Same-Store Sales Brighten Holiday Outlook (BJ, TGT, COST, ANF, ARO, AEO, WTSLA, GPS, LTD, JWN, M, SKS)

Teen specialty retailers also saw some handsome sales boosts. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) reported that November same-store sales rose 22%, blasting through analysts’ expectations of a 6.8% rise. Net sales rose 32%, to $319 million for the month. Aeropostale Inc. (NYSE: ARO) posted a net sales jump of 7% in November, but a drop of -1% in same-store sales. Aeropostale’s Black Friday sales rose in the mid-single digits, but sales for the rest of the holiday weekend “decelerated significantly.” American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE: AEO) posted flat same-store sales figures in November and total sales up just 2%. The Wet Seal, Inc. (NASDAQ: WTSLA) reported same-store sales up 8.3%, and net sales up 16.7% compared with a November 2009. Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) posted a same-store sales gain of 4%, well above analysts’ expectations of 2.6%. Net sales rose 6% to $1.51 billion. Limited Brands Inc. (NYSE: LTD) reported a jump of 10% in same-store sales, much better than expectations of a 4% gain. Net sales rose 14%, to $893 million at Limited stores.

Department stores and fashion specialty stores also posted nice gains in November. Nordstrom Inc. (NYSE: JWN) posted a same-store sales boost of 5.1%, compared with expectations of a 3.8% gain. Total sales rose 8.8%, to $815 million for the month. Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M) reported sales growth of 6.1%, compared with expectations of a 5% gain. Net sales for November totaled $2.34 billion, a rise of 7.8%. Saks Inc. (NYSE: SKS) reported a same-store sales gain of 5.3%, well below analysts’ estimates of a 9.5% gain. Revenue for the month totaled $255 million, up 4% from November 2009.

Before the market opened this morning, Aeropostale shares were off about -9% on the negative growth, while Abercrombie and Fitch shares had posted a gain of nearly 8%.

Paul Ausick