|
|
Get Four
|  | JANUARY 5, 2006 04:58 PM
 MARKET MOVERS Wal-Mart, Target Post Higher December SalesNumerous retailers post December sales results; Computer Sciences reportedly a takeover target; plus more stocks in the news ThursdayComputer Sciences (CSC ) The private equity firm Blackstone Group and the technology heavyweight Hewlett-Packard (HPQ ) are exploring the possible buyout of CSC. CSC hopes to attract an offer of $65 a share, or $12 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal. Affiliated Computer Services (ACS ) firms including Blackstone Group could unveil a deal for ACS for $8 billion as early as next week, according to the Wall Street Journal. Wal-Mart Stores (WMT ) posted 2.2% higher December same-store sales and 6.3% higher total sales. It sees 3% to 5% higher January US same-store sales and expects fourth quarter earnings per share to come in near the low end of previous 82 cents to 86 cents guidance. Aeropostale (ARO ) posted 11% higher December same-store sales and 33% higher total sales. It raises fourth quarter earnings per share (EPS) guidance to 71 cents to 73 cents vs. previously issued guidance of 55 cents to 61 cents. Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF ) posted 29% higher December same-store sales and 41% higher total sales. Based on year-to-date results, it raises fiscal year 2006 EPS guidance to $3.67 to $3.72 (excluding a non-recurring third quarter charge). Gap (GPS ) posted 9% lower December same-store sales and 5% lower total sales. It says it's trending to the upper-end of $1.12 to $1.17 fiscal year 2006 EPS guidance. Dillard's (DDS ) posted 1% higher December same-store sales and 1% higher total sales. Hot Topic (HOTT ) posted 6.2% lower December same-store sales and 6% higher total sales. As a result of weak December sales performance, it sees 21 cents to 24 cents fourth quarter EPS vs. previous guidance of 30 cents to 38 cents. Xilinx (XLNX ) raises 4% to 8% third quarter sequential sales growth guidance to 11% to 12%. It cites broad-based end-market strength, as well as strong sales growth in North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe. Children's Place (PLCE ) posted 11% higher December same-store sales for Children's Place retail stores, and 8.3% higher total company sales. It sees $1.61 to $1.66 fourth quarter EPS, and $2.90 to $3.00 fiscal year 2006 EPS, which includes an 11 cents per share accounting-related charge. Constellation Brands (STZ ) posted 46 cents vs. 42 cents third quarter EPS (GAAP) on a 17% sales rise (including forex.) It sees 29 cents to 32 cents EPS in the fourth quarter and $1.40 to $1.43 fiscal year 2006 EPS. Nordstrom (JWN ) posted 7.7% higher December same-store sales and 10% higher total sales. Anntaylor Stores (ANN ) posted 1.5% higher December same-store sales and 12% higher total sales. It remains comfortable with previous $1.17 fiscal year 2006 EPS guidance, though it continues to monitor a highly promotional retail environment. Target (TGT ) posted 4.7% higher December same-store sales and 12% higher total sales. J.C. Penney (JCP ) posted 2.2% higher December same-store department sales and 3.1% higher total sales. It expects January same-store department sales to increase in the low-single digits, and direct sales to be about flat. It raises $1.58 fourth quarter EPS guidance to $1.60. Sharper Image (SHRP ) posted 15% lower December same-store sales and 8.6% lower total sales. It says the total company sales decline is disappointing and confined to two product categories -- air purifiers and massage chairs, which it expects to continue into fiscal year 2007. New York & Co (NWY ) posted 11% higher December same-store sales and 16% higher total sales. It raises 29 cents to 36 cents fourth quarter EPS guidance to 34 cents to 36 cents. The company is to file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the proposed public offering of 9 million shares. Shoe Carnival (SCVL ) posted 11% higher December same-store sales and 13% higher total sales. It says it will no longer report sales information on a monthly basis, but will convert to quarterly sales reporting. Cache (CACH ) posted 4% higher December same-store sales and 6.5% higher