Aritzia focused on U.S. store expansion in 2026 — here’s where
On the heels of a strong fourth quarter and year, Aritzia Inc. is entering new markets as it expands its store footprint in the United States.
The Canadian fashion retailer plans to open 12 or 13 new stores in its current fiscal year (fiscal 2027), with the majority in the U.S. Aritzia, which currently operates 76 U.S. locations, sees the potential for approximately 180 to 200 stores here.
“Right now we’re focused on growth in the U.S.,” CEO Jennifer Wong said on the company’s recent earnings call. “We have a ton of runway in the U.S. still to go. "In addition, we expect to begin work on a second distribution center in the U.S. later this year or early next year.”
Aritzia’s U.S. stores that opened in fiscal 2026 are on track to pay back in less than a year, ahead of the company’s target of 12 to 18 months, Wong told analysts.
Aritzia will enter four new markets this year: Birmingham, Ala.; Fort Worth, Texas; New Orleans; and St. Louis, Mo. In addition, the company has locations planned for Atlanta; Las Vegas; Cleveland, Ohio; Carlsbad, Calif.; Dallas-Fort Worth; and Florida, CFO Todd Ingledew said on the earnings call.
“It’s really across the country — north, south, east and west — that we’re looking at opening new stores this year in the United States,” he told analysts.
Fourth Quarter
For its fourth quarter, ended March 1, Aritzia reported that its net revenue increased 32.6% to $1.19 billion (Canadian dollars). Net revenue in the U.S. increased 37.8% to $755.3 million (Canadian dollars), comprising 63.7% of net revenue.
Retail net revenue increased 35.0% to $698.2 million (Canadian dollars). Comparable sales jumped 27.7%.
Net income increased 34.8% to $134.3 million (Canadian dollars), with earnings per share of $1.22 (Canadian dollars), compared to $0.84 (Canadian dollars) per share in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted earnings per share increased 38.6% to $1.15 (Canadian dollars) per share, compared to $0.83 (Canadian dollars) per share in the year-ago quarter.
In the earnings statement, Wong said that Aritzia’s strong momentum has continued into the first quarter of its current fiscal year, driven by an “outstanding” response to it spring/summer assortment.
“Underpinned by the strength of the Aritzia brand, our proven operating model and our healthy balance sheet, our business has never been better positioned for growth,” she said. “Having already achieved our fiscal 2027 revenue target one year early, we look forward to sharing our next long term strategic plan in the fall. Meanwhile we remain steadfast in further advancing our three strategic growth levers - geographic expansion, digital growth and increased brand awareness - all while continuing to invest in infrastructure to support our growth.”