Stage Stores May same-store sales rise, beat views

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial predicted a 5 percent same-store sales decline.

Same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least a year, is a key indicator of retailer performance since it measures growth at existing stores rather than newly opened ones.

Total sales rose 5.1 percent to $122.6 from $116.6 million, a year earlier.

Categories including cosmetics, childrens, intimate apparel, dresses and footwear had comparable-store sales increases as customers responded to its monthly senior discount day event, which occurred in April last year, and a Memorial Day promotion, Stage said. The retailer also said it had a successful Mothers Day.

Year-to-date, same-store sales are down 4 percent to $476.1 million, the company said.

Stage, which operates 716 stores in 35 states, plans to open five stores in July and closed one in the May period.