Urban Outfitters reports record holiday sales

Holiday sales rose 10 percent, to a record $785 million for the retail-store brands owned by Urban Outfitters Inc., the Philadelphia-based company said Thursday.

The figure for combined November and December sales include Urban Outfitters' flagship brand along with Anthropologie, Bhldn, Free People, and Terrain.

Company shares were up 88 cents, or 2.5 percent, to $36.26 at midday.

Comparable sales for outlets open at least a year - a common benchmark for retailers - rose 4 percent, and ranged from a low of 1 percent for Urban Outfitters, to 17 percent at Free People, the company said.

For the 11-month period ended December 31, net sales increased to $3.1 billion - 7 percent over the same period in 2013.

During those 11 months, the company opened 37 new stores - 14 Anthropologie stores, 12 Free People stores, and 11 Urban Outfitters stores; and closed 1 Urban Outfitters store.

Urban Outfitters Inc. has about 550 stores, while its Free People wholesale operation also sells to about 1,500 specialty and department stores.

- Reid Kanaley