Urban Outfitters reports flat Holiday sales

Urban Outfitters net sales for the two months were flat over the same period last year. Comparable retail segment net sales, which include its comparable direct-to-consumer channel, decreased 2 percent.

"We continued to experience strong direct-to-consumer growth at all our brands during this Holiday season," said Richard A. Hayne, Chief Executive Officer, adding, "These gains were offset by weaker store sales which we believe was driven by declining store traffic.”

Two and eleven months highlights

Comparable retail segment net sales during the Holiday season increased 2 percent at Free People and decreased 2 percent at Urban Outfitters and the Anthropologie Group, respectively. Wholesale segment net sales increased 40 percent, which the company said were partially due to delayed shipments from the third quarter carrying over into the fourth quarter.

For the eleven months ended December 31, 2015, total company net sales increased 4 percent over the same period last year. Comparable retail segment net sales increased 2 percent and wholesale segment net sales increased 15 percent.

During the eleven months, the company opened a total of 29 new stores including: 13 Anthropologie stores, 12 Free People stores, and 4 Urban Outfitters stores; and closed 2 Urban Outfitters stores and 1 Free People store.