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Investing.com -- Shares of Children’s Place, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLCE) plummeted over 20% following the release of its first quarter financial results, which fell short of consensus expectations. The children’s specialty retailer reported a larger adjusted loss per share of $1.52 compared to a loss of $1.18 in the same quarter last year. Net sales also declined to $242.1 million from $267.9 million YoY, a decrease of 9.6%.
The company attributed the disappointing performance to a challenging macroeconomic environment, which included softer consumer sentiment and unseasonable weather patterns. Additionally, the company faced headwinds from the increased shipping threshold, which impacted e-commerce sales. Comparable retail sales saw a significant decrease of 13.6% for the quarter, largely driven by the drop in e-commerce revenue.
Gross profit suffered as well, decreasing by $21.9 million to $70.8 million, with gross margin falling 540 basis points to 29.2%. This was influenced by a mix of factors, including a higher proportion of wholesale sales and a shift towards more markdown sales versus full-price sales.
Despite a decrease in selling, general, and administrative expenses, the company’s operating loss widened to $(24.1) million from $(28.0) million in the previous year’s first quarter. The adjusted operating loss also grew significantly, from $(5.1) million last year to $(24.0) million this year.
Children’s Place ended the first quarter with a total liquidity of $84.4 million, including cash and cash equivalents and borrowing availability. Inventories were slightly down from the previous year at $422.2 million, reflecting a shift in product strategy and the effects of lower conversion rates.
The company’s president and interim CEO, Muhammad Umair, expressed dissatisfaction with the results but emphasized the company’s commitment to long-term goals. Umair mentioned plans for a revitalized loyalty program, new store openings, and product offerings, as well as marketing initiatives aimed at acquiring new customers. He also highlighted the company’s diversified sourcing strategies as a buffer against potential tariff impacts.
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