BNC First Day Program Revenue Up 29% Year-Over-Year
Gross Comparable Store Sales increased by $54.4M, or 6.0%, year-over-year. Revenues from BNC First Day programs increased by $91.7M, or 29.0%, year-over-year, as First Day Complete continues to see strong growth in institutional adoption. A total of 224 campus stores utilized First Day Complete in the fall 2025 academic term with a total enrollment of approximately 1.1M undergraduate and graduate students, up 22.2% from 0.9M in the prior year. Net income for the first half of fiscal 2026 was $6.7M compared to a net loss of $60.8M in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA for the first half of fiscal 2026 was $38.3M, an increase of $4.4M, from the $33.9M in the first half of the prior fiscal year. "Building on the accelerating success of our BNC First Day program, we continue to drive improved Adjusted EBITDA and strengthen our balance sheet by reducing our net debt," commented Jonathan Shar, CEO. "With the filing of our first and second quarter 10-Qs, we are now current with our SEC reporting. The continued expansion of the First Day Complete enrollment, combined with solid comparable store sales growth and disciplined expense management, position us for continued success going forward. We are looking forward to hosting an Investor Day in the coming months. We will share more details when we report our fiscal third quarter results."
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- Expansion Plan: Barnes & Noble plans to open 60 new stores in 2026, marking a significant turnaround after over a decade of reducing its retail footprint, indicating a renewed confidence in physical retail.
- Sales Growth: By granting greater control to local booksellers, Barnes & Noble has seen stronger sales across existing stores, demonstrating the effectiveness of its new strategy in driving performance recovery.
- Product Diversification: In addition to books, Barnes & Noble has begun selling music, toys, and games, and operates cafés in many locations, further enriching the shopping experience and enhancing its competitive position in the market.
- Leasing Strategy: The company has secured leases in several states, including California, Colorado, and Florida, although specific opening dates and store addresses have not been disclosed; this strategic positioning will aid its market penetration nationwide.
- Potential Overstatement: Barnes & Noble Education disclosed that management identified issues with the recording of digital sales costs, potentially leading to an overstatement of up to $23 million in accounts receivable as of May 3, 2025, raising significant investor concerns about financial integrity.
- Stock Price Decline: Following this revelation, on July 21, 2025, Barnes & Noble's shares fell by $2.36, approximately 21%, closing at $8.87 per share, indicating market apprehension regarding the company's financial transparency.
- Legal Investigation: Kirby McInerney LLP is investigating possible violations of federal securities laws by Barnes & Noble Education and its senior management, which could impact the company's reputation and future investor confidence.
- Investor Action: The law firm is urging investors who purchased Barnes & Noble securities to provide information, highlighting that the legal risks faced by the company may lead to shareholder losses, necessitating vigilance among investors regarding future developments.
- Potential Financial Violation: Barnes & Noble Education disclosed that management identified issues with the recording of digital sales costs, which may lead to a potential overstatement of up to $23 million in accounts receivable as of May 3, 2025, raising significant investor concerns about financial integrity.
- Stock Price Volatility: Following this revelation, Barnes & Noble's shares dropped by $2.36, or approximately 21%, closing at $8.87 per share on July 21, 2025, reflecting market apprehension regarding the company's financial transparency.
- Legal Investigation Initiated: Kirby McInerney LLP has commenced an investigation into potential violations of federal securities laws by Barnes & Noble and its senior management, aiming to safeguard investor interests and assess possible legal liabilities.
- Investor Action Recommendation: The law firm encourages all investors who purchased or acquired Barnes & Noble securities to contact them to discuss their rights and interests, indicating that the legal risks faced by the company may impact future investment decisions.

Stock Performance: Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (BNED) saw a significant increase of 31.74% in its stock price, rising to $8.81 after releasing preliminary fiscal results indicating operational improvements.
Financial Results: The company reported higher revenue, improved margins, and stronger cash flow, highlighting progress in its turnaround plan and better execution across stores.
Market Reaction: Trading volume surged as investors reacted positively to the stronger-than-expected results and the company's reaffirmed expectations for continued improvement in fiscal year 2026.
Stock Range: BNED's stock opened at $7.10, reached a high of $8.94, and has a 52-week trading range of $3.60 to $9.10.
U.S. Stock Market Performance: U.S. stocks saw gains, with the Dow up 1.20%, Nasdaq rising over 100 points, and S&P 500 increasing by 0.74%. Health care shares jumped 2%, while energy stocks fell by 0.9%.
Retail Sales and Economic Indicators: U.S. retail sales rose by 0.2% in September, a slowdown from August's 0.6% gain. The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index increased by 1.4% year-over-year, marking a continued slowdown.
Notable Stock Movements: Rubico Inc shares surged 45% after extending tanker charters, while Clean Energy Technologies Inc rose 67% following a $10 million project announcement. Conversely, MingZhu Logistics Holdings Ltd shares plummeted 85% due to a direct offering.
Global Market Trends: European shares rose, with the eurozone's STOXX 600 up 0.69%. Asian markets mostly closed higher, with Japan's Nikkei gaining slightly, while India's BSE Sensex declined by 0.37%.
Positive Financial Outlook: Barnes & Noble Education Inc (BNED) reported a projected revenue increase of 2.6% for the fiscal year ending May 3, 2025, and anticipates a swing to profitability in the first half of fiscal 2026, with expected net income between $3.0 million and $8.0 million.
Resolution of Accounting Investigation: The company concluded an internal accounting investigation, confirming that irregularities were due to the actions of a single terminated employee, which further boosted investor confidence.
Strong Market Performance: Following the announcements, BNED shares surged by 36.7%, reflecting positive market sentiment and a high momentum score of 10.06 from Benzinga Edge rankings.
Operational Highlights: The company experienced a significant 25.3% revenue increase in its "First Day" course material program and is on track to reduce net debt by nearly $92 million year-over-year.










