Tiffany Lowers Guidance After Flat Holiday Sales

Luxury retailer Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) this morning reported same-store sales totals for the two months of November and December 2012. The store also lowered its full fiscal year guidance.

Worldwide same-store sales were flat compared with the same two months of 2011. Worldwide net sales rose 4%, excluding the effects of currency exchange rates.

Same-store sales fell by 2% in the Americas, by 5% in Japan and by 1% in Europe. In the Asia-Pacific region, sales rose 10% (7% on a constant currency basis).

For the full fiscal year to date, same-store sales are flat with a year ago and up 1% on a constant currency basis.

The company guided full-year earnings per share (EPS) at the lower end of its previously announced range of $3.20 to $3.40. The consensus estimate from Thomson Reuters calls for EPS of $3.26. Tiffany lowered EPS guidance from a range of $3.55 to $3.70 at the end of its third quarter in October.

Looking ahead, for the fiscal year ending in January 2014, Tiffany expects net earnings growth in the range of 6% to 9%.

Shares have fallen about 8.6% in premarket trading this morning, at $57.80 in a 52-week range of $49.72 to $74.20. The consensus price target for the stock is about $67.

Filed under: 24/7 Wall St. Wire, Earnings Warning, Luxury, Retail Tagged: TIF