ShopKo Stores, Inc. reported consolidated sales for the four weeks ended November 27, 2004 decreased 4.9% to $272.8 million from $286.8 million during the same period last year. Consolidated comparable store sales decreased 4.8%.
Sales Summary by Business Segment (dollars in millions) Retail Segments Period Ended % Change 4 Weeks: 11/27/04 Total** Comp* ShopKo $200.9 (6.6)% (6.4)% Pamida 71.9 0.2 0.0 Total Retail $272.8 (4.9)% (4.8)% 43 Weeks: ShopKo $1,875.6 0.1% 0.4% Pamida 654.2 1.4 1.4 Total Retail $2,529.8 0.5% 0.6% * Comparable store sales represent sales of those stores open during both fiscal years and do not include sales from the ShopKo wholesale optical lab. ** ShopKo division total sales variance reflects sales from one closed ShopKo location in fiscal 2004 and one new ShopKo Express location. Pamida division total sales variance reflects sales in the prior year periods from seven locations which have been closed and not replaced, and two new Pamida locations opened in fiscal 2003. Sales variance also reflects sales from five closed Pamida locations and seven new locations in fiscal 2004.
Consolidated comparable store sales are expected to be positive low single digits for the month of December, and flat for the fourth quarter.
The company’s diluted earnings per share guidance remains unchanged for the fourth quarter at $1.06 to $1.16, however the company continues to maintain a cautious outlook for the remainder of the year.