Buckle and Aeropostale big winners in April

New York City Teen apparel retailers reported mixed results in April, although many outperformed analysts’ expectations. As has been the case for the past several months, the strongest performers in the sector were The Buckle and Aeropostale.

The Buckle said Thursday its same-store sales rose 18.2% in April, beating analyst expectations. Total sales for the four-week period ended May 2 rose 26% to $59.1 million.

At Aeropostale, same-store sales jumped 20%. Analysts had expected an 8.5% increase. Total net sales for April increased 31% to $137.7 million. For the first quarter, total net sales increased 21% to $408.0 million. Same-store sales increased 11%.

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. said Thursday that its same-store sales slid 22% in April, less than analysts expected. Year-to-date, the retailer reported a net sales decrease of 23% to $612.1 million, from $800.1 million in the same period last year.

Gap said Thursday that April same-store sales fell 4% vs. analysts’ projections of 7.8%. The company's Old Navy chain posted the strongest April results, with comparable sales climbing 1% during the month. Analysts expected sales to fall 2.9%.

Same-store sales at Gap's name-brand stores in North America fell 10%, slightly worse than analysts had projected.

Total sales for April decreased 5% to $1.05 billion.

In other results:

• Urban Outfitters said Thursday that its same-store sales sank 9.6% during the first quarter, ended April 30, and overall revenue was less than expected. Same-store sales fell 6% during the three-month period at Urban Outfitters, while sliding 13% at Anthropologie. Same-store sales sank 23% at Free People;

• American Eagle Outfitters reported a same-store sales drop of 5% in April, better than Wall Street expectations;

• The Wet Seal said its April same-store sales fell 2.2%, a smaller drop than analysts expected, driven by improvement at its Arden B chain; and

• Limited Brands reported that its same-store sales fell 6% in April, slightly more than analysts expected. Total sales for the period dropped 8% to $531.2 million, from $577.5 million.