Outdoor sporting-goods store Cabela's (NYSE:CAB) is on the hunt for sales, but so far the game has proven elusive. Although third-quarter sales rose 12%, this was juiced by an increase in store count. Same-store sales -- those at stores that have been open for more than a year -- dropped 9% in the quarter.
Until last year, the Motley Fool Hidden Gems recommendation had been on a building boom, rolling out new stores. That has been scaled back dramatically this year, as even management could no longer ignore the conditions that were setting in. Moreover, new stores in the works will be significantly smaller than previous ones, coming in at 80,000 square feet and allowing the company to conserve precious capital.
Management has also gotten conservative with its guidance, which before now was decidedly rosy. It had been expecting revenue growth in the mid-teens and earnings growth in the mid-single digits, but both have been scaled back like its new stores. In particular, Cabela's no longer sees profits for the full year, but rather steep declines in the mid-teens.
That can't be of much of much comfort to competitors like Dick's Sporting Goods (NYSE:DKS) or Big Five (NASDAQ:BGFV), or even smaller regional players like Hibbett's (NASDAQ:HIBB). With many industries, when one catches a cold, they all sneeze. Last quarter, Cabela's and Big Five simultaneously reported poor results.
It's no surprise that retail is drawing in its horns in this economic environment as consumers use caution in spending scarce dollars. It's causing consternation among providers of entertainment to outdoor sports enthusiasts -- for example, fellow Hidden Gems pick Vail Resorts (NYSE:MTN), an operator of luxury ski resorts in and around Colorado.
While Cabela's didn't reveal much about its Internet and catalog business or its credit card portfolio, the credit situation can't be helping matters much. Financial-services revenue declined 6%, while the direct business remained essentially flat.
The continuing malaise in retail can only mean that Cabela's will be likely be on a long winter hunt in the wilderness for future sales.
Related Foolishness:
- Ski resorts catch a chill from fees.
- Not much to celebrate in sporting goods.
- Cabela's had a pricey formula earlier this year.
