a.k.a. Brands (NYSE:AKA) reported a stronger-than-expected start to fiscal 2026, with first-quarter net sales rising 3% to $132.5 million and Adjusted EBITDA increasing to $5.1 million, management said on the company’s earnings call.
Chief Executive Officer Ciaran Long said the results reflected “significant gross margin expansion year-over-year” as changes to the company’s merchandising, sourcing and inventory model began to show up in financial performance. Excluding one-time items related to tariffs and strategic charges tied primarily to legacy streetwear inventory, gross margin reached 59%, up about 180 basis points from a year earlier.
