Hello, everyone, welcome to the Johnson Outdoors second quarter 2026 earnings conference call. Today's call will be led by Helen Johnson-Leipold, Johnson Outdoors Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Also on the call is David Johnson, Chief Financial Officer. Prior to the question- and- answer session, all participants will be placed in a listen-only mode. After the prepared remarks, the question- and- answer session will begin. If you would like to ask a question during that time, please press star, then the number one one on your telephone keypad. This call is being recorded. Your participation implies consent to our recording this call. If you do not agree to these terms, simply drop off the line. I would now like to turn the call over to Allison Kitzerow from Johnson Outdoors. Please go ahead, Miss Kitzerow.
Good morning, thank you for joining us for our discussion of Johnson Outdoors results for the 2026 fiscal second quarter. If you need a copy of today's news release, it is available on our website at www.johnsonoutdoors.com under Investor Relations. I also need to remind you that this conference call may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are made on the basis of our current views and assumptions and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual events may differ materially from those statements due to a number of factors, many beyond Johnson Outdoors' control. These risks and uncertainties include those listed in our press release and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If you have any additional questions following the call, please contact Dave Johnson or Pat Penman. It is now my pleasure to turn the call over to Helen Johnson-Leipold.
Thanks, Allison. Good morning, everyone. I'll begin by sharing perspective on our second quarter and year-to-date results, as well as give an update on each business. Dave will review the financial highlights, and then we'll take your questions. Improved retail conditions and ongoing success of our product innovation helped drive a 15.5% revenue growth in the second quarter, with all business segments contributing to the improvement. Operating income for the second quarter was much improved versus the prior year Q2 due to the increased sales volume and our cost savings initiatives continuing to boost profitability as well. Year-to-date, our net sales are 21.5% higher than last year's fiscal 6-month period, with operating income and gross margin also up for the fiscal year-to-date period.
We are pleased with our second quarter and year-to-date results and are particularly proud of our market-leading brands, which continue to resonate with consumers and reinforce our leadership positions across our portfolio. Our fishing business delivered strong results in the second quarter, driven by improved trade conditions, continued robust demand for Humminbird's XPLORE series and MEGA Live 2 fish finders, and Minn Kota's full lineup of trolling motors, as well as pricing actions. These factors combine to reinforce our momentum and position in the marketplace. We remain focused on investing in the innovation to deliver fishing technology that sets the standard for anglers worldwide. In camping and watercraft, growth during the quarter was supported by our expanding digital and e-commerce capabilities, with Old Town and Jetboil maintaining their leadership positions in competitive categories.
During the quarter, Jetboil also launched TrailCook, a new innovation designed to expand the brand beyond boiling water into broader backcountry cooking. In both brands, we will continue to build on our strengths to drive sustained growth through innovation and deeper engagement with outdoor enthusiasts. Lastly, in our diving business, improved conditions across the global markets and continued growth in e-commerce helped drive a solid increase in second quarter sales. Digital engagement continues to play an increasingly important role enhancing connectivity between our SCUBAPRO brand, retail partners, and consumers. As we continue to lean into digital channels and strengthen our global footprint, we are optimistic about SCUBAPRO's ability to grow and further reinforce its position in the market. Overall, we are pleased with the quarter and year-to-date results.
By investing in and executing our strategic priorities, consumer-driven innovation, digital and e-commerce excellence, and operational efficiencies, we are strengthening our market position and taking the right steps to navigate macroeconomic uncertainty while building long-term resilience. Now I'll turn the call over to Dave for more details on the financials.
Thank you, Hel. Good morning, everyone. Our strategic cost savings program remains critical and continues to deliver meaningful benefits to our bottom line. Gross margin for the second quarter improved to 38.8%, up 3.8 points from the prior year quarter. Overhead absorption from higher volumes and cost savings were the main drivers of the improvement in gross margin. Year-to-date, gross margin is 37.9%, up 4.9 points from the prior year-to-date period. Operating expenses increased $11.2 million from the prior year second quarter, due primarily to increased sales volume-related costs as well as increased variable compensation costs. Profit before income taxes for the second quarter was $10.2 million compared to $4.2 million in the previous year quarter, driven mostly by the improvement in operating income.
As we prepare for the upcoming selling season, we modestly increased inventory levels. Our inventory balance at the end of the second quarter was $186.9 million, up about $6.8 million from the previous year's second quarter. Our balance sheet remains debt-free, and we continue to pay a meaningful dividend to shareholders, with the board approving our most recent dividend announced in February. Looking ahead, despite ongoing economic uncertainties, we remain firmly focused on financial discipline and actively managing the business to balance near-term pressures while continuing to invest in priorities that support sustainable growth. Now I'll turn the call over to the operator for the Q&A session.
Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, if you have a question or comment at this time, please press star one one on your telephone. If your question has been answered and you wish to remove yourself from the queue, please press star one one again. One moment for our first question. Our first question comes from Anthony Lebiedzinski with Sidoti. Your line is open.
Thank you, and good morning, everyone. You know, certainly nice to see the really strong revenue growth, especially in fishing. As it relates to fishing, how much was revenue helped by pricing versus better market conditions and a stronger competitive position?
Yeah, I mean, we saw strong unit volume growth in our business. That was a big driver for the quarter. Pricing certainly helped. We're also seeing, you know, just really strong demand for the broad line of trolling motors that we have. That's very helpful.
Got you. Thanks, Dave. Do you think this is perhaps a sort of a replacement cycle after the bump from COVID, or is there something else you think going on?
