Improved margins and holiday sales boost Coach profits

17/01/2003

The US leather goods and accessories retailer Coach has upped its earnings forecast for the second quarter 2002/03, citing robust holiday sales and bigger margins.

 

For the quarter ended December 28, 2002 the company is now expecting earnings of at least $0.65 per share – three cents more than its previous guidance of $0.61 of October 22 and ahead of analysts' expectations of $0.62.   Comparable store sales were up 12.7% to $308.5 million versus the company’s own expectations of $290 million.  Direct-to-consumer sales increased 19.3% to $191.5 million, retail stores by 18.1% and factory store sales 5.8%.  Indirect sales soared 55.5% to $117.1 million – the main drivers being increased US department store activity and new store openings and comparable location increases in Japan.

 

The results will be reported before the opening of the market on January 22.