dusk Group hits record sales amid online surge

Specialty retailer dusk Group (ASX:DSK) booked robust first-half results for FY26, headlined by record-breaking sales and a surge in online engagement.

For the 26 weeks ended Dec. 28, 2025, the group reported total sales of $91.8 million, representing a 5.1% increase over the prior corresponding period.

The performance was underpinned by a stellar "golden quarter," with CEO Vlad Yakubson attributing the momentum to a disciplined execution during the critical Christmas and Halloween trading windows.

A standout highlight was the company’s digital transformation; while physical store sales grew a steady 2.6%, online sales skyrocketed by 16.5%. This omnichannel synergy drove a total like-for-like sales growth of 3.6%.

Profitability remained a key theme, with gross profit rising to $59.9 million at a healthy margin of 65.2%.

Despite a slight uptick in the cost of doing business—which rose to 47.4% of sales—the company managed to grow its underlying EBIT by 3.5% to $14.3 million.

Statutory NPAT followed suit, climbing 5.2% to reach $10 million.

dusk continues to expand its footprint, ending the period with 153 stores and a pristine balance sheet featuring $35.8 million in net cash and zero debt.

Investors will be rewarded with a fully franked interim dividend of 4 cents per share.