the gross margin forecast excludes any additional IEEPA tariff refunds.

For 2026, RVLV maintained its gross margin outlook at 53.5-54%. Fulfillment expenses are still expected to be 3.2-3.4% of net sales, while selling and distribution expenses remain projected at 17.1-17.3%.

The company raised its marketing expense forecast to 15.8-16% of net sales from 15.3-15.8%, reflecting second-quarter spending and continued investment in long-term growth initiatives. General and administrative expense guidance was also increased to $170-$172 million from $164-$168 million. The effective tax rate is still expected to be 24-26%.

For the third quarter of 2026, Revolve expects gross margin of 53.5-54%. Fulfillment expenses are projected at approximately 3.4% of net sales, while selling and distribution expenses are expected to account for roughly 17.5%.

Marketing expenses are forecasted at approximately 15% of third-quarter sales, while general and administrative expenses are expected to be about $43.5 million. Management also said fourth-quarter marketing spending is likely to exceed 16% of sales because of planned brand-building investments.

RVLV Stock Past Three-Month Performance

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The outlook follows an encouraging start to the third quarter, with July net sales increasing approximately 18% year over year. Management continued to target double-digit revenue growth for 2026.

Shares of this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company have risen 30.6% over the past three months compared with the industry’s 8.7% growth.

Other Key Picks

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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Abercrombie & Fitch’s current fiscal-year earnings and sales indicates growth of 6.1% and 4.9%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. ANF delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 8.1%.

American Eagle Outfitters Inc. AEO is a specialty retailer of casual apparel, accessories and footwear for men and women. The company carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present. 

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for American Eagle's current fiscal-year earnings and sales implies growth of 17.3% and 8.8%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. AEO delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 48.5%.

Designer Brands Inc. DBI designs, produces and retails footwear and accessories. It offers shoes, boots, sandals, sneakers, socks, handbags and accessories. Designer Brands also carries a Zacks Rank #2 at present.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Designer Brands’ current fiscal-year earnings and sales indicates growth of 137.5% and 0.5%, respectively, from the year-ago actuals. DBI delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 112.8%.

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