J.Jill stock slips 1.63 percent as tariff refund lifts margins

J.Jill stock slipped 1.63 percent to USD 24.15 on September 23, 2026, on the NYSE. The latest quarterly report showed sales growth, but a tariff refund materially shaped the profit and margin figures.

Sales rise 0.5 percent

In the second quarter of fiscal 2026, net sales reached USD 154.8 million for the thirteen weeks ended August 1, 2026, up 0.5 percent from USD 154.0 million a year earlier, according to J.Jill.

Gross profit increased to USD 119.0 million from USD 105.4 million, lifting gross margin to 76.8 percent from 68.4 percent. The company reported a USD 13.3 million net tariff refund, while gross margin excluding that benefit was 68.3 percent.

Refund changes the profit picture

Reported adjusted EBITDA climbed to USD 32.8 million from USD 25.6 million in the prior-year quarter. Excluding the tariff refund and strategic investments tied to elevated costs, adjusted EBITDA was USD 20.1 million, below the prior-year figure of USD 25.6 million, according to J.Jill.

Net income rose to USD 16.8 million from USD 10.5 million, while diluted earnings per share increased to USD 1.11 from USD 0.69. The comparison shows why the refund matters: reported profitability improved, but the underlying adjusted EBITDA measure moved in the opposite direction.

Stock stays near yearly high

J.Jill stock was USD 0.54 below its 52-week high of USD 24.69 on September 23, 2026, a distance of 2.19 percent. Its market capitalization was USD 273,750,272 on the same date, giving the price move a small-company retail profile.

The company had 255 stores at the end of fiscal Q2 2026, compared with 247 stores a year earlier. Direct-to-consumer sales reached USD 72.9 million, equal to 47.1 percent of quarterly sales and up 1.9 percent from the prior-year comparison.

NYSE price sets the checkpoint

J.Jill stock was trading at USD 24.15 on the NYSE on September 23, 2026, down USD 0.40 from the prior close of USD 24.55. For investors, the key distinction is between the headline margin and the 68.3 percent margin excluding the tariff refund.