Temple & Webster reported 1H26 EBITDA of $13.5 million, up 2.2%. The EBITDA margin of 3.6% for 1H26 was within the guidance range of 3-5%, but on the low end, as promotional activity was used to drive a sales outcome. We lift our sales forecasts but lower our delivered margin to reflect a more promotional environment. The Temple & Webster model continues to deliver market share gains and over time scale will drive margin improvement.
We transfer coverage of Temple & Webster from Scott Hudson to Garth Francis. In this report, we cover the company’s potential market share penetration, our forecasts for customer acquisition cost and possible category expansion. Temple & Webster trades at an elevated multiple, reflective of the substantial growth opportunity. Any slowing in sales growth which may come from a competitive threat from industry incumbents or established retailers entering the category, could negatively impact the share price.
dusk reported FY25 sales of $137 million, up 8.7%. Like-for-like (LFL) sales growth of 7.1% meant a 2H25 LFL sales growth of 3.6%. The trading update for the first eight weeks saw total sales down 1.5%, cycling 16% growth in same period last year. We reference the two-year stack in our forecast for LFL sales growth of 4.2% for FY26e. With limited store openings and growth in LFL sales we forecast FY26e revenue forecasts of $144 million, up 4.9%.
We initiate coverage on dusk, an Australian specialty retailer of Home Fragrance Products, offering a range of dusk branded products at competitive prices from its physical stores and online store. We see dusk pushing plans to improve sales productivity through new product development, category expansion, increasing the release rate of new product and the opening of more metro stores.