Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) Prelim. Q3 Revenue, EPS Misses Expectations

Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF) provided a business update on the Company's performance for the third quarter ended November 1, 2014.

Net sales for the third quarter decreased 12% to $911.4 million, compared to net sales of $1.033 billion for the prior year third quarter ended November 2, 2013.

*** The Street was at $982.2 million.

Total comparable sales, including direct-to-consumer sales, decreased 10% with comparable U.S. sales decreasing 7% and comparable international sales decreasing 15%. Total direct-to-consumer comparable sales increased 8%.

Sales during the quarter were below expectations with comparable sales in September and October being significantly weaker than August. Although the international stores segment was the most difficult, the lower sales trend was broadly based. In addition, the Company now expects modest gross margin rate erosion for the quarter compared to last year, given the highly promotional and challenging environment. The effect of lower sales and gross margins will be partially offset by continued significant expense reductions. The Company's results for the quarter were also adversely impacted by the strengthening of the U.S. dollar.

Excluding anticipated charges related to the impairment of store-related assets, store closures, the Gilly Hicks restructuring, the Company's profit improvement initiative, and certain corporate governance matters, the Company expects to report adjusted non-GAAP net income per diluted share for the third quarter in the range of $0.40 to $0.42.

*** The Street consensus is Q3 EPS of $0.67.

The comparable GAAP net income per diluted share measure is not available at this time, pending finalization of the above charges, but will be available when the Company reports its third quarter results on Wednesday, December 3. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be used as alternatives to net income and net income per diluted share and are also not intended to supersede or replace the Company's GAAP financial measures. The Company believes it is useful to investors to provide the non-GAAP financial measures to assess the Company's operating performance.

The Company ended the third quarter with inventory at cost down 20% compared to the end of the prior year third quarter.

At this point, the Company is not providing an update to its full year earnings guidance, but expects to do so in connection with its full third quarter earnings release on Wednesday, December 3.

Mike Jeffries, Chief Executive Officer of Abercrombie & Fitch Co., said:

"We are clearly disappointed with our results for the third quarter. Continued weak store traffic was the primary contributor to the weak sales trend, particularly in Europe, where the environment there showed signs of further slowing. In addition, the decline in sales of heavy logo product weighed on the sales trend as we continued to reduce that element of our assortment in response to changing consumer preferences.

For the quarter, Hollister comps, disproportionately weighed by European comp sales, continued to underperform relative to A&F. In addition, weakness in tops, particularly fleece and male graphic tees, more than offset positive trends in jeans and dresses.

In the short term, we are reviewing measures to drive improvement in our results in the critical fourth quarter.

Longer term, we continue to believe we are taking the right steps strategically to position the company for future improvements in our performance. This includes the completion of our move to a branded structure, strategic investments in Asia and in our Direct to Consumer business, shifting our assortment in line with consumer preferences, re-engaging with our customer through store re-design and marketing initiatives, continuing to close underperforming U.S. stores, and continuing to reduce expenses. We will provide a more extensive update on our quarterly earnings call."

The Company will release its third quarter results prior to the U.S. market's open on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 and hold a conference call at 8:00 AM Eastern Time. To listen to the conference call, dial (877) 874-1567 and ask for the Abercrombie & Fitch Quarterly Call or go to www.abercrombie.com. The international call-in number is (719) 325-4886. This call will be recorded and made available by dialing the replay number (888) 203-1112 or the international number (719) 457-0820 followed by the conference ID number 3359329 or through www.abercrombie.com.

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