Genesco witnesses positive trends in Back-to-School season

24 Nov '10

3 min read

Genesco Inc reported earnings from continuing operations for the third quarter ended October 30, 2010, of $17.0 million, or $0.72 per diluted share, compared to earnings from continuing operations of $11.5 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, for the third quarter ended October 31, 2009.

Fiscal 2011 third quarter earnings were reduced by pretax items totaling $3.1 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, after tax, primarily related to fixed asset impairments and purchase price accounting adjustments. Fiscal 2010 third quarter earnings reflected pretax charges of $2.6 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, after tax, primarily related to fixed asset impairments.

Adjusted for the listed items in both periods, earnings from continuing operations were $18.1 million, or $0.77 per diluted share, for the third quarter of Fiscal 2011, compared to earnings from continuing operations of $12.3 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, for the third quarter of Fiscal 2010.

For consistency with Fiscal 2011's previously announced earnings expectations and the adjusted results for the prior period announced last year, neither of which reflected the listed items, the Company believes that disclosure of earnings from continuing operations adjusted for those items will be useful to investors. A reconciliation of the adjusted financial measures to their corresponding measures as reported pursuant to U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles is included in Schedule B to this press release.

Net sales for the third quarter of Fiscal 2011 increased 19% to $464.8 million from $390.3 million in the third quarter of Fiscal 2010. Comparable store sales in the third quarter of Fiscal 2011 increased by 9%. The Lids Sports Group's comparable store sales increased by 13%, the Journeys Group increased by 9%, Johnston & Murphy Retail increased by 7%, and Underground Station increased by 3%.

Robert J. Dennis, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Genesco, said, "Our third quarter performance exceeded our expectations, highlighted by a comparable store sales gain of 9% and strong earnings growth. Our overall businesses produced better than planned top-line results as the positive trends we witnessed in the Back-to-School season continued throughout the quarter. This allowed us to achieve meaningful operating expense leverage and deliver much improved profitability versus the year ago period.

"The fourth quarter has started off well, with comparable store sales across all the Company's retail businesses up 11% through the first three weeks of November. While we anticipate that comparable store sales will moderate from current levels, we are more optimistic in our outlook for the Holiday selling season than when we last updated our guidance for the year.

"Based on stronger than expected third quarter results combined with an improved outlook for the fourth quarter, we are raising our full year earnings guidance.We now expect Fiscal 2011 diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $2.38 to $2.43, up from our previous guidance of between $2.10 and $2.20, a 27% to 30% increase over last year's earnings.

"Consistent with previous guidance, these expectations do not include expected non-cash asset impairments and other charges, which are projected to total approximately $11 million to $13 million, or $0.28 to $0.33 per share, after tax, in Fiscal 2011. This guidance assumes comparable sales of 5% to 6% for the fourth quarter."

Genesco Inc

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