Subject: Analysis - Same-Store Sales

Last-Revised: 9 Jan 1996
Contributed-By: Steve Mack

When earnings for retail outlets like KMart, Walmart, Best Buy, etc. are reported, we see two figures, namely total sales and same-store sales. Same-store comparisons measure the growth in sales, excluding the impact of newly opened stores. Generally, sales from new stores are not reflected in same-store comparisons until those stores have been open for fifty three weeks. With these comparisons, analysts can measure sales performance against other retailers that may not be as aggresive in opening new locations during the evaluated period.