Shoe Carnival, Inc. (NASDAQ:SCVL) shares rose Thursday after the company reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings and sales despite softer comparable-store demand across its retail banners.

The retailer also highlighted improving sales trends, stronger cash generation and lower inventory levels while reaffirming its earnings outlook and slightly raising its full-year sales forecast.

Quarter In Detail

Shoe Carnival Inc. reported first-quarter adjusted earnings per share of 23 cents. It beat the analyst consensus estimate of 20 cents.

Quarterly sales of $270.73 million outpaced the Street view of $267.702 million. Comparable store sales declined 2.1%.

Shoe Carnival banner net sales declined 2.2% in the quarter, improving from trends seen throughout fiscal 2025.

Shoe Station banner net sales decreased 3.1% during the quarter. Shoe Carnival reported a quarterly gross profit margin of 33.3%, compared with 34.5% a year ago.

At the end of the first quarter of 2026, the company held approximately $129.3 million in cash. That’s a 39% year over year invrease.

Cash flow from operations increased $32.7 million while capital expenditures declined $2.9 million. Merchandise inventories at the end of first quarter 2026 were $417.2 million, down $11.2 million compared to the end of the first quarter of 2025.

Shoe Carnival said it continues to expect inventory declines of $50 to $65 million by the end of fiscal year 2026 compared to the end of fiscal 2025.

Outlook

Shoe Carnival affirmed fiscal 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $1.40 to $1.60, compared with the analyst estimate of $1.50.

The company also raised its fiscal 2026 sales outlook to $1.125 billion-$1.147 billion from $1.124 billion-$1.147 billion, versus the Street estimate of $1.131 billion.

SCVL Price Action: Shoe Carnival shares are trading higher by 4.38% to $16.46 at last check on Thursday.

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