Dillard’s Narrows Losses in 2Q

Little Rock, AR, August 22—-Department store chain Dillard’s reported a loss in its second quarter this year that was smaller than the loss posted last year.

The company posted a loss of $12.3 million, or $0.15 a share in the quarter, verses a loss in the same period of 2004 of $26 million, or $0.31a share.

The results were far better than the expected loss, on average, of $0.28 a share from analysts reporting to Thomson First Call.

Sales for quartrer rose 1% to $1.69 billion from $1.67 billion. Sames store sales for the period were also up 1%.

The company said the improvement in operating results is primarily attributable to positive comparable-store sales, improved gross margin performance, decreased advertising, selling, general and administrative expenses and decreased interest expense.