American clothing brand Torrid has surpassed expectations at the start of its financial year despite its sales falling below the same point last year.

With around 460 stores, down from 632 last year, Torrid recorded $245.8 million in net sales for its fiscal first quarter, a 7.6 per cent decrease from the start of last year. This figure, however, remained above guidance and led to profits of around $400,000.

“These results reflect disciplined execution across our strategic initiatives and signal progress in positioning us for comparable sales growth in the back half of the year and beyond,” CEO Lisa Harper said.

“Our portfolio of five sub-brands is off to a strong start, and our Opening Price Point strategy has proven to be both a meaningful conversion driver and a basket-building lever.

“With our product and pricing foundation in place and the completion of our store optimization program, our primary focus for 2026 is customer file growth through acquisition, reactivation, and retention,” Harper added.

With its Curve, Bridal and Lovesick brands alongside its flagship range, Torrid dedicates its products to women from sizes 10 to 30. The company’s significant reduction in its store count in the past year is part of an ongoing transformation, it says.

At the same time, Harper said that Torrid is leaning into AI-powered paid media, with the relaunch of its casting call platform to engage customers.

“This is a powerful community ambassadorship program, and we are scaling it significantly this year with a Times Square activation and store events throughout the country,” she said. “Together, these initiatives are positioned to deliver improved performance – with meaningful benefits expected in the second half of the year – and to create lasting shareholder value.”