Stage Stores Inc. reported a loss of $7.8 million in the fourth quarter as same-store sales slid 2.9 percent. The department store operator also said it is committed to shifting its focus to expanding the Gordmans off-price concept.

For the fourth quarter, total company comparable sales decreased 2.4 percent. Shifted comparable sales, comparing the thirteen weeks ended February 2, 2019 and February 3, 2018, increased 0.6 percent. Net loss, including $14.9 million of non-cash tradename impairment, was $7.8 million and fourth quarter EBITDA adjusted for impairments was $27.1 million.

“The fourth quarter represented our best quarter of shifted comparable sales results in fiscal 2018, and we are excited for the momentum to carry forward,” commented Michael Glazer, chief executive officer. “We drove sequential improvement in shifted comparable sales, including double digit e-commerce sales growth, each quarter this year. The fourth quarter positive sales results were primarily attributed to a strong performance by our non-apparel categories, particularly home and gifts. The six department stores converted to Gordmans in smaller mid-west markets delivered a shifted comparable sales increase of more than 150 percent in the fourth quarter. This further increases our confidence in the next phase of our strategy, as the 2019 conversions are predominantly in these smaller mid-west markets. At year-end, total inventories were down 3 percent, in line with our expectations, and excess availability under our credit facility was $82 million.”

Glazer continued, “Looking to 2019, our pivot to off-price will accelerate, with 70 to 80 department stores converting to Gordmans. Given the strong conversion results in 2018, we expect these efforts to benefit our comparable sales performance in 2019 by at least 200 basis points. Additionally, we believe that capital and inventory investments will enable us to nearly double home department penetration in our department stores, delivering a total company comparable sales benefit of approximately 300 basis points. These 2019 initiatives, combined with strong trends in e-commerce, non-apparel, and active apparel support our comparable sales guidance of +3 percent to +5 percent for 2019. In addition to comparable sales growth, our efforts to close 40 to 60 underperforming stores, drive gross margin improvement, and enhance the profitability of our existing off-price stores are expected to deliver an EBITDA of $10 million to $15 million in 2019. Capital spend will be between $30 and $35 million, in line with 2018, and meaningful inventory reductions associated with closing and converting stores will result in positive cash flow for the year. We are very excited about the future, including converting 150 more department stores to off-price by the middle of 2020. As a result, by the end of 2020, off-price sales will represent approximately 50 percent of our sales volume.”

Fourth Quarter Results

Fourth quarter 2018 results, which included $14.9 million of non-cash impairments related to the Peebles trade name as a result of our multi-year conversion strategy, compared to fourth quarter 2017 results were as follows:

  • Net sales were $520 million compared to $549 million
  • Comparable sales decreased 2.4 percent for total company
  • Shifted comparable sales increased 0.8 percent in off-price, increased 0.5 percent for department stores, and increased 0.6 percent for total company
  • Net loss was $7.8 million compared to net income of $5.6 million
  • Tax rate of 0 percent due to a full valuation allowance
  • Loss per share was $0.28 compared to an earnings per share of $0.19
  • EBIT was $(4.1) million compared to $19.6 million
  • EBITDA adjusted for impairments was $27.1 million compared to $37.3 million

2018 Results

Fiscal 2018 results, which included $14.9 million of non-cash impairments related to the Peebles trade name as a result of our multi-year conversion strategy, compared to fiscal 2017 results were as follows:

  • Net sales were $1,580 million compared to $1,592 million
  • Comparable sales decreased 1.9 percent for total company
  • Shifted comparable sales increased 6.7 percent in off-price, decreased 2.9 percent for department stores, and decreased 1.6 percent for total company
  • Net loss was $87.7 million compared to net loss of $37.3 million
  • Tax rate of 0 percent due to a full valuation allowance
  • Loss per share was $3.13 compared to a loss per share of $1.37
  • EBIT was $(75.5) million compared to $(42.7) million
  • EBITDA adjusted for impairments was $0.9 million compared to $24.5 million
  • Capital expenditures of $30.1 million
  • Converted 9 department stores to Gordmans off-price stores, opened 1 new Gordmans off-price store, and closed 41 department stores

2019 Guidance

For 2019, the company detailed the following annual guidance:

  • Net Sales between $1,590 million and $1,620 million
  • Comparable sales increase of +3 percent to +5 percent
  • EBITDA between $10 million and $15 million
  • Net loss between $65 million and $60 million, and tax rate of 0 percent
  • Loss per share between $2.25 and $2.10
  • Convert 70 to 80 department stores to Gordmans off-price stores, and close 40 to 60 department stores
  • Capital expenditures of $30 million to $35 million

Stage Stores operates in 42 states through 709 Bealls, Goody’s, Palais Royal, Peebles and Stage specialty department stores, and 87 Gordmans locations. The department store count includes 18 stores opening as Gordmans off-price stores on March 21, 2019.