Federated Department Stores total sales were $1.058 billion for the four weeks ended November 1, 2003, a decrease of 2.1 percent compared to total sales of $1.081 billion in the same period last year. On a same-store basis, Federated's October sales were down 2.0 percent, compared to the company's prior forecast of flat to up slightly.
For the 13 weeks of Federated's third quarter, the company reported total sales of $3.487 billion, an increase of 0.2 percent compared to total sales of $3.479 billion in the third quarter last year. On a same-store basis, Federated's third quarter sales were up 0.3 percent.
For the year to date, Federated's sales totaled $10.212 billion, down 2.0 percent from total sales of $10.418 billion in the first 39 weeks of 2002. On a same-store basis, Federated's year-to-date sales were down 2.0 percent.
Terry J. Lundgren, Federated's president and chief executive officer, said the company's October sales were hurt by devastating wildfires and transit strikes in Southern California, as well as warmer than normal October temperatures across much of the nation, which offset some of September's sales strength.
“The 0.3 percent increase in same-store sales for the quarter is more indicative of our actual sales trend than either September or October monthly sales,” Lundgren said. He added that this was consistent with the company's prior guidance of same-store sales in the range of down 1 percent to up 1 percent, and said the company also continues to expect this range of same-store sales for the fourth quarter – as well as for November and December individually.
Lundgren said the company expects to exceed slightly the high end of its prior third quarter earnings guidance of 30-33 cents a share. Federated is scheduled to release its third quarter earnings on Wednesday, November 12.
