Sales dip marginally at Limited Brands in Q2 FY'12

Second Quarter Results

Adjusted earnings per share for the second quarter ended July 28, 2012, were $0.50 compared to adjusted earnings per share of $0.48 for the quarter ended July 30, 2011.  Second quarter adjusted operating income was $308.9 million compared to $307.0 million last year, and adjusted net income was $147.2 million compared to $150.7 million last year.  Adjusted results exclude certain significant items as detailed below:

• In 2012:  A pre-tax charge of $3.6 million, or $0.01 per share, related to La Senza store closures.
• In 2011 (totaling to a benefit of $0.25 per share):  A non-taxable gain of $147.1 million, or $0.47 per share, and a pre-tax expense of $113.4 million, or $0.22 per share, related to the charitable contribution of all of the company's remaining shares of Express to the Limited Brands Foundation.

Including the significant items above, reported second quarter earnings per share were $0.49 compared to $0.73 last year; operating income was $305.3 million compared to $193.5 million last year; and net income was $143.6 million compared to $231.2 million last year.

Comparable store sales for the second quarter increased 8 percent, and net sales were $2.399 billion compared to $2.458 billion last year.  Second quarter 2011 sales included $216.6 million attributable to the third party apparel sourcing business, which was sold in November 2011.

At the conclusion of this press release is a reconciliation of reported to adjusted results.

2012 Outlook

The company stated that it expects 2012 third quarter adjusted earnings per share to be $0.15 to $0.20 compared to adjusted earnings per share of $0.25 per share last year.

For 2012, the company expects earnings per share of $2.73 to $2.88 versus its previous guidance of $2.63 to $2.83.

Limited Brands, through Victoria's Secret, Pink, Bath & Body Works, La Senza and Henri Bendel, is an international company.  The company operates 2,619 specialty stores in the United States and its brands are sold in more than 700 company-operated and franchised additional locations world-wide. 

Limited Brands Inc