U.S. Movers: Ann, Amerco, Ascena Retail, Ciena, rue21, VeriFone

Mukesh Buch
06 Jun, 2013
New York City

Ann first quarter sales rose but net slipped. Amerco revenue rose and net surged 49%. Ascena Retail third quarter net tumbled 37%. Ciena second quarter net loss narrowed and VeriFone net swung to loss.

[R]11:25 AM New York – Ann first quarter sales rose but net slipped. Amerco revenue rose and net surged 49%. Ascena Retail third quarter net tumbled 37%. Ciena second quarter net loss narrowed and VeriFone net swung to loss.[/R]

Ann Inc. ((ANN)) gained 1.8% o 55 cents to $31.62 after the specialty retailer said net sales in the first quarter ending on May 4 grew 3.4% to $574.5 million. Comparable store sales in the quarter slid 0.5%.

Net income in the quarter slumped 7% to $20.9 million or 44 cents a diluted share compared to $28.7 million or 58 cents.

For the fiscal second quarter of 2013, the company expects total net sales to be $640 million and for the year total net sales to be $2.54 billion.

Amerco ((UHAL)) jumped 3% or $5.27 to $176 after the storage operator reported total revenues in the fourth quarter ending in March advanced 7% to $564.3 million. Net earnings in the quarter surged 49% to $37.9 million or $1.93 a diluted share compared to $25.4 million or $1.29.

Ascena Retail Group, Inc. ((ASNA)) plunged 10% or $2 to $17.86 after the specialty retailer stated net sales in the third quarter ending on April 27 soared 46% to $1.14 billion. Comparable store sales in the quarter slipped 4%.

Net income in the quarter tumbled 37% to $31.2 million or 19 cents a diluted share compared to $49.4 million or 31 cents.

Gross margin in the quarter slumped 43% to $657.8 million and operating income climbed 23% to $65.8 million.

For the year, the retailer expects diluted earnings per share from continuing operations in the range of $1.10 to $1.15.

Ciena Corporation ((CIEN)) surged 12.7% or $2.09 to $18.39 after the network equipment provider reported net sales in the second quarter ending in April jumped 6.3% to $507.7 million. Net loss in the quarter narrowed to $27.1 million or 27 cents a diluted share compared to $27.8 million or 28 cents.

Ciena expects revenue in the fiscal third quarter, in the range of $515 to $545 million.

Francesca’s Holdings Corporation ((FRAN)) declined 8.1% o $2.46 to $27.62 after the holding company said net sales in the first quarter ending on May 4 surged 29% to $79 million. Net income in the quarter climbed 25% to $10.9 million or 24 cents a diluted share compared to $8.7 million or 20 cents.

For the second quarter, the company expects net sales between $94.5 million and $95.5 million or assuming increase 1% to 2% and diluted earnings per share in the range of 35 cents to 36 cents or increase 21% to 24%.

rue21, Inc ((RUE)) slid 5 cents to $41.93 after the specialty apparel retailer stated net sales in the first quarter ending on May 4 advanced 9% to $224.4 million. Comparable store sales in the quarter dropped 4.6%.

Net income in the quarter declined 7% to $10.8 million or 44 cents a diluted share compared to $11.6 million or 46 cents.

For the year, the apparel retailer expects diluted earnings per share in the range of $1.98 to $2.03.

For the second quarter, the company expects diluted earnings per share between 51 cents and 53 cents.

SodaStream International Ltd. ((SODA)) soared 8.8% or $6.02 to $75.45 after the Israeli financial newspaper Calcalist reported PepsiCo offers to buy SodaStream for $2 billion through Goldman Sachs.

Vera Bradley, Inc. ((VRA)) plummeted 10.9% or $2.46 to $20 after the retailer said net revenues in the first quarter ending on May 4 advanced 6% to $123 million. Comparable store sales in the quarter rose to 0.9%.

Net income in the quarter plunged 27% to $9.2 million or 23 cents a diluted share compared to $12.6 million or 31 cents.

Gross profit in the quarter increased 5% to $68.5 million and operating income plunged 27% to $15.2 million.

For the second quarter, the company expects net revenues in the range of $123 million to $126 million and diluted earnings per share between 31 cents and 33 cents.

VeriFone Systems, Inc. ((PAY)) tumbled 17.7% or $3.88 to $18.09 after the holding company reported net sales in the second quarter ending in April declined 10% to $426 million. In the net swung to loss $57 million or 54 cents a diluted share compared to net profit of $3.4 million or 3 cents.

For the third quarter, the company expects non-GAAP net revenues about $400 million and diluted earnings per share approx 20 cents.