Operator: Greetings, and welcome to the Tilly's Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call. At this time, all parties are in a listen-only mode. A question-and-answer session will follow the formal presentation. Anyone should require operator assistance, please press 0 on your telephone keypad. It is now my pleasure to introduce your host, Gar Jackson with Investor Relations. Thank you. You may begin.

Gar Jackson: Thank you. Good afternoon, and welcome to Tilly's Fiscal 2026 Second Quarter Earnings Call. Nate Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer and Mike Henry, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will discuss the company's business and operating results, followed by a Q&A session with analysts. For a copy of Tilly's earnings press release, please visit the Investor Relations section of the company's website at tilly's.com. From the same section shortly after the conclusion, of the call, you will also be able to find a recorded replay of this call for the next 30 days. Forward looking statements will be made during this call that reflect Tilly's judgment and analysis only as of today, September 2, 2026, and actual results may differ materially from current expectations based on various factors affecting Tilly's business. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward looking statements. A more thorough discussion of the risks and uncertainties associated with any forward looking statements, please see the disclaimer regarding forward looking statements that is included in our fiscal 2026 second quarter earnings release, which is furnished to the SEC today, on Form 8-K as well as our other filings with the SEC referenced in that disclaimer. Today's call will be limited to 1 hour, and I will include a Q&A session after our prepared remarks. I now turn the call over to Nate.

Nathan Smith: Thanks, Gar, and to thanks to all for joining us today. Good afternoon. A couple of weeks ago, I completed my first full year at Tilly's, and I can say without a doubt that it is an exciting time to be part of the team. The company has once again executed with discipline. Delivering our 3rd straight quarter of double digit comp sales growth in the second quarter with that momentum holding strong through back to school in July and August. In reflecting on this past year, we have clearly demonstrated a consistency in execution that we would be proud of. I would like to acknowledge some important achievements that speak to the turnaround momentum that we have been building over the last year. First, we have now produced 4 consecutive quarters and 13 consecutive months, of year over year comparable net sales growth. Including our 12.1% comp sales increase in the recently completed second quarter and our 14.6% comp sales increase in fiscal August to begin the third quarter. Next, we have now delivered 7 consecutive quarters of year over year product margin improvement. We are not only seeing stronger full price sales overall, but we are also seeing significantly improved average unit retails on aged clearance items from the impact of the AI price optimization investment we made last year. We have been delivering higher sales on lower inventory levels so far this year, further aiding our product margin gains. Third, we have now posted 5 consecutive quarters of year over year profit improvement on the bottom line. This has been driven not only by improved merchandise assortments, tighter inventory planning and management, and sharper pricing decisions, but also through significant efficiencies in store and distribution labor management and stable home office expenses as sales have grown. And finally, the collection of these improvements has now returned us to profitability on a trailing 4 quarters basis as well as on a year to date basis for fiscal 2026. it is just under $2 million of profit over the past 4 quarters, and $400 thousand of profit on a year to date basis, But these are important milestones cleared in our turnaround story as we work towards producing what we currently believe will be our first profitable fiscal year since 2022. We are encouraged by our progress, but we are not finished. We intend to keep executing and building upon the momentum we have generated. From a merchandising perspective in the second quarter, all departments but footwear posted double digit percentage comp sales gains. Performance was once again strong across both proprietary and third party brands in apparel with few exceptions. These results reflect an assortment that was well positioned for our critical back to school season. In terms of store performance, all geographic markets posted comp sales gains in the fourth quarter. Strong conversion, units per transaction, and average sale growth fueled the performance in our stores. We believe this demonstrates the strength of our assortment, and the effectiveness of our customer engagement. In terms of store real estate, we opened 1 new store 1 in each of late July and early August, and we currently expect to open 1 additional store in mid November. We also closed 1 store in mid July and currently expect to close 1 store 1 in each of late September and December and 2 more at the end of January to finish the year with 218 total stores in operation. In fiscal 2027, we are tentatively targeting to open 5 to 8 new stores depending on available opportunities and our ability to achieve appropriate lease economics. Our digital business grew by 20.9% in the second quarter. Expanding our presence across the platforms our customers use most including TikTok and other emerging channels, has been an important evolution of our online capabilities. We believe our improved focus on social media platforms has helped reach new audiences based on our TikTok follower count nearly doubling to over 325 thousand and our 1-year active loyalty program membership growing by 20% to 4.6 million members since this time last year. We need both stores and online performing well to reach our profitability goals and we are encouraged by our customers' response to our product offerings and content across all touch points. In terms of technology investments, I already noted our investment in AI price optimization that was launched in October last year. We are also about to launch an AI driven smart inventory allocation tool to improve accuracy in terms of units, sizing, and balance across our fleet of stores and online. We will also implement RFID in our stores in early 2027, starting with footwear, to improve customer experience and in store efficiency relating to size availability. These investments clearly indicate that we are moving forward with confidence and conviction as we continue to invest in the future of our business while we continue building our turnaround momentum. In closing, I want to once again thank and recognize our stores, field management, distribution centers, and home office teams for everything they have accomplished together this past year. there is still work ahead of us, as we work toward returning to historical levels of profitability but we are encouraged by the progress we have made and confident in the direction of the business. We look forward to updating you as we continue to execute against our long term plan. I will now turn the call over to Mike to walk through the details of our fiscal 2026 second quarter operating performance and to introduce our third quarter outlook.

