Chico's Posts 3Q Gains

Fort Myers, FL-based women’s apparel cataloger/retailer Chico's FAS (NYSE: CHS) continues to churn out strong sales and earnings numbers. Net sales for the third quarter ended Nov. 1 were a record $211 million, up 53% from $137 million for the third quarter of last year. Net income rose 72%, to $27 million from $16 million last year. Catalog and Internet sales were $6.6 million, compared with $3.9 million for the third quarter of 2002. Comparable-store sales rose 21%.