total sales. It sees fourth quarter EPS at the low end of its forecast range of 46 cents to 48 cents per share, and 2005 EPS at the low end of the 83 cents to 85 cents range. Bakers Footwear (BKRS ) posted 27% higher same-store sales for two-month Holiday sales period, as well as 40% higher total sales. Family Dollar Stores (FDO ) posted 2.3% higher December same-store sales and 8.4% higher total sales. It sees a 2% to 4% rise in January same-store sales vs. a year ago. Kohl's (KSS ) posted 4.6% higher December same-store sales and 16% higher total sales. It expects approximately 3% comparable sales increase, as well as $1.06 to $1.07 EPS for the fourth quarter, which would result in a net income increase of about 19% for fiscal year 2006. Sears Holdings (SHLD ) says Kmart same-store sales for November to December increased by 1.0%, while Sears domestic same-store sales declined 12%. It sees $3.55 to $3.95 fourth quarter EPS. Chico's FAS (CHS ) posted 16% higher December same-store sales and 34% higher total sales. It sees lower-than-expected 24 cents to 25 cents fourth quarter EPS. Jo-Ann Stores (JAS ) posted slightly lower December same-store sales and 4.6% higher total sales. In anticipation of a challenging fiscal year 2007, it undertakes several initiatives involving fewer new store openings, reducing space, inventory investment, and ad spending. Barnes & Noble (BKS ) posted 2.3% higher Barnes & Noble holiday same-store sales (during the nine-week period from Oct. 29 to Dec. 31), and 5.2% higher total sales. It reaffirms $1.99 to $2.03 fiscal year 2006 EPS guidance. Dollar General (DG ) posted 2.8% lower Dec. same-store sales and 4.2% higher total sales. It expects a low single-digit percentage decrease in same-store sales for the fourth quarter, as well as 48 cents to 52 cents earnings per share and $1.11 to $1.15 fiscal year 2006 EPS. TOO (TOO ) sees 75 cents to 77 cents fourth quarter EPS, below guidance of 80 cents to 82 cents. Given expected fourth quarter same-store sales increase of 4% to 5%, at the low end of prior guidance, the company has been unable to leverage some expenses to the extent previously anticipated. Kronos (KRON ) sees lower-than-expected 26 cents to 29 cents first quarter EPS on revenue of $127.5 million to $129 million. Men's Wearhouse (MW ) expects to exceed the upper end of fourth quarter earnings per share guidance of 48 cents earnings per share, on better-than-expected December U.S. same-store sales growth of 8.9%. Guess (GES ) posted 18% higher December same-store sales, 27% higher total retail sales, 16% higher fourth quarter same-store sales, and 26% higher total retail sales. Nuvelo (NUVO ) inked a deal with Bayer HealthCare to develop and commercialize alfimeprase, an enzyme produced by recombinant DNA technology that rapidly dissolves blood clots.  All of the views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the research analyst's personal views regarding any and all of the subject securities or issuers. No part of analyst compensation was, is or will be, directly or indirectly related to the specific recommendations or views expressed in this research report. Standard & Poor's Regulatory Disclosure Any advice, analysis, or recommendations contained in articles labeled "Insight from Standard & Poor's" reflect the views of Standard & Poor's, which operates separately from and independently of BusinessWeek Online. It is possible that BWOL may from time to time publish information that is not consistent with advice, analysis, or recommendations that are published by Standard & Poor's. Standard & Poor's and BusinessWeek Online are each units of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
BW MALL
SPONSORED LINKS
Get BusinessWeek directly on your desktop with our RSS feeds.
Buy a link now! Add BusinessWeek news to your Web site with our headline feed. Click to buy an e-print or reprint of a BusinessWeek or BusinessWeek Online story or video. To subscribe online to BusinessWeek magazine, please click here. Learn more, go to the BusinessWeekOnline home page  | | |
 Copyright 2006, by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved.Terms of Use | Privacy Notice |
Printer-Friendly Version
