Aeropostale Holiday SSS -9%

Aeropostale

today announced that total net sales for the nine-week period ended December 29, 2012 decreased 6% to $645.0 million, from $682.6 million for the nine-week period ended December 31, 2011. Comparable sales, including the e-commerce channel, for the nine-week period ended December 29, 2012 decreased 8% compared to a 9% decrease last year.  Comparable store sales, excluding the e-commerce channel, decreased 9%, compared to a 10% decrease last year.  Thomas P. Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Following a strong Black Friday weekend, sales and traffic trends deteriorated significantly in December. From a merchandise perspective our core basics businesses, particularly graphics and fleece, remained challenged. We continue to manage our inventories carefully, and we will enter the spring season with fresh and updated assortments." Based on the lower than expected sales and margins for the quarter, the Company expects net earnings to be in the range of approximately $0.20 to $0.24 per diluted share, versus its previously issued guidance of approximately $0.36 to $0.41 per diluted share. The revised earnings guidance does not include the impact of any potential store