Stage Stores Q4'FY13 comparable store sales dip 3.4%

07 Mar '14

3 min read

Stage Stores, Inc. reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended February 1, 2014. The Company reported adjusted earnings for fiscal 2013, excluding one-time items and the loss associated with the Steele’s division, of $1.22 per diluted share compared to $1.44 per diluted share for fiscal 2012. The Company has entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of the Steele’s division, which it expects to consummate during the first quarter of 2014.

2013 Results

The Company follows the retail reporting calendar, which included an extra week of sales in the fourth quarter of 2012. For the 13-week fourth quarter of 2013, the Company reported total sales, excluding Steele’s, of $493 million compared to $519 million for the 14-week fourth quarter of 2012.

Comparable store sales for the quarter decreased 3.4%; however, many retailers report comparable store sales on a shifted calendar, which excludes the first week of the 2012 fiscal quarter. On this shifted basis, comparable store sales decreased 1.1% for the quarter.

Cosmetics, footwear, children’s, related sportswear, plus sizes and men’s businesses all performed better than the Company average for the quarter. Geographically, the South Central and Northwest regions outperformed.

For the 2013 fiscal year, the Company reported total sales, excluding Steele’s, of $1,610 million versus $1,628 million for the 2012 fiscal year. Comparable store sales for the year decreased 1.5%, while on a shifted calendar basis, which excludes the first week of 2012, comparable store sales decreased 1.1%.

The Company reported earnings for the fourth quarter of $24.9 million, or $0.78 per diluted share, this year compared to earnings of $35.8 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, for the same period last year. One-time items recorded in this year’s fourth quarter, totaling approximately $10.5 million, or $0.21 per share, include items associated with the consolidation of the Company’s South Hill, Virginia operations into its Houston headquarters and an impairment charge related to Steele’s.

One-time items recorded in last year’s fourth quarter, totaling approximately $2.6 million, or $0.05 per share, are associated with the South Hill consolidation. For the 2013 fiscal year, the Company reported earnings of $16.6 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, compared to earnings of $38.2 million, or $1.19 per diluted share, for fiscal 2012. One-time items, including the Steele’s impairment charge, total approximately $31.1 million, or $0.59 per share, this year versus approximately $6.9 million, or $0.14 per share, last year. Steele’s had a net loss of $0.12 per share this year and last year.

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