Circuit City posts wider 2Q loss

Circuit City Stores Inc. said Monday its second-quarter loss widened, and the nation's second-largest consumer electronics retailer withdrew its fiscal 2009 outlook amid sluggish sales, poor traffic and heightened competition.

Circuit City (CC, Fortune 500) posted a loss of $239.2 million, or $1.45 per share, in the three months ended Aug. 31, compared with a loss of $62.8 million, or 38 cents per share, in the same quarter last year.

Sales declined 10% to $2.39 billion from $2.64 billion. Consolidated same-store sales declined 13.3%.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected a loss of $1.04 per share and $2.53 billion in sales.

"Clearly, the performance of the company is unacceptable to all of our stakeholders, and it is imperative that we take the right steps to accelerate our turnaround," James A. Marcum, vice chairman and acting president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

The company also said it is "prudent" to withdraw its previous outlook for fiscal 2009.

Chief Financial Officer Bruce H. Besanko said sales remain challenged by a significant decline in traffic, competition and a weakened brand position.

Retailer focuses on holiday season
Circuit City also announced it is undertaking a comprehensive review of the business and has identified key initiatives for the holiday season, including a focus on enhancing shopping experience, improving inventory on key items and upgrading signage.

"Heading into our most important selling season, we are focused on consistent and successful execution in key areas that will drive traffic and build customer confidence," said Marcum, who replaced Philip J. Schoonover, who stepped down last week.

Marcum, who was appointed Circuit City's vice chairman last month, was one of three directors elected to Circuit City's board in June as part of a deal to defuse a proxy fight with Mark J. Wattles, whose investment firm holds a 6.5% stake in the company.

The company on Monday also said that while strategic options will always be explored, it is "prudent to focus internally on improving the company's performance in order to operate as a standalone business."

Blockbuster withdrew takeover bid in July
In May, Circuit City announced it hired Goldman Sachs & Co. to explore strategic options, but has never given an official timetable for any action. The move came as the retailer opened its books to Blockbuster Inc., which had made a takeover bid of more than $1 billion with plans to create a 9,300-store chain to sell electronic gadgets and rent movies and games. The Dallas-based movie-rental chain withdrew its bid in July because of market conditions.

In the second quarter, Circuit City's video sales saw a high single-digit decrease, with low single-digit sales growth in flat-screen televisions unable to offset significant sales decreases in tube and projection televisions. Sales of camcorders and DVD hardware fell by double digits. Sales of digital TV converter boxes did offset some of the declines in the category, the company said.

Sales of information-technology products fell by double digits in the first quarter, as sales of notebook computers grew and sales of desktop computers continued to decline.

Sales of extended warranties fell about 8% in the quarter, and revenue from Firedog, the company's PC services and home-installation business, decreased 5%, Circuit City said. Internet- and call center-originated sales grew 1%