Barnes & Noble Education shares jumped 19.7% on Thursday following a mixed preliminary Q4 2026 earnings report and dividend announcement. The company expects approximately $263 million in revenues, below the $295 million analyst consensus and down from $278.3 million year-on-year. However, adjusted profits are projected at least $0.05 per share, beating the expected $0.16 loss. The board initiated a dividend programme with a first payout of $0.08 per share on 30 July, yielding 2.4% annually. At an Investor Day, CEO Jonathan Shar highlighted the company's First Day Complete programme, which bundles course materials into tuition fees. The programme has grown from 14,000 students in 2019 to an expected 1.4 million this autumn, with only 36% of eligible campuses converted.

Barnes & Noble Education has announced preliminary unaudited results for fiscal year 2026, expecting net income between $15 million and $18 million, compared to a $65.8 million loss in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA is projected at $75 million to $77 million, representing a 26% to 30% increase from $59.4 million in fiscal 2025. Revenue is expected to reach $1.71 billion to $1.72 billion, up 6.2% to 6.8% year-over-year. The company's BNC First Day programme revenues are estimated to increase 27% to 28%, driven by strong institutional adoption of First Day Complete. Total debt is expected to decline to $71 million from $103.1 million, a 33% decrease. The company's board has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share, payable 30 July 2026.