Coach Inc, a leading marketer of modern classic American accessories, announced an increase of 19% in earnings per diluted share to $0.46 for its third fiscal quarter ended March 29, 2008, up from $0.39 per diluted share a year ago. This substantial increase in earnings from the prior year's third quarter reflected a 19% gain in net sales.
In the third quarter, net sales were $745 million compared with the $625 million reported in the same period of the prior year. Net income rose 10% to $162 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, compared with $147 million, or $0.39 per diluted share in the prior year.
For the quarter, operating income totaled $257 million, up 13% from the $227 million reported in the comparable year ago period, while operating margin was 34.5% versus 36.2% reported for the prior year. During the quarter, gross profit rose 15% to $558 million from $486 million a year ago.
Gross margin was 75.0% versus 77.8% a year ago, impacted primarily by the sharp rise of the yen over the period, and, as expected, by both the continued promotional environment and channel mix. SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales improved by 100 basis points to 40.5%, compared to the 41.5% reported in the year-ago quarter, as the company was able to leverage expenses – notably selling and distribution costs - on the higher sales base.
On a constant-exchange-rate basis, excluding the positive currency effect from translating foreign-denominated sales in U.S. dollars, net sales increased 16% in the third quarter. On the same basis, operating income rose 17%.