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Bluenile Stock Price Sinks on Disappointing Results.
Shares of Blue Nile (NILE:Nasdaq )dropped sharply in late trading Tuesday after the online jewelry retailer posted weaker-than-expected results for the holiday quarter and issued a 2006 forecast below Wall Street's projection.
The company reported a fourth-quarter profit of $5.3 million, or 29 cents a share, up from $4.6 million, or 24 cents a share, a year earlier. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call expected earnings of 33 cents a share.
Blue Nile's sales rose to $73.2 million from $64.5 million, but were well below Wall Street's target of $80.3 million.
The company's outlook also disappointed Wall Street. For the quarter ending April 2, Blue Nile forecast earnings of 11 cents to 12 cents a share, with sales of $47 million to $49 million. The forecast include stock-option expenses of 3 cents to 4 cents a share. Analysts, meanwhile, had been expecting first-quarter earnings of 19 cents a share and sales of $54.1 million.
For all of 2006, Blue Nile sees earnings of 62 cents to 72 cents a share, including 14 cents to 16 cents in options costs. Analysts predict earnings of 99 cents a share, before options. The company forecast sales of $220 million to $245 million, below Wall Street's target of $258 million.
Blue Nile shares were down $6.91, or 19%, to $30.38 in after-hours trading.
Two weeks ago we pointed out that Bluenile Insiders have been constantly and consistently selling their stock.
So much for competing with Tiffany.
