Kohl's posts 12.3% net income drop, raises guidance

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. Kohl's reported net income for the quarter ended Aug. 2 of $236 million, or 77 cents per diluted share, compared with $269.2 million, or 83 cents per diluted share, a year ago. Net sales were $3.7 billion, an increase of 3.8% for the quarter. Comparable-store sales for the quarter decreased 4.6%.

"Our second-quarter results reflect strong inventory management and increased penetration of private and exclusive brands, resulting in improved gross margins, as well as effective expense control," said Kohl's chairman and ceo Larry Montgomery. "We remain conservative in our sales expectations for the fall season and will manage our business accordingly. We are well positioned to chase business, should the environment improve. We will use our financial strength to continue to build for the future as we add new stores and remodel existing stores to continue to gain market share in this difficult environment.”

Kohl's raised its earnings per diluted share guidance for fiscal 2008 from between $2.95 and $3.15 to between $3.02 and $3.18.

Kohl's ended the quarter with 957 stores in 47 states, compared with 834 stores in 46 states at the same time last year. The company expects to open an additional 47 stores later this year for a total of 75 stores in fiscal 2008. In fiscal 2009, the company expects to open approximately 50 stores and remodel 60 stores.