DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
J.C. Penney Co.'s (JCP) fiscal third-quarter earnings fell 78% as pension costs and weaker sales again weighed on the bottom line, while the department-store operator predicted earnings through the holiday season in line with expectations.
Shares were recently up 3.8% at $30.50 premarket as the quarter's profit was above expectations.
For the current quarter, it expects a 3% to 5% drop in revenue, worse than analysts' view for a 2% decline, and 4% to 6% decrease in same-store sales. However, J.C. Penney's profit guidance of 70 cents to 85 cents a share compared with the 82-cent average estimate of analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters.
The company also raised its full-year outlook from August by 18 cents to 93 cents to $1.08 a share, while it lowered its projected same-store-sales decline by 0.5 percentage point to 6.5% to 7%.
Like other retailers, the company has been battling a sharp decline in consumer spending. Long an anchor of suburban malls, the company has contended with growing home vacancies in the suburbs and economically stressed residents. Late in the second quarter, J.C. Penney embarked on a push into urban areas by launching its first store in Manhattan, hoping an edgier mix of merchandise would boost its appeal in cities.
Wednesday, department-store rival Macy's Inc. (M) reported a better-than-expected loss in the most recent period, but its outlook for the holiday season fell short of Wall Street's views.
For the quarter ended Oct. 31, J.C. Penney posted a profit of $27 million, or 11 cents a share, from $124 million, or 56 cents a share, a year earlier. Last week, the company projected either 10 cents or 11 cents. The latest results included a 3-cent charge from real-estate impairments and 19 cents in pension expenses.
Also last week, the company said third-quarter revenue decreased 3.2% to $4.18 billion as same-store sales fell 8.7%.
Gross margin rose to 40.6% from 38.5%.
In October, apparel maker Liz Claiborne Inc. (LIZ) agreed to license its Liz Claiborne brand exclusively to J.C. Penney starting next fall, removing it from mainstream department stores such as Macy's for the first time in more than 20 years.
-By Joan E. Solsman, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2291; joan.solsman@dowjones.com