Strong 4Q for Dress Barn

Suffern, N.Y., The Dress Barn Inc. posted fiscal fourth-quarter net income of $33.6 million, or $1.08 a share, compared with $13.8 million, or 45 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Net sales for the 13-week period, ended July 30, 2005, increased 48% to $307.1 million compared to the prior year’s level of $208 million. The increase was driven by the inclusion of results from Maurices, which the chain acquired in January 2005, and a same-store sales increase of 6% for the quarter.

Net sales for 52-week period ended July 30 increased 33% to $1 billion compared to $754.9 million reported for the year-ago period. Same-store sales rose 5% for the fiscal year.