Christopher & Banks Corporation, a specialty women's apparel retailer, reported results for the thirteen week period ended November 2, 2013.
Results for the Thirteen Week Period Ended November 2, 2013
Same-store sales increased 4.9%, as compared to the thirteen weeks ended November 3, 2012; this follows a 13.6% same-store sales increase in last year's third quarter.
Net sales totaled $118.1 million, as compared to $117.3 million for the thirteen weeks ended October 27, 2012. During the quarter, the Company operated an average of 7.3% fewer stores than during the comparable period last year, reflecting its store rationalization program.
Operating income was $8.6 million. This compares to operating income of $3.6 million for the same period last year, which included approximately $333,000 in pre-tax expenses related to restructuring charges.
Net income totaled $8.6 million, or $0.23 per diluted share. Net income for the thirteen weeks ended October 27, 2012 totaled $3.6 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, including the above mentioned $333,000 pretax restructuring charge, or $0.01 per diluted share.
LuAnn Via, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Our momentum continued in the third quarter as reflected in our sixth consecutive quarter of comparable store sales growth and strong bottom line results. We attribute our positive performance to the continued refinement of our merchandise strategy, greater focus on targeted marketing programs, optimization of our multi-channel opportunities and our enhanced store experience.
“As we head into the holiday season we believe that our merchandise assortment and our marketing program offer our customer the right balance of quality and price to meet her needs. That said, we expect the promotional environment to remain aggressive, and we will remain diligent in managing inventory levels and operating costs, accordingly. We look forward to a solid ending to a challenging 2013 retail environment and we remain confident in our three-year growth plan."
Balance Sheet Highlights and Capital Expenditures
Cash, cash-equivalents and investments totaled $47.1 million as of November 2, 2013. Inventory per store, excluding in-transit and eCommerce inventory, decreased approximately 10% on a per-store basis as of November 2, 2013, as compared to October 27, 2012. For the thirteen week period ended November 2, 2013, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facility and capital expenditures totaled approximately $3.0 million.
