Key highlights

  • Universal Store reported FY26 group sales of $376.1 million, up 12.9%, and underlying EBIT of $64.0 million, up 17.2%, in its 20 August 2026 release.
  • Statutory NPAT was $18.2 million, down 21.6%, after a $23.8 million non-cash Impairment of CTC intangible assets.
  • The full-year Dividend was 43.0 cents, fully franked, and net cash was $23.3 million.

Universal Store Holdings Ltd (ASX:UNI) closed 21 October 2026 at $7.94, lower by 1.12%. Across the market, the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary [XDJ] index settled at 3,741.90, higher by 0.34% or 12.50 points, the S&P/ASX 200 [XJO] at 8,831.30, higher by 0.16%, and the All Ordinaries at 8,956.60, higher by 0.14%, at 5:00 pm GMT+11. Universal Store is a specialty retailer of youth casual fashion apparel.

What Universal Store does

Universal Store Holdings Limited operates the Universal Store, Perfect Stranger and THRILLS retail brands and the CTC direct-to-customer business. It had 123 physical stores at 30 June 2026.

FY26 results

In an ASX release dated 20 August 2026, Universal Store reported group sales of $376.1 million, up 12.9%. Universal Store sales were $313.3 million, up 11.5% with like-for-like sales up 8.1%, Perfect Stranger sales were $35.9 million, up 40.8%, and CTC sales were $36.4 million, down 9.2%. Gross Margin rose 140 basis points to 62.5%, underlying EBIT was $64.0 million, up 17.2%, underlying NPAT was $40.5 million, up 16.3%, and underlying EPS was 52.8 cents.

Impairment, dividend and cash

Statutory NPAT of $18.2 million, down 21.6%, includes a $23.8 million non-cash impairment of CTC intangible assets. The fully franked final dividend was 17.0 cents, bringing the full-year dividend to 43.0 cents, up 11.7%, an 81.5% payout of underlying NPAT. Net cash excluding Lease liabilities was $23.3 million.

Sector context

Consumer discretionary companies depend on household spending, travel, leisure and housing activity, and they are tracked through the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary index, which closed at 3,741.90, up 0.34%, on 21 October 2026 alongside a 0.16% rise in the S&P/ASX 200 to 8,831.30. Youth fashion retail depends on discretionary spending by younger consumers and on fashion cycles.

Risks and uncertainties

CTC sales fell 9.2% and its Goodwill and Brand intangibles were impaired, reducing statutory profit. Fashion trends, consumer spending, costs and store rollout can affect results.

Catalysts to watch

Items to watch include trading updates, Perfect Stranger growth, CTC performance and store openings.

Closing perspective

Universal Store’s 20 August 2026 release recorded higher sales and underlying profit, with statutory profit reduced by an impairment. The next update will show trading.