Chico's Stock Soars as Profit Doubles
NEW YORK (
) --
Chico's
(CHS) - Get Chico's FAS Inc. Report
stock is surging as its second-quarter profit more than doubled.
During the quarter, the women's apparel retailer earned $30.5 million, or 17 cents a share, compared with $14.9 million, or 8 cents, in the year-ago period. Analysts were calling for a profit of 16 cents a share for Chico's.
Chico's revenue grew 11% to $465.4 million from $419.9 million, while same-store sales jumped 6.4%. Sales were led by an 11.2% surge in same-store sales at Chico's White House/Black Market chain.
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Still, total Chico's sales fell below analysts' estimates of $468.1 million.
Gross margins rose 0.7 percentage points to 55.7%, boosted by outlet-only merchandise.
Shares of Chico's are spiking 9% to $9.16 in Wednesday morning trading.
-- Reported by Jeanine Poggi in New York.
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