Barnes & Noble in Surprise Q3 Loss

By Eric Volkman – Feb 28, 2013 at 10:40PM

NYSE: BKS

Barnes & Noble

Analysts had expected a profit from the bookseller, but the company lands solidly in the red.

Barnes & Noble (BKS) has reported its fiscal Q3 2013 results. For the quarter, the company's revenues fell 9% on a year-over-year basis, to $2.2 billion. Bottom line was a loss of $6.1 million ($0.18 per diluted share), as opposed to the $52 million ($0.71) profit that the firm posted in Q3 2012.

The key figures for the most recent quarter were notably below analyst estimates. On average, they anticipated $2.4 billion in revenues, and a net profit of $0.54 per share.

Barnes & Noble provided selected guidance for the entirety of fiscal 2013. The firm expects that retail comparable bookstore sales will "decline on a percentage basis in the low- to mid-single digits." NOOK Media revenues, the category that includes the company's popular eReader and its college segment, should come in at $2.5 billion.

Fool contributor Eric Volkman has no position in Barnes & Noble. The Motley Fool has no position in Barnes & Noble. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.