Federated Dept. Stores Lowers Same-Store Sales Forecast for 2001
TSC Staff
04/12/01 - 10:48 AM EDT
Federated Department Stores (FD Quote) reported weaker-than-expected same-store sales for March, forcing the company to lower its comparable sales guidance for the rest of the fiscal year.
The department store owner said same-store sales fell 3.2% for the month. According to
Thomson Financial/First Call, analysts were expecting a decrease of 1.4%. Total sales for the five weeks ended April 7 fell 5.9% to $1.43 billion from $1.52 billion in the same period last year.
Federated, which operates several chains, including
Bloomingdale's and
Macy's, said "we are very disappointed with March sales. Weather was a factor in many parts of the country, but we think deteriorating consumer confidence in the wake of current economic uncertainty is also having a significant impact on our sales."
As a result, the company lowered its same-store sales guidance for 2001. The company now expects comp sales to stay flat or increase up to 1%, after previously expecting growth of 2%.
Shares of Federated fell $2.60, or 6.2%, or $39.05 in recent
New York Stock Exchange trading.
