BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ -8.59%), a membership-based warehouse retailer operating throughout the eastern U.S, reported its earnings for the thirteen weeks ended August 2, 2025, on August 22, 2025. The company posted adjusted earnings per share (Non-GAAP) of $1.14, ahead of the $1.09 estimate, and up from $1.09 a year earlier. While total revenue (GAAP) climbed to $5.38 billion, it still represented an increase on the prior year. Management raised full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $4.20–$4.35, reflecting continued confidence. The quarter showed steady improvements in key areas, with positive momentum in membership and digital sales, but softer top-line performance due to fuel price trends and rising operating costs.
| Metric | Q2 2025(Thirteen weeks ended August 2, 2025) | Q2 2025 Estimate | Q2 2024(Thirteen weeks ended August 3, 2024) | Y/Y Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPS (Non-GAAP) | $1.14 | $1.09 | $1.09 | 4.6 % |
| Revenue | $5.38 billion | $5.49 billion | $5.21 billion | 3.4 % |
| Adjusted EBITDA | $304 million | $281 million | 8.2 % | |
| Membership Fee Income | $123 million | $113 million | 9.0 % | |
| Comparable Club Sales, ex. Gasoline | 2.3 % | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Source: Analyst estimates provided by FactSet. Management expectations based on management's guidance, as provided in Q1 2025 earnings report.
Understanding BJ's Business and Focus Areas
BJ's Wholesale Club operates a chain of warehouse-style retail clubs where shoppers must buy annual memberships to access savings on groceries, general merchandise, and gasoline. Its model resembles other warehouse clubs but focuses heavily on the eastern United States, concentrating its footprint in high-density regions.
Key to the business is its membership subscription, which brings a steady stream of income and drives customer retention. Recent priorities include expanding digital services, growing its portfolio of private label products (its own brands like Wellsley Farms), improving supply chain logistics, and carefully adding new locations. Success depends on attracting and retaining members, effectively managing club growth, and maintaining operational efficiency in the face of cost and competitive pressures.
This Quarter: Performance Drivers and Key Developments
The quarter saw modest increases in both revenue and profits, with the company delivering earnings per share above expectations. Total revenue grew 3.4% year-over-year in the thirteen weeks ended August 2, 2025, reflecting both strong merchandise sales and a 9.0 % jump in membership fee income. This higher membership income was partly due to a fee increase that took effect in January 2025, and a continued rise in overall membership totals, now topping 8 million for the first time.
Comparable club sales, which measure sales growth in stores open for a year or more, declined by 0.3% on a headline basis, mainly due to lower gasoline prices. When excluding gasoline sales, comparable sales rose 2.3%, in line with previous guidance and reflecting solid performance in food and general merchandise. Digitally enabled comparable sales grew 34% year-over-year in the thirteen weeks ended August 2, 2025. This includes customers using the BJ's app, taking advantage of buy-online-pickup-in-club, and ExpressPay services, which are designed to speed up checkout and enhance convenience. Management noted that digital sales now contribute more to overall member engagement and average spending, even as margins on digital transactions tend to be slightly lower than in-store.
The company continued to invest in its private label products, which made up approximately 26% of merchandise sales (excluding gasoline) in FY2024. These brands help to bolster margins and loyalty by offering members exclusive value options. While BJ's did not break out specific private label sales figures for the quarter, profitability remained positively affected.
Gross profit (GAAP) increased by 5.6% compared to Q2 FY2024, and Merchandise gross margin (measuring the percentage of revenue left after merchandise costs) increased by 0.1 percentage point compared to Q2 FY2024. This uptick was tied to investments in new club and gas station openings and related costs, such as labor and depreciation. The period included share repurchases, with 375,000 shares bought back.
What to Watch Looking Ahead
BJ’s raised its adjusted earnings outlook, now expecting non-GAAP EPS of $4.20–$4.35, up slightly from earlier projections. Guidance for comparable club sales, excluding gasoline, remains at 2.0% to 3.5% growth for the full year. Capital investment plans hold steady at about $800 million, targeting new club openings and ongoing improvements to digital and supply chain capabilities.
For investors, ongoing club expansion, membership growth, trends in digital adoption, and management’s ability to control operating expenses will be important themes in the year ahead.
Revenue and net income presented using U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) unless otherwise noted.
