NEW YORK (AP) — Teen apparel retailer Abercrombie & Fitch said Friday that its net income rose in the fourth quarter as the company opened new stores abroad, but a key revenue metric declined during the all-important holiday quarter.
Its shares sagged almost 2 percent in premarket trading.
As growth has slowed in the U.S., Abercrombie & Fitch, which operates namesake stores as well as surf-themed Hollister and Abercrombie kids aimed at younger children, has accelerated growth overseas and online. The company says it plans to close 40 to 50 stores in the U.S. during 2013, mainly through lease expirations.
"Despite a challenging U.S. retail environment over the holiday period, our core U.S. chain plus direct-to-consumer (revenue in stores open at least one year) remained positive and we saw continued sequential improvement in our international business," said CEO Mike Jeffries.