Urban Outfitters Q4 net sales up 12 percent

Urban Outfitters has announced net income of 80 million dollars and 232 million dollars for the three months and year ended January 31, 2015, respectively. Earnings per diluted share were 0.60 dollars and 1.68 dollars for the three months and year under review, respectively. Total company net sales for the fourth quarter increased 12 percent over the same quarter last year to 1.01 billion dollars.

Comparable retail segment net sales, which include comparable direct-to-consumer channel, increased 6 percent. Comparable retail segment net sales increased 18 percent at Free People, 6 percent at the Anthropologie Group and 4 percent at Urban Outfitters. Wholesale segment net sales rose 21 percent.

For the year ended January 31, 2015, total company net sales increased 8 percent over the prior year to 3.3 billion dollars. Comparable retail segment net sales increased 2 percent and wholesale segment net sales increased 27 percent.

"We are pleased to report our first billion dollar quarter, fueled by positive retail segment 'comps' at all of our brands," said Richard A. Hayne, Chief Executive Officer, adding, "It is encouraging to see this sales trend continue into Q1."

For the three months ended January 31, 2015, the gross profit rate decreased by 207 basis points versus the prior year's comparable period. For the year ended January 31, 2015, the gross profit rate decreased by 227 basis points versus the prior year's comparable period. During the year ended January 31, 2015, the company opened a total of 38 new stores including 15 Anthropologie Group stores, 12 Free People stores, and 11 Urban Outfitters stores. It closed three Urban Outfitters stores due to lease expirations.