Big 5 Envisions Steady Growth

The Big 5 CEO's comments came as he and other company officials outlined the chain's operating philosophies to analysts and other attendees at the ICR Xchange gathering. Among other points, Miller emphasized that the sporting goods chain's latest quarterly results represented the company's 36th consecutive quarter of positive same store sales comparisons.In that fourth quarter, which consisted of 14 weeks ending Jan. 2, Big 5 reported this week that net sales increased 13.4% to $217.6 million from $191.8 million for the corresponding 13-week fourth quarter of fiscal 2003. On a comparative 13-week basis for both fiscal 2004 and 2003, net sales increased 6% and same store sales increased 2.6%.

For the 53 weeks ended Jan. 2, Big 5's net sales increased 9.8% to $778.9 million from $709.7 million for the corresponding 52-week fiscal year in 2003. On a comparative 52-week basis for both fiscal 2004 and 2003, net sales increased 7.8% and same store sales increased 3.5%. The chain operates stores that average 11,000 sf, with a product mix including athletic shoes, apparel and accessories, as well as a selection of outdoor and athletic equipment for team sports, fitness, camping, hunting, fishing, tennis, golf, snowboarding and in-line skating.