Apparel retailer Talbots Inc. (TLB) will issue first-quarter scorecard on June 9, with analysts expecting a loss of $0.49 per share, on revenues of $312.74 million. In the year-ago period, the company reported earnings of $0.03 per share on net sales of $542.4 million.
In May, the Hingham, Massachusetts-based company reconfirmed its first-quarter guidance, expecting a loss from continuing operations between $0.47 and $0.52 per share, excluding any restructuring and impairment charges, compared to the previous year's earnings of $0.42 per share, excluding restructuring and impairment charges of $0.07 per share.
Due to the substantial volatility and continued uncertainty in U.S. economic conditions, the company said it will not issue fiscal 2009 annual forecast.
Some of the retailers, including Talbots, are still reeling under the financial tornado, as budget-conscious shoppers continue to restrain from lithe spending and shifted their focus on discounts and necessities in an effort to muddle through the recession.
According to the Conference Board, the Consumer Confidence Index, which had improved considerably in April, posted another large gain in May. The Index now stands at 54.9, up from 40.8 in April.
Lynn Franco, Director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center, said, "After two months of significant improvements, the Consumer Confidence Index is now at its highest level in eight months." Franco added that the continued gains in the Present Situation Index indicate moderate improvement in the current conditions and that the growth in the second quarter is likely to be less negative than in the first.
Most recently, Talbots announced a definitive selling agreement with an affiliate of Golden Gate Capital, Jill Acquisition LLC, to sell J. Jill brand assets for around $75 million, subject to certain post-closing adjustments.
In the preceding fourth-quarter, the company posted a net loss of $366.5 million or $6.85 per share, compared to a loss of $171.4 million or $3.22 per share in the prior year quarter. Quarterly net sales declined to $327.9 million from $427.7 million in the same quarter of last year. Retail store sales were $279 million, down from $361 million last year, and comparable store sales fell 24.6%.
Among Talbots' peers, AnnTaylor Stores Corp. (ANN) incurred a first-quarter loss of $2.31 million or $0.04 per share, compared to a profit of $25.90 million or $0.43 per share in the prior year quarter, hurt by a 28% decline in quarterly sales that totaled $426.75 million, compared to $591.66 million in the previous year.
Meanwhile, womens' apparel retailer Chico's FAS Inc. (CHS) posted a 14% growth in first-quarter profit that amounted to $14.49 million or $0.08 per share, compared to $12.73 million or $0.07 per share in the year-ago quarter. Net sales for the quarter were up 0.2% to $410.64 million from $409.56 million in the same quarter of last year.
Talbots shares, which have been upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform by Friedman, Billings, Ramsey in mid-May, closed Monday's trading session at $5.00. TLB has been trading between $1.19 and $17.97 in the past 52 weeks.
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.