(By Balaseshan) Guess? Inc. (NYSE:GES) reported a 45.2% drop in quarterly earnings, missing Street's expectations, due to lower store traffic as well as economic conditions. Further, the company lowered fiscal 2013 outlook and guided third quarter below Street's view, sending its shares 13.54% lower in aftermarket.
Earnings for the second quarter were $42.9 million or $0.49 per share, down from $78.3 million or $0.84 per share last year. Revenue declined 6.2% to $635.39 million. In constant dollars, revenue increased 0.4%.
Analysts, on average, polled by Thomson Reuters had expected a profit of $0.50 per share on revenue of $629.95 million for the second quarter.
Retail stores revenue in North America decreased 3.1% to $253.0 million. Comparable store sales decreased 8.5% in U.S. dollars and 7.5% in local currency for the latest quarter.
Revenue from Europe segment fell 14.5% to $246.9 million, while revenue from Asia segment climbed 20.9% to $66.8 million. Revenue from North American Wholesale segment decreased 5.1% to $41.6 million, while licensing revenue declined 4.0% to $27.0 million.
The company said product margins were lower, primarily in Europe, resulting mainly from the effect of a weaker euro.
Operating margin declined 770 basis points, primarily due to the impact of negative same store sales on fixed cost structure, higher occupancy and selling costs in Europe due to retail expansion, increased investments in advertising and marketing and a bad debt provision related to its Greek distributor.
The company also said its board of directors has approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share on its common stock. The dividend will be payable on September 21 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 5.
Looking ahead into the third quarter, the company expects earnings of $0.42 to $0.46 per share and revenue of $620 million to $630 million, while Street predicts $0.64 per share on revenue of $670.67 million.
For the fiscal 2013, the company lowered earnings guidance to range of $2.15 to $2.30 per share from previous forecast of $2.50 to $2.65 per share. GES also cut revenue outlook to range of $2.62 billion to $2.65 billion from previous estimate of $2.70 billion to $2.74 billion. Street analysts predict profit of $2.59 per share on revenue of $2.71 billion.
GES closed Wednesday's regular trading up 1.33% at $33.54. The stock has been trading between $24.23 and $37.15 for the past 52 weeks.