TL;DR
Canadian Tire Corporation reported 3.2% comparable retail sales growth in the third quarter of 2026, while total retail sales reached $4.74 billion. E-commerce sales rose 15.3% companywide and 24.8% at Canadian Tire Retail; the company also reported higher retail income before taxes and a lower retail gross margin excluding petroleum.
Canadian Tire Corporation reported 3.2% comparable retail sales growth for the third quarter of 2026, with online sales at its flagship Canadian Tire Retail business rising 24.8%. The results show growth in store sales and digital orders across several parts of the retailer’s business, while its retail gross margin excluding petroleum narrowed.
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The Toronto-based company reported $4.74 billion in total retail sales, up 4.4% from the same quarter a year earlier. Retail sales excluding petroleum increased 1.7%, and retail revenue rose 5% to $3.89 billion, according to the company figures cited by Hardware Retailing. These measures describe different parts of the business and should not be treated as interchangeable.
At Canadian Tire Retail, comparable sales increased 3.2%, supported by higher customer traffic and gains across merchandise divisions. Living, seasonal and gardening led the reported category growth. Automotive recorded its 25th consecutive quarter of sales growth, the company said. Comparable sales measure performance at stores open for a comparable period, rather than simply counting sales from all locations.
Digital sales grew faster than the comparable-store measure. E-commerce sales across the corporation increased 15.3%, while Canadian Tire Retail online sales rose 24.8%. The company attributed the latter in part to more orders shipped directly to customers. Companywide sales through its Triangle Rewards loyalty program increased 6.3% during the quarter.
Results elsewhere in the retail group were also positive: workwear and footwear retailer Mark’s recorded a 3.3% comparable sales increase, and SportChek reported a 3.2% gain. Retail income before taxes rose to $197.9 million from $144.6 million a year earlier. At the same time, retail gross margin excluding petroleum fell 16 basis points to 35.6%.
Online Growth and Retail Margins
The figures point to a retailer gaining sales through both physical stores and online ordering, with digital growth particularly pronounced at Canadian Tire Retail. For shoppers, the increase in orders shipped directly to customers indicates that delivery is part of the company’s expanding range of purchase options. The results do not specify how much of the online increase came from new customers, more frequent orders or changes in order size.
The quarter also presents a mixed picture for the business. Higher retail income before taxes accompanied a 16-basis-point decline in gross margin excluding petroleum, meaning sales growth did not translate into a higher margin on that measure. For independent hardware retailers, the report offers a view of a large competitor’s emphasis on traffic, digital ordering, loyalty and investment in store operations. It does not establish how those strategies compare with the performance of individual competitors.
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Investment and Loyalty Plans
Canadian Tire operates more than 1,600 retail and gasoline outlets across Canada, according to the source report. Its Triangle Rewards program links customers across the company’s retail brands, financial services and partner programs. The program has close to 10 million registered members; the company reported that loyalty sales increased 6.3% in the quarter.
The company plans to invest about $2 billion in operating capital expenditures from 2025 through 2028, including $450 million to $500 million in 2026. That spending plan covers a period in which the company says consumers remain careful about their spending. Canadian Tire also increased its annual dividend to $7.30 per share, its 17th consecutive annual increase, according to the report.
What the Results Do Not Show
The figures supplied in the report do not break down the 24.8% online sales increase by order volume, average transaction value, product category or delivery method beyond noting growth in orders shipped directly to customers. They also do not state how much online sales contributed to total retail sales or whether the growth reflects a shift from in-store purchases.
The results cover the third quarter of 2026; they do not establish whether the sales trends will continue in subsequent quarters. The source material does not provide a detailed explanation for the lower retail gross margin, nor does it give a full breakdown of the planned capital spending by project or business unit.
2026 Spending and Future Results
Canadian Tire’s stated plan is to spend $450 million to $500 million in 2026 as part of its broader $2 billion operating capital expenditure plan for 2025 through 2028. Future company updates will show whether online growth, store traffic and category performance continue, and how the planned investment relates to those results. The source report does not give a date for the company’s next results announcement.
Key Questions
How much did Canadian Tire’s comparable retail sales grow?
Comparable retail sales increased 3.2% in the third quarter of 2026, according to the company figures reported by Hardware Retailing.
How quickly did online sales grow?
E-commerce sales across Canadian Tire Corporation rose 15.3%. Online sales at Canadian Tire Retail increased 24.8% during the same quarter.
Which product areas led Canadian Tire Retail’s sales gains?
Living, seasonal and gardening led the reported gains. Automotive posted its 25th consecutive quarter of sales growth.
Did Canadian Tire’s retail margins increase?
No. Retail gross margin excluding petroleum declined 16 basis points to 35.6%, even as retail income before taxes rose to $197.9 million from $144.6 million a year earlier.
How much does Canadian Tire plan to invest?
The company expects to invest about $2 billion in operating capital expenditures from 2025 through 2028, including $450 million to $500 million in 2026.
Source: hardwareretailing.com
