What happened
The stock of Designer Shoe Warehouse (DSW) parent Designer Brands (DBI -2.58%) is down 24% as of 10:50 a.m. EDT, after it announced second-quarter results that disappointed investors.
So what
Designer Brands reported that second-quarter comparable-store sales dropped 42.7% and an adjusted net loss of $1.28 per share. Results lagged consensus estimates of a comp sales drop of 26.5% and an expected loss of $0.85 per share, according to FactSet.
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The retailer said for its three-month period ending Aug. 1, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic continued to impact its business. Temporary store closures and reduced customer traffic upon reopening forced the company to implement "aggressive promotional activity." The result was higher costs related to inventory reserves, shipping, and lower sales volume.
Now what
The company says it has bolstered liquidity, including from a $250 million secured loan taken following the close of the quarter. Cash and investments totaled $206.7 million at the end of Q2, compared with $77.3 million at the same time last year. Debt totaled $393 million, versus $235 million for the previous-year period.
"Given that we have further strengthened our balance sheet, we are well prepared to focus on growing our business' profitability," said Chief Executive Officer Roger Rawlins. He said the company is steering fall inventory away from seasonal and dress products and toward athleisure, its highest-performing category. The company said that nearly all of its stores are now open, with health and safety measures in place.
