Burlington Stores to open 100 stores in 2021; cites ‘significant market share opportunity’

Burlington Stores Inc. reported fourth-quarter sales and profit that beat Street estimates and said it was doubling its store count potential.

The off-pricer, which ended the year with 761 stores nationwide, expanded its long-term store count potential to 2,000 stores, up from its previous target of 1,000 stores. It expects to open 100 new locations in its current fiscal year. In expanding the target, Burlington cited its new smaller store format and “the opportunity presented by accelerating retail disruption and industry-wide store closures” 

“This new target takes account of the significant market share opportunity that we see ahead of us, and of the improvements we are making in our business with Burlington 2.0, in particular the significant reduction in inventory levels and the smaller store footprint that this enables,” stated CEO Michael O'Sullivan.

Burlington Stores reported that its net income totaled $155.9 million, or $2.33 a share, in the quarter ended Jan. 30, down from $206.3 million, or $3.08 a share, in the year-ago period. Adjusted per-share earnings were $2.44, topping the $2.12 analysts had expected.

Revenue rose to $2.283 billion from $2.209 billion, also of estimates. Same-store sales were flat.

Burlington ended the quarter with $1.857 billion in liquidity.

"We saw comparable-store sales improve sequentially as the quarter progressed, starting with a double-digit decline in November, improving to flat in December, and then accelerating to double-digit growth in January," stated O'Sullivan. “Looking ahead, the retail environment is likely to remain unpredictable for some time. We are planning 2021 comparable-store sales conservatively but will manage liquidity to chase sales if the trend is stronger.”