Wet Seal Jan Sales Decline Again - Analyst Blog
13 Februar 2013 - 6:30PM
Zacks
Same-store sales at Wet Seal Inc. (WTSLA), a
specialty retailer of fashionable and contemporary apparel and
accessory items for women, plunged 9.4% year over year in the
five-week period ended February 2, 2013. This compares favorably
with the 13.0% decline in same-store sales in the year-ago
period.
The improvement during the month was mainly due to strong
performance in the Arden B stores. Total sales climbed 23.3% from
the year-ago period to $40.0 million in January 2013.
Comparable sales in the Wet Seal stores declined 13.4% year over
year, compared with a 13.0% slip in the year-ago period. Arden B
stores reported a year-over-year rise of 22.8% versus a 12.7% fall
in January 2012.
Total sales in Wet Seal stores climbed 17.2% year over year to
$32.02 million and Arden B stores’ total sales soared 55.3% to $8.0
million in January 2013.
Improvement in business trends during January 2013 helped
comparable store sales to gain during the month. Sales in the Arden
B stores benefited partially from shift in New Year’s Eve sales
from fiscal December last year to the first week of January this
year. The shift benefited business considerably.
However, e-commerce performed better than other divisions and sales
went up 29.8% in January 2013. The improvement resulted from the
company’s efforts to increase sales through the expansion of its
online business. Excluding the shift of New Year’s Eve sales from
fiscal December last year to the first week of January this year,
e-commerce sales increased 6.5% during the month.
Comparable-store sales in January were below management’s
expectations. The company continues to promote its sales to keep
inventory at manageable levels.
With consumers regaining confidence, Jan 2013 was strong for most
retailers, including Gap Inc. (GPS), Ross
Stores Inc. (ROST) and Costco Wholesale
Corporation (COST) which registered comps growth of 8%, 4%
and 4%, respectively.
Future Planning
Wet Seal announced that it is conducting a capital planning review,
which includes the review of the company’s cash position.
Wet Seal maintained its guidance and expects fourth-quarter fiscal
2012 loss per share to be 6 cents.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at a loss of 6 cents a share
for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012.
During its third-quarter earnings conference call, the company
announced plans to close four Wet Seal stores and fifteen Arden B
stores at the end of the fourth quarter. For fiscal 2012, the
company narrowed its capital expenditure plan to a range of $20
million to $21 million from previously announced guidance range of
$20 million to $22 million. The company expects to close four Wet
Seal stores and twenty net Arden B stores at the end of fiscal
2012.
In order to align the company's sales reporting frequency other
specialty apparel retailers, Wet Seal announced that it will
discontinue the reporting of monthly sales figures from the first
quarter of fiscal 2013. Instead, it will report sales on a
quarterly basis on the first Thursday following the close of each
quarter.
Conclusion
Management plans to make its women’s tops stocks more trendy and
increase the variety available in its stores. We are encouraged by
the company’s efforts to increase its penetration in the e-commerce
business and transition into full-price online selling.
However, declining operating income in recent quarters on the back
of higher SG&A expenses and promotion activities, limited
infrastructure, the highly competitive nature of the women’s
apparel industry and its seasonal nature are matters for
concern.
Headquartered in Foothill Ranch, California, Wet Seal is a
specialty retailer of fashionable and contemporary apparel and
accessory items and carries Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
COSTCO WHOLE CP (COST): Free Stock Analysis Report
GAP INC (GPS): Free Stock Analysis Report
ROSS STORES (ROST): Free Stock Analysis Report
WET SEAL INC -A (WTSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Zacks Investment Research
The Wet Seal - Class A (MM) (NASDAQ:WTSLA)
Historical Stock Chart
Von Nov 2024 bis Dez 2024
The Wet Seal - Class A (MM) (NASDAQ:WTSLA)
Historical Stock Chart
Von Dez 2023 bis Dez 2024
Echtzeit-Nachrichten über The Wet Seal - Class A (MM) (NASDAQ): 0 Nachrichtenartikel
Weitere The Wet Seal - Class A (MM) News-Artikel