Michael L. Henry: Thanks, Nate. Details regarding our operating results for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 compared to last year's second quarter were as follows. Total net sales were $163.5 million an increase of $12.3 million or 8.1%. Total comparable net sales, including both physical stores and e commerce, increased by 12.1%. Marking our third consecutive quarter of double digit comparable net sales increases. Total net sales from physical stores increased by 5.1%, despite operating 12 fewer stores or 5.2% less than at the end of last year's second quarter, and represented 78.9% of total net sales for the quarter compared to 81.1% last year. E commerce net sales increased by 20.9% and represented 21.1% of total net sales for the quarter compared to 18.9% last year. Gross margin, including buying, distribution and occupancy expenses improved by 300 basis points to 35.5% of net sales from 32.5% of net sales last year. Product margins improved by 140 basis points compared to last year, primarily due to improved full price selling of inventories that were more current in terms of aging and improved productivity from selling of our clearance items. Buying distribution and occupancy costs improved by 160 basis points due to carrying these costs against higher net sales this year. Lower occupancy costs associated with our reduced store count largely offset by higher e-comm shipping expenses associated with e-comm net sales growth. Total SG&A expenses were $49.9 million or 30.5% of net sales compared to $46.4 million or 30.7% of net sales last year. SG&A improved by 20 basis points as a percentage of net sales due to carrying expenses against higher net sales this year. Bonus accruals associated with our significantly improved operating performance exceeding budgeted sales and earnings targets added $1.5 million to the quarter. Marketing expenses increased by $800 thousand in support of our net sales growth. Store payroll and related benefits increased by $600 thousand but improved by 70 basis points as a percentage of net sales. Pretax income was $8.5 million or 5.2% of net sales, compared to $3.1 million or 2.1% of net sales last year. Income tax expense was $86 thousand or 1% of pretax income, compared to an income tax benefit of $41 thousand or 1.3% of pretax income last year. Both year's income tax results include the continuing impact of a full noncash deferred tax asset valuation allowance. Net income was $8.4 million or $0.27 per diluted share, compared to $3.2 million or $0.10 per diluted share last year representing an improvement of $5.2 million or $0.17 per diluted share compared to last year's second quarter. As Nate noted earlier, this represents our 5th consecutive quarter of year over year profit improvement and we have now returned to profitability on a trailing 4 quarters basis for the first time since the end of fiscal 22, and we are profitable on a year to date basis for the first half of fiscal 2026. On our debt free balance sheet, we ended the second quarter with total cash and investments of $62.2 million an increase of $11.5 million compared to $50.7 million at the end of last year's second quarter We had no borrowings at any time with available undrawn borrowing capacity of $63.3 million under our asset backed credit facility at the end of the second quarter. Total balance sheet inventory decreased by 1.3% compared to the end of last year's second quarter while being several percentage points more current within 90 days aged than a year ago. Looking to the third quarter of fiscal 2026, total comparable net sales for fiscal August ended 08/29/2026, increased by 14.6% relative to the comparable period of last year, marking our 13th consecutive month of comparable net sales growth. Based on current and historical trends, we estimate the following ranges for the third quarter of fiscal 2026. Net sales of approximately $150 million to $155 million translating to a comparable net sales increase range of 10% to 14%, respectively, which if achieved would represent our 4th consecutive quarter of double digit percentage comp sales growth. Product margins to be slightly improved relative to last year's third quarter, SG&A of approximately $47 million to $49 million excluding any potential noncash asset impairment charges, and an estimated effective income tax rate in the low to mid teens as a percentage of pre tax income with a continuing impact of a full noncash valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets. Net income in the range of approximately $2.2 million to $3.7 million respectively, to net sales and earnings per diluted share of $0.07 to $0.12 respectively, based on approximately 32 million diluted shares. This compares to a net loss of $1.4 million or $0.05 per share during last year's third quarter These results would represent a 6th consecutive quarter of year over year profit improvement for us. We expect to end the third quarter with 214 total stores, after 1 new store opening and 1 closure during the quarter. This represents a net decrease of 10 stores or 4.3% compared to the end of last year's third quarter. We expect to end the third quarter with total liquidity of approximately $125 million or more comprised of cash and investments of approximately $62 million to $65 million and available undrawn borrowing capacity of approximately $63 million under our asset backed credit facility. Operator, we will now go to our Q&A session.

