Established 1999
123jump.com - U.S. Financial Information Archive: 90,000 Annual and 10-K reports – 20,000 Global news stories - 3,500 IPO reports - 1,700 - Earnings Calls – 320 Fund Interviews – 10-year Annual earnings on 4,500 stocks – 20 Quarterly earnings on 3,600 stocks – 1,800 IPO prospectuses – 1,200 Economic data releases
     
   
 
Jump Analysis: 
Early Easter Boosts March Retail Sales
Author: 123jump.com Staff
123jump.com
Last Update: 2:35 PM EDT April 13 2007



Email article | Print article

Most retail companies posted stronger-than-anticipated sales figures because March''''s five-week results included the historically heavy-spending week ahead of Easter holiday. The strong sales are likely to temper April results, and many retailers warn of lackluster even declining figures. Target posted 12% increase in same-store sales but added April same-store sales may drop 2% to 4%. Wal-Mart said its same-store sales rose 4%, exceeding estimates of 1.6% increase but gave a tepid outlook.

 
Among apparel retailers, Chico''s FAS Inc. (CHS: chart) said that comparable sales rose 5.2% in March compared with the year-ago period. Total sales for the five-week period ended April 7 increased 22%. American Eagle Outfitters (AEOS: chart) said same-store sales jumped 20% in March, well ahead of the 11.1% expected by analysts. Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF: chart) posted 7% growth in March same-store sales, while Pacific Sunwear (PSUN: chart) said its March comparable sales rose 14%.

J.C. Penney Co. (JCP: chart) reported 10.6% increase in March same-store sales, higher than an earlier forecast for a high-single digit increase and a 1% decrease last year. The strong results were contributed by strength in apparel categories, benefiting from an earlier Easter. Analysts had expected its same-store sales to rise 7.5%. Total company sales rose 10.7% to $1.71 billion. Nordstrom (JWN: chart) was another retailer posting outstanding results, with same-store sales up 15% compared with the 8.2% projection. Gap (GPS: chart) said same-store sales were higher by 6%, beating a forecast of 1.1% decline.

In the discount retailers group, Wal-Mart (WMT: chart) said Thursday its March same-store sales rose 4%, exceeding expectations of 1.6% increase. Total sales for the five-week period rose 11.7% to $34.26 billion. The company expects April same-store sales in the U.S. to be flat to down 2%, due to the earlier Easter holiday. Sales for the combined March/April reporting period are estimated to be between 1% and 2%. Target (TGT: chart) posted 12% increase in March same-store sales, in line with previous estimates. The retailer added April same-store sales are expected to drop 2% to 4%. Pier 1 Imports (PIR: chart) was one of the very few retailers posting negative results. The company reported a decline in Q1 same-store sales.

Among wholesale stores, Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST: chart) posted 6% rise in comparable-store sales, topping estimates of 4.7% increase. Total sales rose 11% to $5.94 billion.

2007 SAME-STORE SALES
CompanyTicker JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJuly
Apparel Retailers
Abercrombie & Fitch ANF-6.00% -6.00% 7.00%
AeropostaleARO 5.40% 2.30% 15.90%
AmericanEagle AEOS 17.00% NA20.00%
AnnTaylor ANN-10.20% -2.90% 6.10%
Bebe BEBE0.80% -2.20% 0.10%
Buckle BKE 7.80% 4.50%10.70%
Cato CTR -7.00%0.00%7.00%
CharmingShoppes CHRS NA NA NA
Chico's CHS -3.50% -4.30%5.20%
Children'sPlace, The PLCE 3.00% 5.00% 7.00%
Christopher & Banks CBK -4.00% -13.00% 0.00%
CitiTrends CTRN3.20% NA NA
Claires CLE 3.00% 1.00%8.00%
DebShops DEBS -3.80%-2.00%6.50%
DillardsDDS-3.00% -9.00% 6.00%
DressBarnDBRN 8.00% 0.00%12.00%
Federated Dept. FD 8.60% 1.20%2.30%
Gap GPS0.00% -4.00%6.00%
Gottschalks GOT-1.00% -3.60%6.40%
GuessGES NA NA NA
Gymboree GYMB0.00%1.00%9.00%
Hot Topic HOTT-6.60% -2.70% 3.40%
J.C.PenneyJCP 3.60%-0.20%10.60%
Jo-AnnStoresJAS-6.30%NANA
Jos.A.Bank JOSB-4.70% 2.80% 1.40%
Kohl's KSS 8.70% 4.40%16.80%
LimitedBrandsLTD11.00% 3.00%8.00%
Men'sWearhouse MW NANA NA
MotherWorksMWRK-6.00% -4.70% 3.60%
NordstromJWN11.00%9.10% 15.00%
Pacific Sunwear PSUN-7.70%-5.70%14.10%
RossStoresROST2.00% 1.00% 6.00%
Saks SKS11.40% 25.00%10.10%
SteinMartSMRT-1.90%-1.90% 8.00%
Talbots TLB NANA NA
TJX TJX4.00% 2.00% 6.00%
Drug Stores
CVS CVS8.60% 7.00% 7.00%
WalgreenWAG 10.80%8.60% 8.00%
Wholesale Stores
BJ's Wholesale Club BJ3.50% 3.00% 3.10%
CostcoCOST 2.00%4.00% 6.00%
Family DollarFDO 0.10% -0.50% 5.80%
Shoe Stores
DSW DSWNA NA NA
Payless ShoesourcePSSNA NA NA
FinishLine FINL NANANA
Discount Retailers
Target TGT 5.10% 5.70%12.00%
Wal-Mart Stores WMT 2.20% 0.90%4.00%
Pier1 ImportsPIR -13.20%-8.40% NA
Sharper Image SHRP -25.00% -24.00%-29.00
Miscellaneous
BigLots BIGNANA NA
  1 More: Jump Analysis Archive

 



 
© 1999-2008 123jump.com. All rights reserved