Best Buy to Expand Store Count for the First Time in a Decade

Best Buy is gearing up to add six net new U. S. stores this year — the first growth in its domestic store count in more than 10 years — and smaller format stores will be a key component of the strategy.

“We additionally expect to have net domestic Best Buy store growth for the first time in more than a decade, as we plan to open six new stores to better meet demand in growing markets,” reads the company’s 2026 annual report. Central to the plan is a smaller-format prototype, now rolling out after promising results in pilot markets.

According to the company, these locations have provided a boost in revenue, not just from walk-in shoppers but also from local online orders. “This includes a smaller, tested store model which has driven incremental revenue in smaller markets — both through store visits and in local online orders,” Best Buy said in its filing.

The strategy reflects a broader industry embrace of flexible, right-sized stores that serve as both shopping and fulfillment hubs. The announcement lands as Best Buy’s business continues to work toward stabilizing. Best Buy’s comparable sales for fiscal 2026, which ended Jan. 31, increased 0.

5% — the first positive full-year comp sales results since fiscal 2022. The company also reported higher-than-expected profit margins. Revenue was $41. 6 billion, up from $41. 5 billion the previous year. Best Buy’s Incoming Leadership A major leadership transition is also on the horizon. CEO Corie Barry is stepping down after five years at the helm.

Barry’s successor, longtime company leader Jason Bonfig, is set to accelerate the retailer’s strategy, with the board citing the move as aimed at building on gains in omnichannel and customer experience. Best Buy’s 2026 Priorities On the digital front, Best Buy remains deep in investment mode, but the annual report signals a new chapter ahead.

Fiscal 2027 is slated to be the last major investment year for its Marketplace platform and Best Buy Ads retail media network, as both units are expected to move toward sustainable growth and profitability. Other priorities highlighted in the filing include: expanded membership programs. investment in supply chain and logistics.

a concerted effort to improve both experience and operational efficiency in-store and online. The company is also leaning into training and empowering associates, modernizing its store footprint, and rolling out technology upgrades designed to better serve today’s consumer.