Bassett Furniture Industries (NASDAQ:BSET) reported higher sales and operating income in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025 as management continued to focus on cost control, product initiatives, and operating efficiencies amid a sluggish housing market. The quarter ended November 29, 2025, the day after Black Friday.
Management cites slow housing market, continued focus on efficiency
Chairman and CEO Rob Spilman said market conditions “have not changed much” from the first three quarters of fiscal 2025, pointing to slow housing sales as a headwind for the home furnishings category. Even so, he said the company was “pleased” to increase both sales and profits in the fourth quarter.
He also highlighted the company’s approach to tariffs, calling Bassett’s flexible sourcing model “essential” to resilience. Management said it believes the tariff situation has stabilized, but noted the company would react again if conditions change.
Fourth-quarter revenue rises; margins mixed across segments
CFO Mike Daniel said consolidated revenue increased $4.4 million, or 5.1%, compared with the prior-year quarter. Excluding sales from Noa Home, which closed late in 2024, consolidated revenue increased 6.4%.
- Consolidated gross margin: 56.3%, down 30 basis points year over year, primarily due to lower retail margins, partially offset by higher wholesale margins.
- SG&A: 53.2% of sales, down 60 basis points, reflecting restructuring benefits, ongoing cost optimization, and leverage on higher sales.
- Operating income: $2.3 million, or 2.6% of sales, compared with $900,000 in the prior-year quarter.
Daniel also provided operating income comparisons excluding certain items. Excluding impairments and other restructuring-related costs, operating income would have been $2.8 million (3.2% of sales) in the fourth quarter of 2025 versus $2.3 million (2.8% of sales) in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Diluted earnings per share were $0.18 in the quarter, compared with $0.38 a year earlier. Daniel noted the prior-year quarter included a $2.6 million tax benefit associated with Bassett’s cumulative investment in Noa Home; excluding that benefit, diluted EPS for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 would have been $0.08.
Wholesale and retail results; backlog levels
Wholesale revenue increased $4.4 million, or 8.3%, driven by a 14% increase in shipments to Bassett’s retail store network and a 3.4% increase in open-market shipments, partially offset by a 13% decrease in shipments for Lane Venture. Daniel said the Lane Venture decline reflected timing of receipt of imported goods to fulfill orders, while the order rate for the quarter increased 34%.
Wholesale gross margin increased 60 basis points year over year, which management attributed to improved pricing strategies in upholstery and wood operations and leverage on higher sales, partially offset by an “unfavorable warranty and returns adjustment.” Wholesale backlog was $19.5 million compared with $21.8 million on November 30, 2024.
Retail net sales increased $4.2 million, or 7.9%. Daniel said retail prices were not adjusted for cost increases until January 1, 2026, as Bassett sought clarity on tariffs; as a result, retail gross margin declined 150 basis points. Retail SG&A as a percent of sales decreased 180 basis points due to efficiency gains in warehouse and delivery operations, lower operating costs tied to restructuring actions, and leverage from higher sales. Retail backlog was $34.4 million compared with $37.1 million a year earlier.
Product initiatives, marketing, and digital performance
Spilman pointed to product momentum in several areas. He said Bassett’s investments in “a fresh approach” to case goods have begun to pay off, with sales of those offerings up more than 50% in the quarter. He cited Copenhagen as a top seller across product categories and said the HomeWork line has repositioned Bassett in home office.
In upholstery, he said sales of the company’s “true custom leather” program launched in 2023 continued to exceed expectations, rising 19% in the quarter. Spilman also said the company consolidated its fabric grading system to simplify special orders and provide “more obvious values on better fabrics.”
On outdoor, Bassett Outdoor is being absorbed into the Lane Venture outdoor collection, which Bassett has owned for eight years. Spilman said Lane Venture will be offered in Bassett Home Furnishings stores starting “this month,” describing it as a more efficient operating model with fewer assets and better inventory turns.
Marketing efforts included supplementing digital with print and spot TV. Spilman said the company was encouraged by the ROI on direct mail in the third and fourth quarters and plans to move from one catalog to two in 2026 to supplement digital plans.
On e-commerce, Spilman said sales increased 14% in the quarter and 27% for the full year, while conversion rates continued to rise double digits.
Store growth plans, cost actions, and capital allocation
Management outlined store plans for fiscal 2026: Bassett expects to open Cincinnati in the second quarter and Orlando in the third quarter, both described as new markets, and to relocate its Long Island store from Westbury to Melville, New York, in September.
During Q&A, Daniel said new store openings primarily impact SG&A due to rent expense beginning when the company takes control of a location—often two to three months before opening—while sales are not recorded until deliveries occur. He said pre-opening cost has historically been in the $400,000 to $500,000 range per store.
Spilman said the company reduced headcount by 11% last year and recently reduced headcount again by 4% as it works to “mold a leaner organization and business model” in an environment where discretionary demand is moderated.
Bassett ended the year with $59.2 million of cash and short-term investments and no debt, Daniel said. The company generated $7.8 million in operating cash flow during the quarter, and cash and short-term investments increased $4.6 million. For the year, Bassett generated $13.5 million in operating cash flow and $2 million of free cash flow.
Looking ahead, Daniel said Bassett is forecasting $8 million to $12 million of capital expenditures for fiscal 2026, up from $4.5 million in fiscal 2025, reflecting planned store activity. The company also continued shareholder returns, spending $1.7 million on dividends and $600,000 on share buybacks in the fourth quarter. Daniel said the board approved a regular $0.20 dividend payable February 27, and management reiterated that share repurchases remain “opportunistic.”
In discussing demand trends early in fiscal 2026, Spilman said written sales started strong and that the first seven weeks of the quarter were “solid,” but he noted significant disruption from winter weather, including the closure of 40 stores during an ice weekend and additional closures during a snow weekend. Daniel added that written sales were up 4% for the fourth quarter.
In closing remarks, Spilman said fiscal 2026 has begun in a “similar environment” to fiscal 2025, and the company intends to continue focusing on operating discipline while pursuing growth through retail expansion, wholesale initiatives, the design trade, and the newly launched Bassett Hospitality division.
About Bassett Furniture Industries (NASDAQ:BSET)
Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc (NASDAQ: BSET), headquartered in Bassett, Virginia, is a vertically integrated manufacturer and retailer of residential home furnishings. The company designs, produces and markets a range of furniture items, including upholstered seating, wood case goods, bedroom collections, dining room sets and home décor accessories. Bassett is known for its emphasis on craftsmanship, offering both ready-to-assemble pieces and made-to-order products that cater to varying design preferences and space requirements.
Bassett’s products are sold through a dual-channel distribution network comprising company-owned Bassett Home Furnishings stores, a franchise and independent dealer network, and an e-commerce platform that provides online shopping, virtual design consultations and customization tools.
