Urban Outfitters Reports Record-Breaking 4Q

Philadelphia Urban Outfitters said Thursday that its direct-to-consumer unit helped fuel record sales of $508 million in the fourth quarter.

A year earlier, the company reported fourth-quarter sales of $465.4 million.

Direct-to-consumer sales, including Web and catalog operations, accounted for $87.8 million of the sales for the quarter ended Jan. 31, up 20% from $72.9 million a year earlier.

Same-store sales rose by 3% with flagship Urban Outfitters chain posting a 3% gain, while Anthropologie declined by 6%.

Financial results will be posted March 5.

For the fiscal year, Urban Outfitters surged to a record $1.8 billion, up from $1.5 billion a year earlier. Same-store sales rose by 8%.

The company, which opened 49 stores in 2008, plans to open 52 stores in its current fiscal year.