Conn’s preliminary Q4 sales look strong; plans 15-20 new stores

The Woodlands, Texas – Conn’s Inc. released preliminary fourth quarter net sales and same-store sales results for its retail segment that suggest strong financial performance. On a year-over-year basis, Conn’s net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 were an estimated $301.6 million, increasing $93.3 million, or 44.8%, from the same period last year.



Net sales represent total product sales, repair service agreement commissions and service revenues. Same store sales rose an estimated 33.4% over the comparable prior-year period. In addition, Conn’s expects to open 15 to 20 new HomePlus stores in fiscal 2015.



Theodore M. Wright, chairman and CEO of Conn’s, said bad weather did not impede the retailer’s sales, but increases in wholesale television prices have affected electronics sales.



“Unusually severe weather in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 did not prevent us from reaching our sales objectives,” said Wright. “Since the first of the year, however, vendor-supported promotion of televisions has declined compared to the holiday season and the same period a year ago. Net purchase prices for consumers increased significantly for many of our key television models and same store sales trends in electronics are below fourth-quarter fiscal 2014 levels. While our sales outlook for other product categories remains positive, we have revised our fiscal 2015 guidance to include lower expected sales rates in electronics.”