L Brands Dec. Sales Rise; Slashes Q4 EPS View - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - L Brands Inc. (LB) reported a 2 percent year-on-year increase in comparable-store sales for the month of December 2013. Monthly net sales totaled $2.098 billion, compared with the prior-year figure of $1.95 billion.

For the 48 weeks ended January 4, 2014, the firm posted net sales of $10.04 billion, up 6 percent from $9.47 billion last year, with comparable-store sales rising by 2 percent from the previous year.

The company now expects fourth-quarter earnings per share of about $1.60, versus its prior forecast of $1.67 to $1.82. The decrease versus its earlier forecast is mainly the result of lower than forecasted merchandise margins due to incremental promotional activity.