Sears Hometown and Outlet Profit Plunges
September 04 2015 - 8:00AM
Dow Jones News
Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Inc.'s profit plunged by 55% in
its latest quarter amid sales declines, while the retailer outlined
plans to cut its expenses.
The Illinois-based retailer was spun off from Sears Holdings
Corp. in 2012 and sells home appliances, hardware and lawn
equipment, among other items. The company operates in two
segments—Sears Hometown and Sears Outlet. It has been struggling
with a highly promotional retail environment lately.
Chief Executive Will Powell said the company saw "moderate
progress" in sales trends in the quarter, although May was highly
competitive due to the Memorial Day period. Sales at stores open at
least 12 months slipped 1.4%. At the hometown segment, same-store
sales fell 1.1%, while outlet sales fell 2.2% amid low availability
of home appliance inventory. Mr. Powell said the company
accelerated cost-cutting initiatives in the quarter by
restructuring its executive team and reducing payroll and benefits
costs at its support center and field organization—moves expected
to save $2 million this year and $6 million in 2016.
The retailer has also closed 63 underperforming stores this year
and plans to close 40 to 50 more.
Overall, for the period ended Aug. 1, the company reported a
profit of $1.51 million, or 7 cents a share, down from $3.36
million, or 15 cents a share, a year earlier.
Sales fell 3% to $619.6 million, amid declines in same-store
sales, lower online commissions from Sears Holdings, and fewer
stores.
Commission sales from Sears Holding, which aren't included in
the comparable-store sales figures, fell to $10.4 million from
$18.7 million a year earlier. The prior-year figure was helped by
promotions.
Gross margin slipped to 22.8% from 23% a year earlier.
Sears Hometown's results come a day after Lands' End Inc., which
was spun out of Sears in 2014, reported a drop in sales for its
second quarter as its spring and summer apparel lines didn't
resonate with customers, resulting in declines across all its major
markets and products.
Write to Chelsey Dulaney at Chelsey.Dulaney@wsj.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
September 04, 2015 07:45 ET (11:45 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2015 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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