Aéropostale Narrows Q4 Loss, but Q1 Outlook is Weak

Aéropostale Inc. narrowed its fourth-quarter loss, but shares declined further in after-market trading on a weak first-quarter forecast. Shares of Aéropostale closed down 6.8 percent to $3.70 in Big Board trading Thursday, but then fell another 6 percent to $3.48 in after-market trading. The company reported results after the markets closed. The teen retailer posted a loss of $13.5 million, or 17 cents a diluted share, for the three months ended Jan. 31, compared with the year-ago loss of $70.3 million, or 90 cents. On an adjusted basis, after excluding certain charges, the company had net income of $400,000, or 1 cent a diluted share. Net sales were down 11.4 percent to $593.8 million from $670 million. Comparable-store sales decreased 9 percent on top of the 15 percent decline a year ago. Still, the results were better than expected as analysts’ consensus estimate was a loss of 3 cents on sales of $576.8 million. For the year, the loss widened to $206.5 million, or $2.62, from $141.8 million, or $1.81, in 2013. Net sales fell 12.1 percent to $1.84 billion from $2.09 billion. The after-market sell-off was triggered by a weak first-quarter forecast. The company said it expects a loss of between 53 cents and

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Read More...



from WWD » Aéropostale Narrows Q4 Loss, but Q1 Outlook Is Weak http://ift.tt/1Ca9vRF

via IFTTT