Gap's Softer Sales Streak Carries Into August
September 03 2015 - 5:16PM
Dow Jones News
By Maria Armental
Gap Inc.'s disappointing sales streak carried into August, with
its Banana Republic and Gap stores reporting steeper sales declines
at established stores that the retailer partly attributed to the
Labor Day holiday being observed later in September than a year
ago.
Over all, sales for the four-week period ended Aug. 29 fell 3%
to $1.20 billion. Adjusting for currency fluctuations, however,
sales would have been flat from the year-ago period, the company
said.
Comparable sales, which is a key metric for retailers that in
Gap's case includes sales at stores open for at least a year and
online sales, declined 2%. That compares with an analyst projection
on average of a 0.2% decline, according to a survey by Thomson
Reuters. Last year, sales also declined 2% in August.
By brand, Old Navy remained Gap's strongest performer with a 6%
sales increase for the month versus 2% a year earlier.
Meanwhile, sales at established Banana Republic stores fell 11%,
compared with a 2% decline a year earlier, and sales at Gap fell
8%, compared with 6% decline a year earlier.
Analysts had projected a 3.8% increase at Old Navy and declines
of 2.3% at Banana Republic and 3.4% at Gap.
The company's shares, down nearly 22% this year, fell 4% to
$31.71 in late trading on Thursday.
The San Francisco company, which has more than 3,700 stores, has
been trying to revamp its struggling namesake brand, following a
series of fashion mis-hits and miscalculations. Last year, it
appointed Jeff Kirwan to head the brand. Mr. Kirwan was previously
in charge of the parent company's operations in China, one of its
key growth areas.
In June, company officials said they planned to eliminate 250
corporate jobs, mostly in North America, and close 175 North
America Gap stores, with the bulk--140 stores--to be closed by Jan.
30, which is the end of the company's fiscal year.
Gap has projected the planned store closings would lower its
sales for the year by about $300 million. It has estimated $130
million to $140 million in restructuring charges for the year.
The retailer will report September sales on Oct. 8.
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
September 03, 2015 17:01 ET (21:01 GMT)
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