Operator: Thank you. We will now be conducting a question and answer session. If you would like to ask a question, please press 1 on your telephone keypad. A confirmation tone will indicate your line is in the question queue. You may press 2 to remove yourself from the queue. For participants using speaker equipment, it may be necessary to pick up the handset before pressing the star keys. Our first question comes from the line of Matt Koranda with ROTH Capital Partners LLC. Please proceed with your question.

Matt Koranda: Hey, guys. Thanks. Nice job. I guess the August comp that you cited approaching about 15%, accelerating off of the 12% you put up in the second quarter, this despite the tougher comparison that you have going on a year over year basis. So I guess maybe just speak to that acceleration that you are seeing, what is working in the assortment? Any incremental benefit from the TikTok shops initiatives or other drivers that are driving that acceleration?

Nathan Smith: Well, really, everything. As we mentioned, almost everything was double digit positive in the third, in the second quarter, and that continued on through August. All departments, but footwear, were up double digits It was broad based across geographies. So really doing well just about anywhere you look. Really nice to see, that kind of momentum continue all the way through the back to school season.

Matt Koranda: Okay. And then I noticed I mean, inventory really tight and good performance there. Curious how you feel about sort of the assortment and the setup into the fall period here. As you gear up for holiday. Are we in chase mode? How should we think about sort of inventory movement in the back half of the year as you sort of set up for the holiday season?

Nathan Smith: Yeah. Good question, Matt. So we, you know, we are we feel very strongly about how we are set up. We were throughout the back to school season. We were we were largely speaking where we needed to be. There was a little bit of a gap in footwear, and we chased some there. But going into fall, and obviously heading into holiday, we feel good about where we are at. The team has done a nice job obviously, managing the inventories where sales were up 8% on inventory down 1% in dollars in Q2. Which is a great sign. So we feel good about you know, Q2, and we feel strongly about how we are assorted and how we are preparing for Q3 and holiday. But overall, we what we continually sharpen our assortment. So we like where we are at. We were well positioned for back to school. But our CMO and team are continually sharpening the assortment every single week.

Matt Koranda: Okay. And then maybe just 1 or 2 more from me here. The I guess the inflection in the business and the acceleration that you are seeing in comp, has that changed the discussion with some of the vendors that historically you would wanted to bring into the store, some of the brands that you were looking at bringing in but had not been able to before? I mean, maybe just speak to where the assortment sits in terms of the brand portfolio that is in existence now and what you have available to you, with the better performance here?

Nathan Smith: Yeah. it is a good question. I do not think the inflection of the business has a bearing on those conversations. I mean, we are we are a strong retailer, the brands that we are speaking to understand what we have to offer as far as, you know, customer base and our store experience. So you know, generally speaking, the conversations we have with brands we wanna bring in revolves more around you know, is it a great fit for Tilly's? As opposed to the business has reached an inflection point, and now we are ready to engage with Tilly's. So we feel good about where we are at. There are some brands on our radar that we are actively going after, and we feel good about our you know, respect, you know, possibly bringing those in.

Matt Koranda: Okay. And then maybe just last 1 on what is built into the guidance from an operating, leverage standpoint, I guess, maybe, Mike, I would have assumed with the really strong positive comp that you are guiding for the third quarter that maybe we would get a little bit of leverage out of SG&A. It looked like that is built in at least at the midpoint. So maybe just speak to what are the things holding it back I would assume maybe bonus accrual, but any other items to think about that are that are kind of keeping SG&A sort of growing in lockstep with sales?

Michael L. Henry: SG&A should have a little bit of improvement as a percent of sales relative to last year's third quarter. Similarly to what you saw in the second quarter, we were 20 basis points better Bonus accruals are coming into that, right, given that we have returned to profit and generating strong product margins and everything beating our targets, significantly. that is an expense that has not existed in our model for 4 years. So it is a non-comparable if you think about that. And so as long as we can take-- continue to execute the way that we have been executing, you might see similar sorts of movements from bonus in particular that would maybe add a little more to SG&A than what you would typically expect.

Matt Koranda: Okay. Gotcha. I will leave it there, guys. Thank you.

Michael L. Henry: Thank you.

Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Dowry with Singular Research. Please proceed with your question.

Analyst: Good afternoon, gentlemen. Can you all hear me? Yes. Yeah. Nice quarter, guys. Just on the question of Q3 guidance. Would the August already kind of at 15, 14.6 what is the single biggest swing factor that decides what the barrier to landing at the top end of the of the range.

Michael L. Henry: Yeah. Good question. Most of the scenarios that we look at do point towards the upper end of our range. But when you look over the recent years, 3 of the last 4 years, our comp actually decelerated after back to school finished, and you got out of what I will refer to as the need based period of the quarter we did see 3 out of the last 4 years that September slowed by about 8 comp points relative to August. And that was consistent through 2022, 2023, and 2024. Last year was the exception where September was consistent with August, and then October actually accelerated. So in putting together our range, taking into account where we are. More of the scenarios that we have looked at do point to the upper end of the range as being the most likely landing point. But we are allowing for what if there is a deceleration like there has been in 3 of the most recent 4 years in the September, October time frame and acknowledging that October will be the toughest comparison of the quarter even though it is the smallest month of the quarter given it had the strongest performance of the quarter in last year's third quarter. Gotcha. Okay. And you said the merchandise commitment that there is still there is no, that you be chasing. So but Q4 last year, comped to around 10.1% and that is kind of generally a hard lap you face. Does the 2 year stack as you are seeing in August give you confidence that you can hold a double digit comp against that, or are we still kind of planning for a single digit to or planning to go-stack to flatten out? Well, we have not issued any kind of specific guidance for fourth quarter yet. We always just go 1 quarter at a time. But you know, looking at the 2 year would suggest that we can comp the 10% whether or not it is in single digits or double digits. We will see that when we get into the holiday season. I would really love I think we would all really love it if we could see us, you know, double digit on top of double digit. That would be phenomenal. But know, I cannot predict the future with any specificity to know whether that is whether that is coming or not. But I can tell you, we are certainly planning for and expecting for us to have a positive comp in the fourth quarter. To what extent, I do not know. it is too early. Gotcha. With the ecommerce you said the e the low occupancy costs were largely offset by higher e commerce shopping this quarter. E-comm was around 20%, around 28% in Q4 last year. As the mix-- highest mix quarter. As the mix does, buying and distribution and occupancy still leverage on a positive comp? It has been. As we have been producing the comps that we have got. So occupancy from an accounting perspective, most of it is recognized on a straight line basis over the life of a lease. So occupancy dollars, all things being equal in terms of store count, you would expect occupancy to stay pretty stable dollars wise. And then there are relatively fixed elements of distribution as well, The things that move within distribution are e com shipping and shipping costs to our stores, depending on volume, number of units and boxes that we are that we are shipping. So that is a variable element of distribution. That can move around, and then buying is just the buying team. So it is the salaries and efforts of the buying team. So that stays pretty consistent from quarter to quarter as well.

Analyst: Gotcha. I will make this my last question. You said, this is your first profitable year since 2022. I know your landlords must be hearing that too. So how many of your leases come up for renewal in the next 12 months, and what part of that renewal spread would be looking like versus expiring rent?

Nathan Smith: I know Mike's got the numbers, and we are already engaged with many of our landlords. Every year, we have lease that expire that we will begin negotiating in the prior years. We are negotiating now. For extensions on those stores that are coming due. No different than any other year.

Michael L. Henry: Mike, you know what? Do you have the exact numbers? Yeah. We have 20 lease decisions left to make for this fiscal year by the time the end of the fiscal year comes. And we would anticipate keeping all 20 of those stores. Next year, we have roughly 60 to 65 lease decisions to make for leases that are expiring during fiscal 27. You know, if we are starting to have conversations about 2027 expirations, we have agreed to certain things already. So it is a constant effort, working through the lease expirations that are coming up anywhere in the next 6 to 12 to 18 months. And, to continue, as we sit here today. We do not know of any additional closures, that would come up There likely will be some, as we go forward. But it is just not clear what that number is The great majority of our leases tend to expire towards the end of the fiscal year. So as it relates to 2027, most of those decisions are still 15 months out, 16 months out. Thank you, guys. Congratulations, and I will get back in the queue. Thank you.

Nathan Smith: Thank you.

Operator: Thank you. And we have reached the end of the question and answer session. I would like to turn the floor back over to CEO Nate Smith for closing remarks.

Nathan Smith: Thank you for joining us on the call today. And we look forward to sharing more progress with you during our third quarter earnings call in early December. Have a good evening.

Operator: Thank you. This concludes today's conference. You may disconnect your lines at this time. We thank you for your participation.