Stage Stores, Inc. reported that its total sales for the five-week December period ended Jan. 2, 2010 decreased 1.0% to $255 million from $257 million in the prior year five-week period ended Jan. 3, 2009. Comparable store sales decreased 2.2% this year versus a decrease of 4.9% last year.


The performance marked a significant improvement over November, when comp store sales plunged 12.5%.

 

The company achieved comparable store sales increases in its footwear, intimates, juniors and outerwear categories, while its children’s, cosmetics, men’s and plus sizes categories had comparable store sales that beat the company average. Geographically, all regions of the country, with the exception of the South Central and Southwest, had comparable store sales gains during the month.

President and CEO Andy Hall said he expected fourth-quarter sales to be well within the company's quidance, which called for comps store sales to decline 4-to-7%.The company said comp store sales were down 7.7% for the first 11 months of the year, compared to a decline of 5.9% in the same period in 2008. 


“Based on strong gross margin results after the first nine weeks, we expect that earnings per share will be at or near the high end of our guidance range of $0.56 to $0.66 for the fourth quarter and $0.59 to $0.69 for the year,” Hall said.