FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
THE
CHILDREN’S PLACE REPORTS OCTOBER AND THIRD QUARTER 2009 SALES
Provides
Preliminary Estimated Range for Third Quarter 2009 Earnings Per
Share
Secaucus, New Jersey – November 5,
2009 – The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCE) today
announced net sales of $149.8 million for the four-week period ended October 31,
2009, a 3% increase compared to net sales of $144.9 million for the four-week
period ended November 1, 2008. Comparable retail sales, which include
online sales, declined 2% in October 2009 following a 10% increase for the same
period last year. During October 2009, comparable store sales declined 5% in the
U.S. and declined 3% in Canada, while online sales increased 36%.
For the
third quarter ended October 31, 2009, net sales increased 3% to $463.2 million.
Comparable retail sales, which include online sales, declined 2% in the third
quarter of fiscal 2009 following a 4% increase for the same period last year.
During the third quarter of fiscal 2009, comparable store sales declined 4% in
the U.S. and declined 5% in Canada, while online sales increased
44%.
The
Company opened eight stores during October 2009 and 13 stores during the third
quarter of fiscal 2009. Fiscal year-to-date, the Company has opened 34 stores
and closed one.
|
|
October
|
3rd
Quarter
|
Fiscal
Year-to-Date
|
|
Total
Sales:
- In
Millions
- Change
vs. Year Ago
|
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
2009
|
2008
|
|
$149.8
+3%
|
$144.9
+9%
|
$463.2
+3%
|
$450.6
+5%
|
$1,180.8
-1%
|
$1,188.9
+10%
|
|
Comparable
Store Sales:
- Change
vs. Year Ago
|
-2%
|
+10%
|
-2%
|
+4%
|
-3%
|
+6%
|
Outlook
The
Company is estimating that earnings per share from continuing operations for the
third quarter of fiscal 2009 will be in the range of $1.35-$1.39.
Conference
Call Information
In
conjunction with today’s October sales release, you are invited to listen to the
Company’s pre-recorded monthly sales call, which will be available beginning at
7:30 a.m. Eastern Time today through Thursday, November 12, 2009. To access the
recording, please visit the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website
at www.childrensplace.com.
The
Company will discuss details on the quarter when it reports third quarter
earnings results on Thursday, November 19, 2009. The Company will host a
conference call that day at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time which will be broadcast live
and can be accessed through the Investor Relations section of the Company’s
website. An audio archive will be available approximately one hour after the
conclusion of the call.
-more-
PLCE
– October and Third Quarter 2009 Sales
Page
2
About
The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc.
The
Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc. is a leading specialty retailer of
children's merchandise. The Company designs, contracts to manufacture and sells
high-quality, value-priced merchandise under the proprietary “The Children's
Place” brand name. As of October 31, 2009, the Company owned and operated 950
The Children’s Place stores and an online store at www.childrensplace.com.
Forward-Looking
Statements
This
press release may contain certain forward-looking statements regarding future
circumstances, including estimates regarding earnings per share from continuing
operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2009. These forward-looking
statements are based upon the Company's current expectations and assumptions and
are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to differ materially. Some of these risks and uncertainties are described
in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including
in the “Risk Factors” section of its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended January 31, 2009. Included among the risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results, events and performance to differ materially are the
risk that the Company will be unsuccessful in gauging fashion trends and
changing consumer preferences, and the risks resulting from the highly
competitive nature of the Company’s business and its dependence on consumer
spending patterns, which may be affected by the downturn in the economy. Readers
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements,
which speak only as of the date they were made. The Company undertakes no
obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements
that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to
reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. The inclusion of any statement
in this release does not constitute an admission by the Company or any other
person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are
material.
|
CONTACT:
|
The
Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc.
Jane Singer, Vice President, Investor Relations,
(201) 453-6955
|
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