J.Jill Sets 2026 as Investment Year After Weak Quarter, Cites Tariff Squeeze

Overview

• J.Jill, which reported fourth‑quarter results Tuesday, posted sales of $138.4 million down 3.1% with comparable sales off 4.8%, gross margin down 320 basis points to 63.1%, adjusted EBITDA of $7.2 million, and an adjusted loss of $0.02 per share.
• Leaders said the quarter fell short because early-season styles did not connect with shoppers, rivals pushed deeper holiday discounts earlier, and more direct customers hunted for deals instead of paying full price.
• Management labeled fiscal 2026 an investment year with about $15 million in tariff costs, guided first‑quarter sales down roughly 5% to 7% with comps down 7% to 9%, and projected full‑year sales roughly flat to down 2% and adjusted EBITDA of $70–75 million.
• The company said a new order management system is live and an AI‑powered Anaplan tool for planning and allocation is slated for late 2026, with most operational benefits expected in 2027.
• J.Jill raised its quarterly dividend 12.5% to $0.09, kept $14.1 million of buyback capacity, refinanced a $75 million term loan to 2030 for flexibility, and mapped about five net new stores focused on familiar reentry markets.