Gymboree key sales figure falls in January, but raises 4th-quarter profit guidance
By APThursday, February 4, 2010
Gymboree Jan. key sales figure dips, lifts outlook
SAN FRANCISCO — Gymboree Corp. said Thursday that a key sales figure slipped 2 percent in its fiscal fourth quarter, but the children’s apparel retailer lifted its quarterly profit outlook for the second time in less than a month as its net sales improved.
Gymboree now anticipates fourth-quarter profit of $1.08 to $1.10 per share, up from a prior forecast of $1.03 to $1.06 per share.
Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters, whose estimates usually remove one-time items, expect a smaller profit of $1.06 per share.
Gymboree said its fourth-quarter retail net sales grew 4 percent to $295.7 million.
The retailer also predicts its full-year earnings will come in above year-ago results.
The company foresees a fiscal 2009 profit of $3.38 to $3.40 per share. It earned $3.21 per share in 2008.
Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters on average forecast profit of $3.37 per share for the year.
Gymboree ran 953 stores as of Jan. 30.
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