Stage Stores, Inc. reported that its total sales for the four week period ended Jan. 29 increased 7.6% to $72 million from $67 million in the prior year period. Comparable store sales increased 5.1%.

Most merchandise categories achieved January comparable store sales increases, with shoes, cosmetics, accessories and outerwear in line or better than the company average. Geographically, the South Central, Southeast and Southwest regions had the strongest comparable store sales gains.

For the fourth quarter ended Jan. 29, the company reported that total sales increased 5.1% to $454 million. Comparable store sales for the quarter increased 2.5%. For the fiscal year, total sales increased 2.7% to $1,471 million. Comparable store sales increased 0.2% for the year.

Andy Hall, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are pleased with our comparable store sales increases for January and the fourth quarter. We also expect our fourth quarter gross margin rate to exceed guidance. Based on the anticipated gross margin rate improvement and sales near the high end of our previous guidance, we are raising our fourth quarter EPS guidance to $0.84 to $0.85 from our previous guidance of $0.78 to $0.81. Similarly, our fiscal year EPS guidance is increasing to $0.97 to $0.98 versus our previous guidance of $0.91 to $0.94.”