FinancialNewsUSA.com: High End Retailers are Optimist about the Upcoming Holidays

City of Industry, CA --(www.USEquityNews.com)-- 08/28/2008 - City of Industry, CA - August 28, 2008 - FinancialNewsUSA.com provides market update. U.S. jewelers are confident they will prevail this holiday shopping season, betting that upscale and middle-income customers won't be impacted by the declining economy.


Tiffany & Co latest earning reported:

Tiffany's Worldwide Sales up 11% in Second Quarter; E.P.S. from Continuing Operations Increase 31%; Company Raises Its Full Year Earnings Expectation
Thursday August 28, 7:00 am ET (NYSE: TIF- News) today reported results for the three months ("second quarter") and six months ("first half") ended July 31, 2008. Strong net sales growth in Asia-Pacific and Europe led to an 11% increase in worldwide net sales in the second quarter. Combined with a higher operating margin, this resulted in a 21% increase in net earnings from continuing operations and a 31% increase in earnings per diluted share in the quarter. These results enabled the Company to slightly increase its earnings expectation for the full year.
Net sales in the second quarter increased 11% to $732.4 million. On a constant-exchange-rate basis which excludes the effect of translating foreign-currency-denominated sales into U.S. dollars (see attached "Non-GAAP Measures" schedule), worldwide net sales rose 7% and comparable store sales declined 1%.
In the first half, net sales rose 11% to $1.40 billion. On a constant-exchange-rate basis, sales increased 7% and comparable store sales rose 1%.
Net earnings from continuing operations in the second quarter rose 21% to $80.8 million, and increased 31% on a diluted per share basis to $0.63 from $0.48 in the prior year. Net earnings per diluted share were $0.29 in the prior year due to a loss from discontinued operations. Net earnings on a diluted per share basis benefited from fewer shares outstanding due to the Company's share buy-back program.

In the first half, net earnings from continuing operations increased 20% to $145.2 million, and rose 31% on a diluted per share basis to $1.13 per diluted share, versus $0.86 a year ago. Net earnings per diluted share were $0.67 a year ago.
In the second quarter and first half of 2007, the Company had recorded an after-tax charge of $23.6 million related to the sale of its Little Switzerland business, as well as losses from those operations.

Net sales by geographical region were as follows:
Sales in the Americas region increased 3% to $422.4 million in the second quarter and 4% to $796.0 million in the first half largely due to incremental sales from new stores. In the U.S., comparable store sales declined 4% in the second quarter and 2% in the first half; in the respective periods, sales in the New York flagship store rose 5% and 10% reflecting increased spending by non-U.S. visitors, while comparable branch store sales declined 6% and 5%. Combined Internet and catalog sales in the U.S. declined 4% in the second quarter and 2% in the first half. The Company achieved strong sales growth in Canada and Latin America.
Sales in the Asia-Pacific region increased 17% to $214.2 million in the second quarter and 19% to $436.3 million in the first half. On a constant-exchange-rate basis, sales increased 7% and 8% and comparable stores sales rose 1% and 2% in the respective periods. Strong growth in most countries was partly offset by results in Japan.
Sales in Europe in the second quarter increased 35% to $71.0 million and 36% to $131.1 million in the first half. On a constant-exchange-rate basis, sales rose 29% and 30% in the respective periods due to comparable store sales growth of 11% and 12% and sales from new stores.
The Company operated 196 TIFFANY & CO. stores and boutiques at July 31, 2008 (82 in the Americas, 95 in the Asia-Pacific region and 19 in Europe) compared with 172 stores (74 in the Americas, 83 in Asia-Pacific and 15 in Europe) a year ago.
Other sales increased 37% to $24.7 million in the second quarter and 10% to $37.2 million in the first half, largely due to increased wholesale sales of diamonds in connection with the Company's diamond sourcing program.
Michael J. Kowalski, chairman and chief executive officer, said, "Tiffany's global retail operations once again demonstrated the ability to generate strong operating earnings growth despite weakness in certain individual country markets. Our continued expansion throughout Asia and Europe should contribute to increasingly consistent and resilient long-term earnings growth."
Other financial highlights were as follows:
Gross margin (gross profit as a percentage of net sales) increased in the second quarter and first half to 57.8% and 57.4%, respectively, from 56.1% in both prior-year periods. The increases largely reflected favorable changes in geographic and product sales mix, as well as sales leverage on fixed costs.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses rose 13% in both the second quarter and first half due to incremental costs related to new stores and increased marketing expenses, as well as some translation effect from foreign currencies. SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales were 39.8% in the second quarter and 40.7% in the first half, compared with 39.1% and 40.1% in the respective prior-year periods.
The effective tax rate was 37.0% in the second quarter and 36.9% in the first half, versus 39.4% and 38.1% in the prior year.
Net inventories at July 31, 2008 increased 10% from a year ago to $1.51 billion, largely due to increased raw material and work-in-process inventories for manufacturing operations, inventories for new store openings and currency translation.
The Company repurchased and retired 1,723,201 shares of its Common Stock in the second quarter at a total cost of $73.7 million, or an average cost of $42.75 per share. In the first half, the Company repurchased and retired 3,105,801 shares of its Common Stock at a total cost of $128.5 million, or an average cost of $41.37 per share. Under the current program, as of July 31st there remained $492 million available for future repurchases through January 2011.
Total debt as percentage of stockholders' equity was 36% at July 31, compared with 27% a year ago.
Mr. Kowalski added, "Tiffany's increased sales and earnings so far this year are notable in view of the substantial growth achieved in the first half of last year, which had included an 18% sales increase and a 29% increase in net earnings from continuing operations. While we acknowledge that challenging economic and consumer conditions exist in the U.S., as they have for several quarters, our first half results and the most recent worldwide trends keep us on track to meet our full year sales and earnings growth expectations."
Zale Corp's (NYSE:ZLC) reported a lower than-expected loss and forecast a profit for the current fiscal year that beat Wall Street expectations. It said it would focus less on price markdowns and more on new products during the upcoming holidays.
Shares in Tiffany rose nearly 10 percent in morning trading. Zale surged more than 16 percent.
Tiffany's U.S. sales have been weak recently as consumers cut back on discretionary purchases, though its higher-income clientele tend to be less affected by economic concerns than people who frequent more hard-hit jewelers such as Zale, Finlay Enterprises (OTC BB:FNLY.OB) and Signet Group (LSE:SIG.L).
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