Stage Stores Reports Comparable Store Sales Increase Of 2.7% For December

Stage Stores, Inc. (NYSE: SSI) today reported that total sales for the five week December period ended December 29, 2012 increased 5.0% to $287 million from $273 million in the prior year five week December period ended December 31, 2011. Comparable store sales for the December period increased 2.7%.

The Company noted that its feminine apparel businesses, which includes misses sportswear, petites, plus sizes and junior’s, achieved comparable store sales increases that exceeded the Company average for December. Geographically, the Southwest and South Central regions outperformed.

SALES SUMMARY
		Comparable Store Sales					Total Sales
		% Increase (Decrease)					($ in Millions)
Fiscal Period		2012		2011			2012		2011
1 st Quarter		2.5		0.2			366		347
2 nd Quarter		5.4		0.9			381		353
3 rd Quarter		8.1		(0.6	)		371		333
November		13.2		2.3			141		121
December		2.7		1.2			287		273
4 th Qtr-To-Date		5.9		1.5			428		394
Year-To-Date (11 Mos)		5.5		0.5			1,546		1,427

Michael Glazer, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “A phenomenal final week of the month offset some early softness and helped drive our 2.7% comparable store sales increase. As has been the pattern over the last several years, our customers clearly waited until the last minute to complete their holiday shopping. Despite the slow start to the month, we adhered to our planned merchandising and marketing strategies which enabled us to maintain our merchandise margin rate. We are pleased with the 5.9% comparable store sales increase that we generated over the combined November and December holiday shopping period and we expect that our positive momentum will continue as we close out the fiscal year.”

1 2 Next › Last »