Pacific Sunwear posts marginal hike in Q3 FY13' sales

On a GAAP basis, the Company reported income from continuing operations of $0.9 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2012, compared to a loss from continuing operations of $14.0 million, or $(0.21) per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2011.

Income from continuing operations for the Company's third quarter of fiscal 2012 included a non-cash gain of $5.6 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, related to a derivative liability that resulted from the issuance of the Convertible Series B Preferred Stock (the "Series B Preferred") in connection with the term loan financing the Company completed in December 2011.

On a non-GAAP basis, excluding store closure related charges of $1.7 million and the non-cash gain on derivative liability of $5.6 million, and using a normalized annual income tax rate of approximately 37%, the Company would have incurred a loss from continuing operations for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 of $1.8 million, or $(0.03) per share, as compared to a loss from continuing operations of $7.1 million, or $(0.11) per share, for the same period a year ago.

"We continue to see evidence of our turnaround strategies taking hold with our third straight quarter of positive comparable store sales growth and a 260 basis point improvement in merchandise margins, on an adjusted basis," said Gary H. Schoenfeld, President and Chief Executive Officer.

He added, "After a slow start to the first few weeks of back-to-school, we performed well during the peak of the selling season which translated to our first positive sales comp in the third quarter since 2007 and a more than $10 million improvement in our pre-tax operating results."

Financial Outlook for Fourth Fiscal Quarter of 2012

The Company's guidance range for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 accounts for a 53^rd fiscal week and contemplates a non-GAAP loss per share from continuing operations of between negative $0.09 and negative $0.17, compared to negative $0.20 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011.

The forecasted fourth quarter non-GAAP loss from continuing operations per share guidance range is based on the following assumptions:

• Same-store sales of negative 1% to plus 3%;
• Revenue from $225 million to $235 million;
• Gross margin rate, including buying, distribution and occupancy, of 22% to 25%;
• SG&A expenses in the range of $63 million to $65 million;
• A normalized annual income tax rate of approximately 37%; and
• Ending the period with approximately 645 stores.

Pacific Sunwear