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BJ's Wholesale Club reported first-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings that beat expectations on Thursday, though the headline sales growth figure masked a far more modest performance in the company's core merchandise business.
Total comparable club sales rose 6.3% year-over-year in the thirteen weeks ended May 2, the company said. But once gasoline sales were stripped out, comparable club sales increased just 1.5% over the same period.
BJ's Wholesale Club stock rallied in early Friday trading after the results, according to MarketWatch. Pump prices have remained a significant factor for shoppers, with AAA data cited by MarketWatch showing per-gallon costs topping $4.50 nationwide and climbing past $6 in certain states, drawing budget-conscious consumers to warehouse club fuel stations.
For the thirteen weeks ended May 2, net income came in at $142.7 million, equivalent to $1.10 per diluted share, according to The Wall Street Journal. Earnings in the prior-year quarter had reached $149.8 million, or $1.13 per diluted share. Adjusted earnings per diluted share also came in at $1.10.
