Omnichannel Retailers & Supermarket Chains
Academy Sports + Outdoors vs Burlington
Structured technology and market comparison · 2026
Direct Feature Comparison
Academy Sports + Outdoors · vs · Burlington| Attribute | ACAcademy Sports + Outdoors | BUBurlington |
|---|---|---|
| Market Cluster / Sector | Omnichannel Retailers & Supermarket Chains | Omnichannel Retailers & Supermarket Chains |
| Business Model / Role | Retailer & Marketplace | Retailer & Marketplace |
| Platform Focus | US sporting goods retailer with omnichannel commerce and loyalty ecosystem. | US off-price retailer focused on discounted branded merchandise. |
| Company Size | >5,000 employees | >5,000 employees |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Year Founded | 1938 | 1972 |
| Dossier & Alternatives |
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Comparison Analysis
What is the main difference between Academy Sports + Outdoors and Burlington?
When comparing Academy Sports + Outdoors and Burlington, both platforms operate within the Loyalty Management Platform, Display, Web & Mobile, and Retailer & Marketplace ecosystem. Academy Sports + Outdoors is positioned as US sporting goods retailer with omnichannel commerce and loyalty ecosystem, whereas Burlington focuses on US off-price retailer focused on discounted branded merchandise. Decision-makers evaluate both solutions when orchestrating their commercial monetization and technology stack.
What are the top alternatives to Academy Sports + Outdoors and Burlington?
When evaluating Academy Sports + Outdoors and Burlington, enterprise buyers also consider other platforms in Loyalty Management Platform, Display, Web & Mobile, and Retailer & Marketplace. You can discover the full competitive landscape and evaluate other alternatives by viewing their respective footprint profiles on Polaris7.
How do the corporate scale, structure, and headquarters of Academy Sports + Outdoors and Burlington compare?
Academy Sports + Outdoors is headquartered in United States (founded in 1938) with >5,000 employees. Burlington is based in United States (founded in 1972) with >5,000 employees. Complete ownership, subsidiary trees, and corporate affiliations are documented across Polaris7.
Market Signals
Recent Market Signals & Activity: Academy Sports + Outdoors vs Burlington
Documented market movements, strategic partnerships, product releases, and regulatory developments mapped across Polaris7.
Academy Sports + Outdoors
Recent Signals
- ·SEC APIfinancials
8-K Financial Filing Analysis for Academy Sports + Outdoors (2026-09-09)
On September 9, 2026, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. filed a Form 8-K to furnish its financial results for the second quarter ended August 1, 2026. Under Item 2.02 and Item 7.01, the company announced the issuance of its quarterly earnings press release and published its accompanying Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Presentation on its investor relations website. The filing serves as the official regulatory mechanism to make the quarterly performance metrics and management disclosures publicly available to market participants.
- Furnished financial results for the second fiscal quarter ended August 1, 2026 via press release (Exhibit 99.1).
- Released the Second Quarter 2026 Earnings Presentation to the corporate investor relations portal (Exhibit 99.2).
- Filed under Items 2.02 and 7.01, signed by Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary Brandy Treadway.
- ·SEC APIfinancials
10-Q Financial Filing Analysis for Academy Sports + Outdoors (2026-09-09)
Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc. filed its Form 10-Q for the second quarter ended August 1, 2026, reporting net sales of $1.65 billion, a 3.0% increase year-over-year, driven by strength in sports, recreation, and outdoor categories, alongside a 14.1% increase in e-commerce sales. Gross margin expanded 440 basis points to 40.4%, bolstered by $83.7 million in one-time IEEPA tariff refunds recorded as a reduction to cost of goods sold, partially offset by a $72.2 million remittance to a third-party buyer recorded in other expense. Net income reached $137.9 million ($2.17 diluted EPS), compared to $125.4 million ($1.85 diluted EPS) in Q2 2025. During the quarter, the company completed a debt refinancing by issuing $500 million of 5.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2031 and amending its $1.0 billion ABL Facility to extend maturity through May 2031, using the proceeds to fully redeem its 6.00% 2020 Notes and prepay its outstanding Term Loan. Academy also continued its capital return strategy, repurchasing 1.61 million shares for $82.9 million and declaring a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share.
- Q2 2026 net sales rose 3.0% year-over-year to $1.65 billion with e-commerce growing 14.1%, while net income increased 9.9% to $137.9 million ($2.17 diluted EPS).
- Issued $500.0 million in 5.875% Senior Secured Notes due May 2031 and extended the $1.0 billion ABL Facility to 2031 to fully refinance the 2020 Notes and prepay the remaining Term Loan balance.
- Repurchased 1,608,528 shares of common stock for $82.9 million in Q2 ($182.1 million YTD), leaving $256.1 million authorized under the 2024 Share Repurchase Program.
Burlington
Recent Signals
- ·SEC APIfinancials
10-Q Financial Filing Analysis for Burlington (2026-08-27)
Burlington Stores, Inc. delivered strong financial performance in Q2 Fiscal 2026, with total revenue rising 11.0% YoY to $3.00 billion and net income surging 95.7% YoY to $184.3 million. Revenue growth was driven by a 2% increase in comparable store sales alongside strong contributions from 149 net new stores opened since Q2 Fiscal 2025. Gross margin expanded 250 basis points to 46.2%, boosted by $55.5 million in IEEPA tariff refunds and improved core merchandise margins. Operating efficiency remained robust, with SG&A expenses improving by 120 basis points as a percentage of net sales. The company continued its aggressive store footprint expansion, reaching 1,287 stores as of August 1, 2026, while executing on capital allocation through $167.4 million in share repurchases year-to-date and completing induced convertible note exchanges.
- Total revenue for Q2 Fiscal 2026 reached $3.002 billion, up 11.0% YoY, supported by 2% comparable store sales growth and 149 net new store openings over the past twelve months.
- Gross margin expanded to 46.2% of net sales, aided by $55.5 million in IEEPA tariff refunds, pushing Q2 net income to $184.3 million ($2.88 diluted EPS).
- Operating store footprint expanded to 1,287 locations across 47 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico, backed by $942.0 million of available liquidity under the ABL revolving facility.
- ·Retail DiveFinancials
Burlington to Reinvest $55M Tariff Refunds into Lower Prices
Burlington CEO Michael O’Sullivan said the company will put the full $55 million in tariff refunds it received in Q2 toward lower prices rather than retaining the money to boost margins. Burlington reported Q2 sales up 11% year-over-year to nearly $3 billion, with store comps rising 2% and a record 51 store openings in the quarter (net +45). With the tariff refunds included, gross margin widened 250 basis points to 46.2% and net income doubled to $184 million (excluding a $41 million after-tax benefit, net income was $151 million). O’Sullivan said the move supports customers facing higher living costs and helps protect market share amid competitor strength at Ross and weaker comps at TJX U.S.
- Burlington received $55 million in tariff refunds in Q2 and plans to reinvest the full amount into lower prices.
- Q2 total sales rose 11% year-over-year to nearly $3 billion; comparable store sales were up 2%.
- Gross margin expanded by 250 basis points to 46.2% when tariff refunds are included; merchandise margin expanded 70 basis points excluding the refunds.
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