Gap stock falls after company's Q2 same-store sales fall
Shares of Gap Inc. fell 7% in the extended session Thursday after the retailer reported adjusted profit above expectations but same-store sales disappointed. Gap said it earned $168 million, or 44 cents a share, in the quarter, compared with $297 million, or 76 cents a share, in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted for one-time items, Gap said it earned 63 cents a share. Sales fell to $4 billion, from $4.09 billion a year ago. Analysts polled by FactSet had expected adjusted earnings of 53 cents a share on sales of $4.02 billion. Same-store sales were down 4% in the quarter, compared with a 2% increase a year ago. Gap also updated its EPS guidance for the year, saying it expects adjusted profit to range between $2.05 a share and $2.15 a share. The analysts surveyed by FactSet expect adjusted EPS of $2.06 for the year. "We are operating in a challenging environment, but I remain confident in the strength of our brands and our plans for the future as we work to launch two independent, public companies," Chief Executive Art Peck said in a statement. Gap continues to expect to close about 30 company-operated stores in the year. The stock ended the regular trading session up 4.7%.
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