Premium handbags lift Q1 results at Coach

25/10/2006

New York-based luxury and leather goods retailer
Coach, Inc. has reported increased earnings and sales figures for its first quarter ended September 30.

Net sales were $554 million compared with the $449 million reported in the same period of the prior year. Net income rose 34% to $126 million compared with $94 million in the prior year.

Chairman and chief executive officer Lew Frankfort gave the continued rapid growth in the US premium handbag market as one of the reasons for positive growth in this period. During the quarter, gross profit rose 24% to $425 million from $341 million a year ago.

The company estimates second fiscal quarter sales of approximately $785 million, representing a year-on-year increase of about 21%. For the fiscal year 2007 the company expects to generate sales of around $2.55 billion, an increase of 21% from the prior year.