Winmark (WINA) stock price is $271.87, up 0.56% on the day, as of Nov 10, 2026. It has a market cap of $966.88Mn and a P/E ratio of 23.34, and is classified in the Specialty Retail industry (Consumer Discretionary sector).
Enterprise Value
Margins
P/FCF
Key Stats
Market Cap966.88 Mn
P/E23.34
FCF (Yr)44.70 Mn
ROA (Yr)161.05
EV to EBIT16.11
Net Income (Yr)41.65 Mn
Enterprise Value882.95 Mn
Add ratio to table…
About
Winmark Corporation is a nationally recognized franchisor that operates five resale retail brands focused on buying and selling used goods. The company promotes sustainability by extending the life of clothing, toys, sporting goods and musical instruments through its franchise network. Founded over three decades ago, Winmark has refined a franchise model that emphasizes value oriented merchandise and community based reuse. Its mission statement, Resale for Everyone, reflects…
Winmark Corporation is a nationally recognized franchisor that operates five resale retail brands focused on buying and selling used goods. The company promotes sustainability by extending the life of clothing, toys, sporting goods and musical instruments through its franchise network. Founded over three decades ago, Winmark has refined a franchise model that emphasizes value oriented merchandise and community based reuse. Its mission statement, Resale for Everyone, reflects the goal of making second hand shopping accessible to a broad consumer base.
Winmark generates revenue primarily from ongoing royalties paid by franchisees, calculated as a percentage of their gross sales, and from initial franchise fees for new store openings. Additional income comes from centralized purchasing services that supply franchisees with new inventory and from the sale of point of sale systems and training programs. In 2025, royalties and franchise fees accounted for approximately 90.5% of total consolidated revenue, highlighting the dominance of the franchising model. The company also earns modest proceeds from the resale of returned goods and from ancillary services such as advertising fund contributions, though these represent a small fraction of overall income.
The company operates through the following segments: Plato’s Closet, Once Upon A Child, Play It Again Sports, Style Encore and Music Go Round. As of December 27, 2025, the franchise system comprised 1,378 stores spread across the United States and Canada.
Plato’s Closet: This segment franchises stores that buy and sell gently used clothing and accessories aimed at teenagers and young adults, offering sellers immediate cash or store credit and buyers prices well below new retail.
Once Upon A Child: This segment franchises stores that buy and sell used children’s clothing, toys, furniture and equipment, with a smaller selection of new items for infants through age twelve, and enables parents to trade outgrown goods for credit or cash.
Play It Again Sports: This segment franchises stores that buy, sell and trade used and new sporting goods, equipment and accessories for activities such as team sports, fitness, skiing, snowboarding and golf, while also providing repair services and seasonal product adjustments.
Style Encore: This segment franchises stores that buy and sell used women’s apparel, shoes and accessories, and to a lesser extent men’s items, focusing on fashion forward pieces at discounted prices.
Music Go Round: This segment franchises stores that buy, sell and trade used musical instruments, speakers, amplifiers and related electronics, with a limited selection of new products, and supports local musicians through trade in options and repair services.
Winmark holds a strong position within the resale retail industry as a leading franchisor of second hand stores. It competes with major retailers such as Walmart, Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Guitar Center, as well as online platforms like eBay, Poshmark, thredUP and Facebook Marketplace. The company’s differentiated brand portfolio, comprehensive training and ongoing operational support give it a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining franchisees. Additionally, its focus on sustainability appeals to environmentally conscious consumers and helps differentiate its stores from traditional second hand shops.
Winmark’s customers consist of people who bring in used clothing, toys, sports equipment or musical instruments to sell for cash or store credit. The same individuals and others purchase affordable second hand goods from the franchise stores, ranging from teenagers seeking trendy apparel to parents looking for children’s items and athletes searching for sports gear. The franchise system serves both urban and suburban communities across the United States and Canada, with a notable presence in college towns and family oriented suburbs.
Sector:Consumer DiscretionarySector rationaleWinmark is a franchisor of retail brands that buy and sell non-essential used goods, including clothing, sporting goods, and musical instruments. Its revenue is primarily derived from royalties and franchise fees from these retail operations, which fall under the Specialty Retail industry within Consumer Discretionary.Industries:Specialty RetailSpecialty RetailPrimaryWinmark is a franchisor of specialty retail stores focused on specific discretionary categories, including musical instruments (Music Go Round), sporting goods (Play It Again Sports), and children's toys/furniture (Once Upon A Child). Its revenue is primarily derived from royalties and fees from these category-specific retail operations.Apparel RetailApparel RetailSecondaryA significant portion of Winmark's business is dedicated to the resale of apparel and accessories through its Plato’s Closet and Style Encore brands.Classified using BQ-MICSCIK: 0000908315
Bull & bear
Investment Thesis
▲ Bull case
Winmark Corporation is positioned for sustained growth through strategic investments in technology and marketing that directly strengthen its franchise network, as evidenced by the launch of the North American Ad Fund for Plato's Closet and the modernization of point-of-sale systems. These initiatives, funded through collaborative reinvestment with franchisees, enhance brand visibility and operational efficiency across its resale concepts. The company's focus on sustainability and small business formation aligns with enduring consumer trends toward circular economy models, particularly in youth sports and apparel resale, where rising new equipment costs drive demand for affordable alternatives. With over 2,800 available territories and 1,383 franchises in operation as of March 2026, Winmark has significant runway for expansion without cannibalizing existing markets. The recent increase in cash reserves to $19.8 million from $10.3 million year-over-year, coupled with strong operating cash flow generation of $11.9 million in Q1 FY26, provides ample liquidity to fund these growth initiatives while maintaining its dividend policy. The board's approval of a $1.02 quarterly dividend per share signals confidence in sustained earnings power, supported by royalty income growth to $19.3 million in Q1 FY26 from $17.8 million the prior year, reflecting same-store sales strength and franchisee profitability. These factors suggest the market may be underestimating Winmark's ability to compound value through both organic franchise growth and incremental revenue from technology-enabled marketing programs that deepen franchisee engagement and loyalty.
