"Our steady growth should continue for years in the future," says Warren Eisenberg, the company's co-chairman. The company is also expanding its other two concepts, the 35-stores Christmas Tree Shops and the 38-unit cosmetics chain Harmon.
The company plans to open 17 Bed Bath & Beyonds, on top of the one it has already opened for the period. For the full year it has opened six Christmas Trees and one Harmon unit. Capital expenditures for the full year are slated to come in at $300 million, mostly due to new store openings.
During the third quarter, which ended Nov. 25, same-store sales rose 4.6% year over year. Management says it expects a 3% to 5% rise in comparable sales in the fourth quarter and all of next year.
Third-quarter net sales came in just more than $1.6 billion, rising 11.8%. Net earnings were $142.4 million, up from $134.6 million in the same year-ago period. Executives say that fourth-quarter earnings are projected to come in flat compared to the same period in 2005.
An SG Cowen analyst report says that despite the lower Q4 guidance, the firm expects Bed Bath & Beyond to perform well. "Solid Q3 comps and gross margin trends are consistent with our view that BBBY can outperform a generally sluggish and highly promotional home furnishings environment."
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