Coldwater Creek's
Updating its fourth-quarter guidance, Coldwater Creek once again lowered its already previously lowered estimates and told shareholders to anticipate a loss of $0.18-$0.24 versus its own previous guidance of a loss of $0.13-$0.21.
But, here's where it really gets interesting. Management also told investors that same-store sales fell 9% over the year-ago period, but that this was, "a continuation of the sequential improvement in sales and traffic in the quarter-to-date period versus the 26% decline in comp sales for the first nine months of the year." Hang on while I grab my pom-pom's!
There are not enough happy pills in the world to disguise a 9% year-over-year sales comp decline as positive. Despite also working to shave $20 million to $25 million off of annual expenses by year's end, Coldwater is still burning through cash at an incredible rate. As of its third-quarter report, Coldwater had $37.9 million in cash, down drastically from the $72.3 million it had from five quarters prior. Even worse, the company isn't expected to return to profitability anytime soon.
Coldwater's problems are much the same concerns that are sacking Talbots
It's no secret that this sector that would absolutely benefit from consolidation. ANN
Coldwater Creek's earnings warning today just moves the company one step closer to the inevitable: Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Coldwater already has borrowed $15 million against its revolving credit line and it's my prediction that this could be the year it seeks further loans. I continue to feel that Coldwater's turnaround simply isn't moving quickly enough and it's likely to wind up on the wrong end of the stick if it doesn't right itself very soon.
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