Winmark Corporation is positioned for sustained growth through strategic investments in technology and marketing that directly strengthen its franchise network, as evidenced by the launch of the North American Ad Fund for Plato's Closet and the modernization of point-of-sale systems. These initiatives, funded through collaborative reinvestment with franchisees, enhance brand visibility and operational efficiency across its resale concepts. The company's focus on sustainability and small business formation aligns with enduring consumer trends toward circular economy models, particularly in youth sports and apparel resale, where rising new equipment costs drive demand for affordable alternatives. With over 2,800 available territories and 1,383 franchises in operation as of March 2026, Winmark has significant runway for expansion without cannibalizing existing markets. The recent increase in cash reserves to $19.8 million from $10.3 million year-over-year, coupled with strong operating cash flow generation of $11.9 million in Q1 FY26, provides ample liquidity to fund these growth initiatives while maintaining its dividend policy. The board's approval of a $1.02 quarterly dividend per share signals confidence in sustained earnings power, supported by royalty income growth to $19.3 million in Q1 FY26 from $17.8 million the prior year, reflecting same-store sales strength and franchisee profitability. These factors suggest the market may be underestimating Winmark's ability to compound value through both organic franchise growth and incremental revenue from technology-enabled marketing programs that deepen franchisee engagement and loyalty.
Winmark Corporation faces mounting pressure from declining merchandise sales and volatile leasing income, which masked underlying weakness in Q1 FY26 results despite headline net income stability. Merchandise sales fell to $653,900 in Q1 FY26 from $941,300 in the prior year period, a 31% decline, while leasing income dropped to zero from $2.3 million due to the non-recurrence of litigation settlement proceeds revealed in the earnings release. This erosion in non-royalty revenue streams increases reliance on volatile franchisee performance and exposes the company to risks if same-store sales soften, particularly as selling, general and administrative expenses rose to $7.9 million from $7.4 million year-over-year, indicating operating leverage is not materializing despite revenue stability. The company's balance sheet shows concerning trends, with total long-term liabilities remaining elevated at nearly $72.7 million, including a $30 million line of credit and $29.9 million in notes payable, creating fixed financial obligations that limit flexibility during downturns. Simultaneously, shareholders' equity deficit improved only marginally to ($46.2 million) from ($53.7 million) due to aggressive dividend payments of $3.4 million in Q1 FY26, which consumed over a third of quarterly net income and prioritized shareholder returns over balance sheet strengthening. With cash and cash equivalents surging to $19.8 million largely from timing of tax refunds and option exercises rather than operational strength, and restricted cash decreasing to $100,000 from $165,000, the liquidity position may be less durable than it appears. These dynamics suggest the market could be overlooking structural challenges in Winmark's ability to grow royalties organically while managing fixed costs and debt obligations in a consumer environment where discretionary spending on resale goods may face headwinds from broader economic uncertainty.
Winmark Corporation faces mounting pressure from declining merchandise sales and volatile leasing income, which masked underlying weakness in Q1 FY26 results despite headline net income stability. Merchandise sales fell to $653,900 in Q1 FY26 from $941,300 in the prior year period, a 31% decline, while leasing income dropped to zero from $2.3 million due to the non-recurrence of litigation settlement proceeds revealed in the earnings release. This erosion in non-royalty revenue streams increases reliance on volatile franchisee performance and exposes the company to risks if same-store sales soften, particularly as selling, general and administrative expenses rose to $7.9 million from $7.4 million year-over-year, indicating operating leverage is not materializing despite revenue stability. The company's balance sheet shows concerning trends, with total long-term liabilities remaining elevated at nearly $72.7 million, including a $30 million line of credit and $29.9 million in notes payable, creating fixed financial obligations that limit flexibility during downturns. Simultaneously, shareholders' equity deficit improved only marginally to ($46.2 million) from ($53.7 million) due to aggressive dividend payments of $3.4 million in Q1 FY26, which consumed over a third of quarterly net income and prioritized shareholder returns over balance sheet strengthening. With cash and cash equivalents surging to $19.8 million largely from timing of tax refunds and option exercises rather than operational strength, and restricted cash decreasing to $100,000 from $165,000, the liquidity position may be less durable than it appears. These dynamics suggest the market could be overlooking structural challenges in Winmark's ability to grow royalties organically while managing fixed costs and debt obligations in a consumer environment where discretionary spending on resale goods may face headwinds from broader economic uncertainty.