Umsatzsteigerung 12,4 % im September

Reuters
UPDATE - BJ's September same-store sales jump 12.4 pct
Thursday October 9, 8:17 am ET


(Changes, dateline, adds outlook.)
CHICAGO, Oct 9 (Reuters) - BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. (NYSE:BJ - News) said on Thursday its September sales at stores open at least a year rose 12.4 percent, and it raised its earnings forecast for the third quarter and full year.

BJ's, the largest warehouse club operator in the U.S. Northeast, said total sales for the five-week period ended Oct. 4 reached $606.4 million, up 20.2 percent.

The Natick, Massachusetts company now expects to report third-quarter earnings of 24 cents to 28 cents a share, up from a prior estimate of 19 cents to 23 cents. BJ's said the revised forecast was the result of stronger-than-expected sales in the first two months of the period.

Its fourth-quarter estimates remain unchanged at 60 cents to 64 cents a share. For the full year, the company expects to report earnings of $1.34 to $1.42 a share, including a 2-cents-a-share gain from House2Home reserve adjustments made during the first half of the year, and before a charge of 2 cents a share due to a change in accounting rules. Previous guidance for the full fiscal year on the same basis was in the range of $1.29 to $1.37 a share. (With Angela Moore in New York)

Wal-Mart's September Sales Rise More Than Forecast (Update1)
Oct. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's biggest retailer, said September sales at U.S. stores open at least a year rose 6 percent, more than forecast, as shoppers bought more clothing.

The discount retailer had forecast a gain of as much as 5 percent. Wal-Mart expects same-store sales to increase 3 percent to 5 percent in October, the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer said on a recorded call.

Shoppers bought more food, pet supplies and men's and children's clothing. Cooler weather helped boost sales of some items in the last week, which might take some sales away from October, when shoppers usually begin buying cold-weather items, Wal-Mart said on the call.

Shares of Wal-Mart fell 38 cents to $58.52 yesterday in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. They have risen 16 percent this year.

Last Updated: October 9, 2003 08:14 EDT