Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF): Q4 2019 Earnings Snapshot

— Specialty apparel retailer Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) reported adjusted earnings of $1.31 per share for the fourth quarter of 2019, vs. $1.23 per share expected.

— Net income dropped to $83.13 million or $1.29 per share from $96.94 million or $1.42 per share in the fourth quarter of 2018

— Net sales moved up 3% annually to $1.18 billion, vs. $1.17 billion expected; comparable store sales were up 1%, compared to 3% growth last year

— The board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share, payable on March 16, 2020, to stockholders of record on March 6, 2020

— Repurchased approximately 4.0 million shares of Abercrombie’s common stock during the quarter

— Expects net sales to be flat to up 2% in fiscal 2020, reflecting the estimated adverse impact of COVID-19 and unfavorable foreign exchange rates

— Expects full-year comparable sales to be down low-single digits; estimates gross profit to be down in the range of 50 basis points to 70 basis points year-over-year

— In the first quarter of 2020, net sales are expected to be down mid-single digits, reflecting the COVID-19 and foreign currency impacts

— First-quarter comparable sales are expected to be down mid-single digits; estimates gross profit to be down in the range of 100 basis points to 150 basis points

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