Weak View Soaks Coldwater Creek

Coldwater Creek(CWTR Quote) sank Friday after the retailer became the latest women's apparel chain to indicate that it failed to make waves during the holiday shopping season.

Shares of the Sandpoint, Idaho-based women's apparel retailer fell 12% after the company slashed its fourth-quarter earnings targets. Coldwater said it now expects earnings of 16 cents to 17 cents a share for the quarter ending Feb. 3, down from a previous guidance of 26 cents to 27 cents a share.

The company, which caters to baby boomer women, attributed the lower view to weak traffic. That, in turn, hurt sales of fashion-knit tops, moleskin pants, jewelry and accessories.

But Coldwater Creek was hardly alone in the deep end, as the weak view was just the latest disappointment amid women's clothing chains.

AnnTaylor Stores(ANN Quote) cut its fourth-quarter profit estimate earlier this month after a steeper-than-expected decline in same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least a year. Chico's FAS(CHS Quote) also gave a fourth-quarter estimate much lower than Wall Street's projection.

Meanwhile, Talbots(TLB Quote) last week also offered a weaker-than-anticipated fourth-quarter earnings view and guided lower for the first quarter. On Wednesday, Charming Shoppes (CHRS Quote) sliced its earnings forecast following tepid holiday sales.

Richard Hastings, senior retail sector analyst at Smyth Bernard Sands, says the market for mature women's apparel is a bit saturated, and there has been increased demand for more casual looks.

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