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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
 
FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

February 16, 2026
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported)

  THE BUCKLE, INC .
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Nebraska 001-12951 47-0366193
(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) File Number) Identification No.)

2407 West 24th Street ,
Kearney , Nebraska 68845-4915
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:   ( 308 ) 236-8491
__________________________________________________________

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 
o   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
o   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class Trading Symbol(s) Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value BKE New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).            
                                     Emerging growth company      o  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

ITEM 5.02.     Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

On January 23, 2026, The Buckle, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release announcing that Kari G. Smith and Michelle M. Hoffman would retire from their respective positions as Executive Vice President of Stores and Senior Vice President of Sales effective February 13, 2026. Following their last day of employment with the Company, Ms. Hoffman and Ms. Smith executed and delivered a Separation Agreement and General Release of Claims (together, the "Agreements") on February 16 and February 18, 2026, respectively. In addition to customary provisions, the Agreements provide each with (i) a one-time cash payment equivalent to twenty-six weeks of pay of their most recent annual salary as previously disclosed in the Company’s 2025 Proxy Statement filed April 23, 2025; and (ii) a one-time cash payment of $20,000 in lieu of reimbursement for continuation of healthcare coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (COBRA).

ITEM 9.01(d).     Exhibits

Exhibit 104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

The Buckle, Inc.

Date: February 20, 2026 By: /s/  THOMAS B. HEACOCK
  Name: Thomas B. Heacock
  Title: Senior Vice President of Finance,
  Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX
         

Exhibit 104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)