You know, the market is very hard to predict, but I think, you know, we have innovation that is really driving, continues to drive, purchase. I do think, I think consumers are a little cautious with all the things going on, but innovation still is the catalyst to get things moving. We're hoping that this is the beginning of a upward trend, but I think it's gonna be challenging and innovation will be the key going forward.
Got you. Okay, thanks for that. As far as the other two segments, you highlighted the increased sales through e-commerce. Can you expand on that a little bit and then, you know, maybe give us, if possible, some numbers as it relates to the growth that you saw in the quarter, and how are you thinking about the rest of FY 2026 as it relates to diving and watercraft and camping?
Well, there's a few questions in there. You know, e-commerce is one of our, you know, growth initiatives, and we put a hardcore press on that, and it does reach a much broader consumer base. We're really excited about it. Not to mean that our bricks and mortar aren't important, I think they both complement each other. You know, we've been up and running on a true, you know, digital mode for only about, actually, it was a year. It's early on, and we've got a lot to learn, but it's a good opportunity to reach a broader audience. You know, I think it will continue to grow. It's a smaller piece of the pie than our other sales, but I think from a growth standpoint, it is helping us.
I think, again, we don't do a lot of forward-looking, but as we looked at the third quarter, the signs in the second are good, and they're better than they've been in the past. Again, the world is complicated, and the consumers have a lot going on. Again, it's back to the product line, the brand, the positioning in the market, and we feel really good about where we are as a brand and as a company. You know, we're hoping that the markets also, you know, cooperate as well. It's good to have a quarter that feels very strong. Hopefully, I answered your question.
Got you. Yes. Yes, that definitely very helpful context. As far as the world out there, just wondering, as you talk to your retail customers, you know, since the Iran conflict started in late February, you know, gas prices have gone up quite a bit. As it relates to that, I mean, from the point-of-sale data that you can get your hands on, I mean, have you seen any notable impact for your brands? Anything you can talk about that?
I mean, I would say not yet, Anthony. We haven't seen a direct impact, you know, like a lot of companies, we're looking at, you know, inflationary pressure, higher input costs.
A worried consumer
Consumers that, you know, their confidence levels are down. I think so far it's okay. We haven't seen a direct impact, but we're looking at thing's kind of in a neutral fashion over the next couple of quarters.
Okay. Understood. Okay. I guess as far as the gross margin, two-part question here. First, in the quarter itself, you did have a strong improvement versus last year. You talked about fixed cost absorption, but also some cost savings. Was that like a kind of a 50-50 split between that? My second part to that question is as it relates to cost pressures, how should we be thinking about the gross margins for the rest of the fiscal year?
Yeah. You know, most of the improvement was operating leverage, so fixed cost absorption. Our cost savings program is critical to that, you know, helping that as well. You know, we're seeing cost pressure. Going forward, I think, you know, like a lot of companies in electronic industry, component costs are dynamic for us, and that's something we've got our eye on, and we're monitoring. I just think going forward, that'll be something that'll be a little bit of a headwind for us, maybe over the next coming quarters, if you will. It's a good thing we have our cost savings efforts in place now to help try to offset that.
Got it. Okay. In terms of the operating expenses, they did come in higher than what we had expected. Just roughly speaking, you know, how much of the year-over-year increase came from your sales volume- related costs versus the incentive compensation piece? Again, you know, just kind of, you know, maybe help us understand, like, how should we be thinking about operating expenses going forward for the rest of the fiscal year?
Yeah. I mean, a decent portion was volume related and probably I can't give you the numbers, but, you know, let's say maybe a third was volume related, and then we had some variable compensation accruals adjustments in there that made up about a third. Then there's some other cats and dogs in there too that we didn't call out. There's other costs that we have in that operating expense, like some healthcare costs and some other consulting expense. The two big ones were the volume related and then the variable compensation.
Okay. You expect that to continue, you think here, at least near term, or, you know, just any general comment there?
Well, I think, you know, the expense structure will settle down probably a little bit. I mean, obviously the volume drives some of that. You know, in terms of kind of where we are in terms of our spending and our ability to manage that, I think it'll kind of settle down probably going forward the next couple of quarters.
You know, Anthony, we are investing, and we're putting foundational systems in. We're investing against our key priorities. I would say it's good spend, and it may not be long- term, but there, you know, as Dave said, it will settle down. I feel we're investing in the right things to set us up for success long term. It will get more efficient on the other side of this.
Okay. Lastly, from me, the tax rate came in lower than what we had expected. Kind of maybe, Dave, you can address that. Again, any sort of commentary as to how we should be thinking about the tax rate for the balance of the fiscal year?
Yeah. I mean, because we have the valuation allowance on the U.S. income right now, the tax rate is gonna kind of be up and down. It just depends on the mix of profits that we're seeing in the quarter and what we're forecasting for the full year. I mean, I think, you know, the way to think about that is probably, you know, a $4 million-$5 million tax expense for the year. How we divvy that up over the quarters just kind of depends on the mix of profits. It's just hard for me to give you a rate, quarter- by -quarter just because of that mix.
Understood. you know, that this is definitely helpful. Okay, well, thank you very much, and best of luck.
Thanks, too.
Thanks, Anthony.
Okay.
I'm not showing any further questions at this time. I turn the call back over to Helen.
Okay. Well, thank you, everybody, for joining us today. Any questions, you can call Dave or Pat, but have a good day. Thank you.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. This does conclude today's presentation. We thank you for your participation. You may now disconnect and have a wonderful day.