Profits trend lower at Urban Outfitters

PHILADELPHIA — Urban Outfitters, which caters to a clientele with a unique and forward-looking approach to fashion and lifestyle merchandise, missed the mark during the second quarter, reporting a 21% profit decline and a same-store sales slip of 2%.

The company reported that earnings for the quarter were$56.7 million compared $71.7 million a year earlier. The company blamed increased expenses related to investments in e-commerce, retail catalogs and technology for the performance slip.

Urban Outfitters reported that sales at its clothing stores rose 10% to$609.2 million, beating analysts’ expected $604.1 million.

The company currently operates180 Urban Outfitters stores in the United States, Canada, and Europe, catalogs and websites; 160 Anthropologie stores in the United States, Canada and Europe, catalogs and websites; Free People wholesale, which sells its product to approximately 1,400 specialty stores and select department stores; 51 Free People stores, catalogs and website, 1 Terrain garden center and website and a BHLDN website as of July 31.