Family Dollar to cut jobs and close about 370 stores
MATTHEWS, N.C. – Family Dollar plans to cut some jobs and close about 370 underperforming stores as it tries to reverse sagging sales and earnings.
The discount store operator also will lower prices on about 1,000 basic items.
Family Dollar did not provide details on how many jobs were expected to be eliminated.
Felicia Campbell, manger of the Family Dollar on Highland Avenue in Washington, said Thursday she has not heard about any specific store closings. A Google search shows eight Family Dollar stores in Washington County (two in Washington, one each in Bentleyville, Burgettstown, Canonsburg, McDonald, Millsboro and Monongahela) and three in Greene County (two in Waynesburg and one in Dry Tavern).
The chain said the store closings and job cuts should reduce annual operating expenses by $40 million to $45 million, starting with the fiscal third quarter. Family Dollar Stores Inc. has more than 8,100 stores in 46 states.
The job cuts and store closings are estimated to result in $85 million to $95 million restructuring charge during fiscal 2014’s second half.
The Matthews, N.C., company also said it will slow new store openings beginning in fiscal 2015 to bolster its return on investment. It now anticipates opening 350 to 400 new stores. It had about 525 new stores in fiscal 2014.
The announcement came as Family Dollar reported its profit and revenue declined in the fiscal second quarter, which was hampered by bad winter weather.
Chairman and chief executive officer Howard Levine said in a statement the poor weather led to numerous store closings, disrupted merchandise deliveries and higher-than-expected utility and store maintenance expenses.
The quarter that ended March 1 included the critical holiday shopping season, which Levine said was “challenged” because shoppers had tighter financial constraints and rivals were more promotional.
Family Dollar reported its net income dropped to $90.9 million, or 80 cents per share, from $140.1 million, or $1.21 per share, a year earlier. Revenue fell to $2.72 billion from $2.89 billion. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected earnings of 90 cents per share on revenue of $2.77 billion.
Last year’s quarter included one extra week.
Family Dollar said it believes the bad winter weather hurt its earnings by at least 5 cents per share.
Sales at stores open at least a year, a key gauge of a retailer’s health, declined 3.8 percent. This figure excludes results from stores recently opened or closed.
Levine said the company’s quarterly performance was below its expectations and it has started a review of the business to increase operational efficiencies and boost its financial performance.
Levine said the price cuts, store closings and job eliminations are part of actions it is taking immediately to lift its performance during the review.
Looking ahead, Family Dollar anticipates third-quarter adjusted earnings of 85 cents to 95 cents per share. Fourth-quarter adjusted earnings are expected in a range of 75 cents to 85 cents per share. Fiscal 2014 adjusted earnings are predicted between $3.05 and $3.25 per share.
Wall Street is calling for third-quarter earnings of 98 cents per share, fourth-quarter earnings of 84 cents per share and full-year earnings of $3.38 per share.
Shares of Family Dollar rose 48 cents to $59.55 in morning trading Thursday.