Departmental store operator Kohl’s Corporation (KSS) registered robust sales results for the five-week period ended July 4, 2010. The company’s comparable-store sales for June 2010 rose 5.9% after increasing 3.5% in the previous month. Kohl’s had experienced a decline of 5.6% in June 2009.

Kohl’s has registered positive comparable-store sales growth for each month in 2010 except April. The company expects the positive trend to continue for the rest of the year.

Year to date, Kohl’s comparable-store sales climbed 6.2% versus a decline of 3.8% in the same period last year.

For June 2010, peers of Kohl’s also witnessed strong comparable-stores sales results. Sales rose 14.1% at Nordstrom Inc. (JWN), 6.5% at Macy’s Inc. (M) and 4.5% at J.C. Penney Company Inc. (JCP).

In sharp contrast to the 1.5% year over year dip in total sales in June 2009 to $1,471 million, total sales for June 2010 jumped 9.1% year over year to $1,605 million. Year to date, sales climbed 9.6% to $6,978 million from $6,365 million in the corresponding period last year.

Year to date, revenue at its e-Commerce business shot up 50% year over year. Also, comparable-store sales at the Footwear and Mens division were strong. During the month, West and Southeast were the outperforming regions. The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions also benefited from favorable weather.

A shift in Memorial Day benefited June sales results. Kohl’s offered huge off-season markdowns in order to boost sales. Moreover, the improved price mix and reward system lifted traffic at stores.

Kohl’s, the operator of 1,067 stores in 49 states, expects comparable-store sales to increase between 2% and 4% in second-quarter 2010 and between 3.5% and 5% in fiscal 2010. The company forecasts annual sales growth of 5% to 7% in the second quarter and 6.5% to 8% in fiscal 2010.

Kohl’s has projected earnings per share in the range of 70 to 75 cents for the second quarter and $3.40 to $3.63 for fiscal 2010. However, the company’s guidance fell short of the current Zacks Consensus Estimate of 78 cents and $3.74 a share, respectively.
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