Bath & Body Works forecasts wider-than-expected third quarter sales decline on weak store traffic (updated)

Bath & Body Works

26/08/2026 12:32

Rewrites paragraphs 1 & 2, adds share movement
By Sanskriti  Shekhar and Danielle Kaye
Aug 26 (Reuters) - Bath & Body Works BBWI.N forecast a wider-than-expected decline in current-quarter sales on Wednesday, as the personal care brand struggles through weak store traffic in the early stages of a turnaround.
The company raised its annual profit target helped by tariff refunds as well as demand its in digital channels.  
Shares of the company fell about 4% in premarket trading.
Like many consumer companies, Bath & Body Works is in the midst of a turnaround focused on product innovation and enhancing its digital platform under CEO Daniel Heaf.
"The progress (in its turnaround efforts), because it's early, has yet to offset the changes in the whole business," CEO Heaf told Reuters, adding that the company is seeing a decline in store traffic and a broader weakness in mall traffic.
Bath & Body Works has been expanding its distribution beyond its own stores through third-party channels, including Amazon and a partnership with Ulta Beauty to draw affluent younger consumers.
Cosmetics maker Coty COTY.N last week forecast current-quarter earnings below expectations, as consumers become more selective in their spending and higher oil prices also weigh.
It forecast a drop in third-quarter net sales of between 2.5% and 5%, compared to estimates of a 2.9% drop.
It sees Q3 adjusted EPS between 7 cents and 12 cents, while analysts expect 26 cents.
Bath & Body Works expects annual adjusted profit between $2.60 and $2.80 per share, compared with its prior forecast of $2.40 to $2.65 per share.
It benefited from about $80 million in tariff refunds during the second quarter.
Excluding that benefit, the company's earnings per share stood at 31 cents. Analysts estimated a profit of 24 cents per share.
Bath & Body Works posted second-quarter sales of $1.51 billion, edging past analysts' estimate of $1.50 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.

 (Reporting by Sanskriti Shekhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
 ((Sanskriti.Shekhar@thomsonreuters.com))