The Buckle, Inc. saw fiscal December sales jump 22.3% to $108.5 million from net sales of $88.8 million for the prior year period. Comparable store net sales, for stores open at least one year, increased 18.7%. On a same-week basis, the company said total net sales were up 25.3%.
Net sales year-to-date, for the 48-week fiscal period ended January 5, 2008, increased 18.5% to $580.9 million from net sales of $490.0 million for the prior year 48-week fiscal period ended December 30, 2006. Comparable store net sales year-to-date increased 12.8% from comparable store net sales for the 48-week period ended January 6, 2007. Total net sales were up 18.3% compared to the same 48-week period ended January 6, 2007.
Due to the 53rd week in fiscal 2006, comparable store net sales for the month and year-to-date periods are compared to the 5-week and 48-week periods ended January 6, 2007.
During the five-week period ended January 5, 2008, the company repurchased 260,600 shares of its common stock at an average price of $33.06 per share. Of the shares repurchased, 28,200 were purchased pursuant to the 1,500,000 share corporate stock repurchase program authorized by the board of directors on October 12, 2005, and amended on March 24, 2006, completing this authorization. Additionally, 232,400 shares were purchased pursuant to the 500,000 share corporate stock repurchase program authorized by the board of directors on November 27, 2007. The company has 267,600 shares remaining to complete this authorization.
