The Finish Line, Inc. reconfirmed guidance for the fourth quarter ending February 25, 2006 and announced sales and earnings guidance for the year ending March 3, 2007.
FOURTH QUARTER FISCAL 06
The company's comparable sales through the first eight weeks of the 13- week quarter have been at the top end of the range with product margin on plan. The company had previously issued guidance for Q4 of a comparable sales gain of 1-2% and earnings per diluted share of 58 cents – 60 cents. While the company still has to perform against the 8% comparable sales gain for the month of February last year, it now believes that it will achieve the upper end of the ranges for both comparable sales and earnings for Q4. The company's guidance for the full fiscal year is $1.23 – $1.25 based on the expected fourth quarter results.
FISCAL 07 GUIDANCE
The following sets forth the company's sales, comparable sales and earnings guidance for Fiscal 07:
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Year
Ending Ending Ending Ending Ended
05/27/06 08/26/06 11/25/06 03/03/07 03/03/07
Consolidated
Net Sales - in
thousands $323,000 $382,000 $314,000 $481,000 $1,500,000
Comparable Sales 1-3% 1-3% 1-3% 1-3% 1-3%
Diluted Earnings
per Share $.23-$.25 $.39-$.41 $.02-$.04 $.69-$.71 $1.35-$1.39
The company will have an additional week in Fiscal 07 (a 53-week year versus the typical 52-week year), which is reflected in the fourth quarter and full year guidance. The company estimates that the extra week is a 6 cents benefit to earnings in the fourth quarter. In addition, the guidance above includes $7.4 million (10 cents per diluted share) for stock option expense as required by FAS 123R, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.”
The company anticipates opening 50 new Finish Line stores, 30-35 Man Alive stores and 15 Paiva stores in Fiscal 07. This equates to a 9-10% increase in store square footage open for the consolidated group. Capital expenditures for Fiscal 07 will approximate $65-$70 million.
