Williams-Sonoma posts Q1 sales gains across brands; 2026 off to ‘strong start’
Williams-Sonoma Inc. outperformed on its top and bottom lines during the first quarter amid a strong performance by all its brands, with West Elm once again leading the charge.
“Overall, we are thrilled with momentum at West Elm,” Williams-Sonoma president and CEO Laura Alber said on the earnings call. “The brand is executing well, and we feel good about the opportunity to build on this progress as we move through 2026 and beyond. The strength in the brand gives us confidence to return store count growth with five West Elm openings planned in 2026.”
The home furnishings giant also announced a leadership change, promoting company veteran Jennifer Kellor to president of its Pottery Barn division. She replaces Monica Bhargava, who has left the company after 26 years.
Williams-Sonoma Inc.'s first-quarter net income totaled $231.362 million, or earnings per share of $1.93, for the quarter ended May 4, compared to $231.263 million, or earnings per share of $1.85, in the year-ago period. Analysts had expected earnings per share of $1.80.
Revenue rose 4.4% to $1.805 billion, slightly ahead of analyst estimates of $1.80 billion, with comparable sales up 4.8%. The company’s West Elm division was the strongest performer, with revenue up 8.5%. Five new West Elm openings are planned for this year.
Operating cash flow rose 31.4% to $156.3 million, and the company returned $373 million to shareholders during the quarter.
“We are off to a strong start in 2026,” Alber stated in the earnings release. “Every brand delivered a positive comp in the quarter, driven by the strength of our portfolio, our channels, and our teams.. We are delivering compounding results year-after-year despite the cyclical swings of the housing market and other macroeconomic events. We believe our strong brands, our proven ability to execute our vision, and our relentless focus on customer service will allow us to accomplish our goals in 2026 and beyond.”
Williams-Sonoma ended the quarter with a total of 506 stores. The company’s brand portfolio is made up of Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, West Elm, Williams Sonoma Home, Rejuvenation, Mark and Graham, GreenRow and Dormify
