Five Below Stock Surges as Strong Holiday Sales Power Results, Outlook

Five Below (FIVE) shares surged Thursday, a day after the discount retailer posted better-than-expected results and issued a rosy outlook as its holiday sales strategy paid off and it looked to open more locations.

The company reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $3.48, with net sales up 4% year-over-year to $1.39 billion. Both exceeded Visible Alpha forecasts. Same-store sales fell 3%, a smaller decline than expected. 

COO Ken Bull said that the company was successful in its plan to go into the holiday season “with the goal of showcasing more newness with key trend-right, value product, while also improving our operational execution and in-store experience.”

FY Sales Projections Come in Above Estimates

The company sees full-year sales from $4.21 billion to $4.33 billion, with a midpoint higher than forecasts. Five Below also looks to add about 150 new stores during the year.

Despite today’s roughly 6% gain, shares of Five Below have sunk more than 60% over the past year.