On November 4, 2026, it was reported, top 100 retailer Havertys posted increases across several key metrics for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026. For the three months ended Sept. 30, the Atlanta-based retailer recorded net sales of $203.2 million, up 4.47% compared with $194.5 million in the third quarter of 2025. Through nine months, its $587.1 million is $30 million ahead of 2025's pace. Gross profit for the quarter was $126.6 million, which was 62.3% of sales. Net income for the quarter totaled $6.3 million, or 39 cents per diluted share, which was up 34% on last year's, $4.7 million, or 28 cents per diluted share. Havertys posts 4th consecutive quarter of gains. Steve Burdette, president and CEO said "We did so while navigating a soft housing market, higher fuel prices, higher interest rates, continued geopolitical issues and rising input costs. Gross profit margin was 62.3%, including approximately $3.2 million of IEEPA tariff refunds, and remained strong at 60.7%, excluding those refunds." Burdette said Havertys feels good about where it stands heading into the final three months of the year. The company's 2026 guidance includes gross profit margin expectations between 61.3% to 61.5%, an increase due to the receipt of IEEPA tariff refunds. "We are energized by our five store openings in the fourth quarter, highlighted by our entry into Pittsburgh, Pa., our 18th state," Burdette said. "Growing to 133 stores by year end, while continuing to invest in our people, our products, our design service, and our customers' experience, reflects both our financial strength and our team's consistent execution of our long-term growth strategy.
On November 4, 2026, it was reported, top 100 retailer Ethan Allen released preliminary voting results of its 2026 annual meeting of stockholders, and three nominees proposed by DGB Investment Inc. won seats on its board of directors. Doug Bergeron, Kristine Miller and Stephen Oblak were elected to the five-person board along with incumbents Maria Eugenia Casar and Tara I. Stacom, based on the preliminary vote count provided by Georgeson LLC, the company's proxy solicitor. Farooq Kathwari, its longtime chairman, president and CEO, was not among the five electees. Preliminary results also indicate that stockholders voted to approve the compensation of the company's named executive officers (say-on-pay proposal) and the ratification of CohnReznick LLP as the company's independent registered public accounting firm for the 2027 fiscal year. The results announced are preliminary and subject to certification by the independent inspector of elections. Final voting results will be disclosed in a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and posted on the company's investor relations website. If the results are certified as they are, they would mark the final chapter of Kathwari's tenure as chairman, president and CEO. Bergeron kicked off the proxy battle in August when he likened the company to a "melting ice cube" shortly after Ethan Allen released its fourth quarter and full fiscal 2026 earnings. Ethan Allen announced that it was also conducting a CEO search and that Kathwari's tenure as an executive would end no later than June 30, 2027, and he would step down from the board after the 2027 annual meeting.
On October 29, 2026, it was reported, while it isn't moving far from its Westbury-area store on Long Island, Top 100 retailer Fortunoff Backyard Store is moving into a more visible, higher traffic spot. The outdoor retail specialist announced it will open a 26,000-square-foot showroom in a former Sam Ash location at 385 Old Country Road in Carle Place, N.Y. The new store will replace its current showroom at 1500 Old Country Road in Westbury. The current store will remain open as Fortunoff prepares the new space. "The area we're moving to is fully leased out on either side of us. It's a busy strip directly across the street from two high velocity shopping centers," said CEO Curt Littlejohn "The visibility couldn't be better. We're going to have something like 50,000 cars per day passing our store." Relocations are a key piece of the strategy for the retail group, which also includes Chair King Backyard Store. Littlejohn said of the most recent the company has opened, three were relocations to go along with four new openings in Virginia. "Our growth strategy flexes and contracts, and we leave no stone unturned when it comes to looking for opportunities for expansion," he said. And as 2026 nears its end, Littlejohn said he sees plenty of reasons for optimism ahead. "After 2025, 2026 has been a welcome relief. Our business feels back. It feels strong and solid and we're building that into our projections for next year, too," he said. "There's obvious uncertainty around this being an election year tied to what's going to happen. I'm looking forward to getting that behind us and getting back to people enjoying their backyards."
On October 28, 2026, it was reported, top 100 retailer Exclusive Furniture will celebrate the grand reopening of its Almeda location on Nov. 7, the return of the store after it was damaged during Hurricane Beryl in 2024. The Houston-based retailer opened its first location there in 1998. The 30,000-square-foot store is located at 12200 Gulf Freeway. The showroom will feature living room and bedroom collections, dining furniture, reclining furniture, home accents and coordinated room displays. Customers will be able to explore styles and price points that reflect the selection available throughout Exclusive Furniture's Houston-area stores. The reopened Almeda location will feature a dedicated mattress department, bringing Exclusive Furniture's "Where Better Sleep Begins" message to the community. Exclusive Furniture carries brands including Tempur-Pedic, Stearns & Foster, Beautyrest, Serta, Sealy and Bedgear, offering options across a range of comfort preferences and budgets in mattresses, adjustable bases and sleep accessories, with personalized guidance from our trained sleep specialists. Alongside its merchandise selection, Exclusive Furniture will offer financing and payment options designed to serve customers across a range of budgets and credit backgrounds, subject to applicable approval requirements and terms. The Almeda reopening reflects Exclusive Furniture's confidence in the Houston market and its long-term commitment to the communities it serves. Even as households navigate financial pressures and retailers face a challenging business environment, the company remains focused on value, service and opportunities for continued expansion.
