TRU reports 4Q, FY results

WAYNE, N.J. Toys"R"Us reported that for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, net sales increased 7.3% to $5.86 billion from $5.46 billion for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008. According to the company, the strong fourth-quarter sales performance was driven by comparable-store sales increases in the company’s domestic and international segments of 3.3% and 0.1%, respectively.

Fiscal 2009 total net sales were $13.57 billion versus $13.72 billion in fiscal 2008. For the full year, comparable-store sales decreased by 3% and 2.8% for the domestic and international segments, respectively.

Toys"R"Us reported that the strongest total sales increases were experienced in toy categories. The largest sales decline was in the entertainment product category (which includes video game systems and related accessories).

For the 2009 fiscal year ended Jan. 30, the company reported net earnings of $312 million, an increase of 43.1% compared with net earnings of $218 million for the 2008 fiscal year. Net earnings for the fourth quarter were $387 million, compared with net earnings of $345 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.

“Our strong financial results for fiscal 2009 reflect the ongoing successful execution of our long-term strategy. The Toys“R”Us brand is unique and robust, and we were able to build momentum throughout the year by focusing on our core strengths and by being innovative in our offerings to customers,” said Jerry Storch, chairman and CEO of Toys“R”Us. “The continued integration of our toy and juvenile businesses and our focus on differentiated product offerings have helped drive our growth. Also, throughout the year, we continued to open new stores nationally and internationally, and to convert others to our side-by-side format. We are grateful to our customers and to our business partners who are supporting our growth as the world’s leading specialty retailer of toys and baby products. There can be no doubt that our team was ‘Playing to Win’ in 2009.”