Neiman Marcus net earnings plummet 54%
Dallas–Lower sales coupled with higher inventory markdowns took a huge bite out of the bottom line of Neiman Marcus Group (NYSE: NMG.A), which also mails the Horchow and Chef’s Catalog books. Net earnings for the third quarter fell 54%, to $23 million, from $50 million last year. Total company revenue fell 10%, to $681 million for the three months ended Oct. 27.
Breaking it down by segment, Neiman Marcus Direct, which includes catalogs, reported a 6% quarterly revenue drop, to $97 million from $103 million last year. Operating earnings in the division plunged 92%, to $500,000 from $6.6 million. Quarterly revenue for retail stores decreased 11%, to $561 million.
EBITDA Falls 15% at J. Crew New York—Apparel cataloger/retailer J. Crew reported that third-quarter earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) fell 15%, to $19.1 million for the three months ended Nov. 3.
Revenue declined 3%, to $195.6 million from $202.3 million a year ago. But net sales in J. Crew’s direct business, which includes catalogs, rose 6%, to $65.7 million from $61.9 million. Retail store sales were $96.7 million, down 6% from $102.8 million in the third quarter of 2000. Comparable store sales declined 18% in the third quarter.