NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Kirkland's, Inc. (NASDAQ: KIRK) today reported financial results for the 13-week and 52-week periods ended January 31, 2015.

Net sales for the 13 weeks ended January 31, 2015, increased 14.5% to $178.7 million compared with $156.1 million for the 13 weeks ended February 1, 2014. Comparable store sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, including e-commerce sales, increased 8.2% compared with flat comparable store sales in the prior-year quarter. Kirkland's opened 11 stores and closed 4 during the fourth quarter, bringing the total number of stores to 344 at quarter end.

Net sales for the 52 weeks ended January 31, 2015, increased 10.2% to $507.6 million compared with $460.6 million for the 52 weeks ended February 1, 2014. Comparable store sales for fiscal 2014, including e-commerce sales, increased 6.1% compared with a 0.5% increase in fiscal 2013. The Company opened 34 stores and closed 14 during fiscal 2014.

Net income for the 13 weeks ended January 31, 2015, increased 26.2% to $15.6 million, or $0.87 per diluted share, compared with net income of $12.3 million, or $0.69 per diluted share, for the 13 weeks ended February 1, 2014.

Net income for the 52 weeks ended January 31, 2015, increased 22.6% to $17.8 million, or $1.00 per diluted share, compared with net income of $14.5 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, for the 52 weeks ended February 1, 2014.

Mike Madden, Kirkland's President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Earnings for the quarter and year came in at the top of our recently increased guidance. Traffic and conversion were both strong, and our profit margin improved for the second year in a row. Underlying business trends are encouraging thus far in 2015, despite the impact from difficult winter weather. We are confident that we can build on recent gains as we continue to leverage investments in people and technology.

"As we look to the longer term, our goal is to grow sales at a double-digit rate and return our operating margin to the high-single-digit range. To achieve these targets and deliver the returns we expect for our shareholders, we will be executing initiatives over the coming quarters to increase in-store productivity, optimize real estate growth, improve our e-commerce channel and tighten the focus on capital allocation."

Fiscal 2015 Outlook

First Quarter Fiscal 2015 OutlookThe Company issued guidance for the first quarter ending May 2, 2015, of net income of $0.09 to $0.12 per diluted share, excluding a $0.02 per diluted share charge related to the retirement of the Company's previous CEO. Net sales are expected to be in the range of $117 million to $118 million with a comparable store sales increase in the range of 2% to 3%. To date in the first quarter, the Company had 558 store days closed or shortened due to severe winter weather compared with 315 store days in the prior year period. The Company expects to open 1 store and close approximately 3 stores during the quarter.

Investor Conference Call and Web SimulcastKirkland's will host a conference call today, March 12, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. ET. The number to call for the interactive teleconference is (412) 317-0790. A replay of the conference call will be available through Thursday, March 19, 2015, by dialing (412) 317-0088 and entering the confirmation number, 10060347.

A live broadcast of Kirkland's quarterly conference call will be available online at the Company's website www.kirklands.com under Investor Relations or http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=101545 on March 12, 2015, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time. The online replay will follow shortly after the call and continue for one year.

About Kirkland's, Inc.Kirkland's, Inc. was founded in 1966 and is a specialty retailer of home decor in the United States. Although originally focused in the Southeast, the Company has grown beyond that region and currently operates 344 stores in 35 states. The Company's stores present a broad selection of distinctive merchandise, including framed art, mirrors, candles, lamps, picture frames, accent rugs, garden accessories and artificial floral products. The Company's stores also offer an extensive assortment of gifts, as well as seasonal merchandise. More information can be found at www.kirklands.com.

Forward-Looking StatementsExcept for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release are forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause Kirkland's actual results to differ materially from forecasted results. Those risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the competitive environment in the home décor industry in general and in Kirkland's specific market areas, inflation, product availability and growth opportunities, seasonal fluctuations, and economic conditions in general. Those and other risks are more fully described in Kirkland's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on April 17, 2014. Kirkland's disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments.

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SOURCE Kirkland's, Inc.