Winmark Corporation (WINA) AI Stock Analysis
WINA AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchWinmark Corporation is a franchisor of secondhand retail brands and an equipment leasing provider. Over the trailing twelve months, the company generated $91.8M in revenue with a high operating margin of 56.6%. The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 28.1x after falling 25.8% over the past year.
- Market cap
- $1.13B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $91.8M
- P/E
- 28.1x fwd 14.9x
- 1Y return
- -25.8% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $545.00 73.1% vs last close
Bull case
- Winmark generated strong profitability with a 45.1% trailing net profit margin and a 56.6% operating margin.
- Trailing five-year dividend growth is robust at an annualized 31.2%, backed by 17 consecutive years of payments.
- Quarterly revenue growth accelerated to 23.2% year-over-year in the period ended September 30, 2026.
Bear case
- The balance sheet carries negative shareholders' equity of -$37.4M and net debt of $34.6M as of September 30, 2026.
- The stock trades at a rich trailing valuation of 12.3x price-to-sales, compared to the peer median of 0.7x.
- Winmark shares underperformed the broader market over the past year, falling 25.8% while the S&P 500 gained 16.8%.
What Winmark does
Winmark Corporation operates as a franchisor of retail store concepts across the United States and Canada, specializing in buying, selling, trading, and consigning used merchandise. Its Franchising segment oversees brands including Plato's Closet, Once Upon A Child, Play It Again Sports, Style Encore, and Music Go Round. These concepts target specific demographics, offering used apparel and accessories for teens and young adults, children's clothing and toys, women's apparel, sporting goods, and musical instruments. Winmark also runs a middle-market equipment leasing business focused on technology and essential business equipment, providing complementary revenue.
Growth and profitability
Winmark grew revenue at a 5.4% CAGR from FY2020 to FY2025. Annual revenue expanded from $78.2M in FY2021 to $86.1M in FY2025, despite a 2.3% contraction in FY2024. Gross margin remained very high, reaching 96.4% in FY2025 compared to 93.9% in FY2021. Operating margin was 63.4% in FY2025, down slightly from 65.6% in FY2021, while net income rose to $41.7M with EPS of $11.31. Over the trailing twelve months, revenue reached $91.8M, supported by 23.2% year-over-year quarterly revenue growth and 6.3% earnings growth in the quarter ended September 30, 2026.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of September 30, 2026, Winmark held $28.0M in cash and short-term investments against total debt of $62.5M, resulting in net debt of $34.6M. The current ratio stood at 3.20, while shareholders' equity was -$37.4M on total assets of $45.0M. The company maintains an asset-light model, spending just $192,300 on capital expenditures in FY2025 against $44.9M in operating cash flow. Cash deployment focused heavily on capital returns, paying $49.1M in dividends and $2.4M on share buybacks in FY2025.
Valuation and performance
Winmark trades at a trailing P/E of 28.1x and an EV/EBITDA of 19.4x, both above the median of its US-listed Consumer Cyclical peers (18.0x and 11.1x, respectively). Its price-to-sales ratio of 12.3x is well above the peer median of 0.7x, while forward P/E stands at 14.9x compared to the peer median of 14.1x. Over the past year, the stock dropped 25.8%, trailing the S&P 500 (SPY) gain of 16.8%. Over five years, Winmark gained 61.3% compared to 83.0% for the S&P 500.
WINA dividend
Winmark has paid dividends for 17 consecutive years. The forward annual dividend is $4.08 per share, representing a 1.30% dividend yield with a payout ratio of 56.4%. Its annualized dividend growth rate over five years is 31.2%, with dividends distributed on a quarterly frequency and the last ex-dividend date set for November 10, 2026.
What analysts expect
Wall Street coverage includes 1 analyst rating, categorized as Buy. The mean price target is $545.00, representing a 73.1% upside over the last close of $314.83. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project EPS of $11.11, down 1.7%, on revenue of $96.9M. For the next fiscal year, the single analyst projects EPS of $11.13 and revenue of $140.3M, an increase of 44.8%. The company posted 0 EPS beats over the last 4 quarters.
Key risks and what to watch
- Negative equity of -$37.4M leaves the balance sheet reliant on steady operational cash flow to manage $62.5M in debt.
- The company has recorded 0 EPS beats over the past 4 quarters, indicating challenges meeting earnings projections.
- Short interest represents 13.9% of the float, reflecting elevated negative sentiment among market participants.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this WINA AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of Winmark Corporation (WINA). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: WINA income statement, WINA balance sheet, WINA key metrics, WINA analyst forecast, WINA chart. See the WINA stock overview for the latest quote and news.
WINA AI stock analysis FAQ
What brands does Winmark Corporation operate?
Winmark franchises retail concepts focused on buying and selling used goods, including Plato's Closet, Once Upon A Child, Play It Again Sports, Style Encore, and Music Go Round. It also operates an equipment leasing business.
What is Winmark's dividend yield and track record?
Winmark provides a 1.30% dividend yield with an annual forward payout of $4.08 per share. The company has paid dividends for 17 consecutive years and achieved a 31.2% five-year annualized dividend growth rate.
Why does Winmark have negative shareholders' equity?
As of September 30, 2026, Winmark reported shareholders' equity of -$37.4M. This reflects heavy cash distributions over time, including $49.1M in dividends paid and $2.4M in share buybacks during FY2025 alone.
What are analysts forecasting for Winmark's revenue and earnings?
For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, estimates call for revenue of $96.9M and EPS of $11.11. For the following fiscal year, the analyst estimate expects revenue to reach $140.3M and EPS to reach $11.13.