Collective Brands Inc. (NYSE: PSS) shares rose 19.8% to $12.32 after the parent of Payless and Stride Rite shoe stores said it would explore strategic options. Volume for the stock surmounted 4.8 million shares, or more than double its full-day average.
A news release out August 24 reported that the company, based out of Topeka, Kansas, said that as part of its efforts to optimize the performance of its Payless and Stride Rite store fleet, it would close approximately 475 under-performing and low-volume, non-strategic stores in the next three years with more than 300 of those closings coming by the end of this fiscal year.
The Company estimated that the costs for lease terminations, severance, and other exit costs related to closing these stores could be in the range of $25 million to $35 million.
The release also quoted CEO Michael Massey as saying, “While the second quarter was challenging for the company, we are taking aggressive actions to improve the business.
“In Payless Domestic, we are gaining a much greater understanding of our customers and their needs and expectations. With this clarity, we are taking short term actions to improve our performance, accelerating key initiatives, and adjusting our longer term strategies. At the same time, we will continue to invest for growth and profitability in our Performance + Lifestyle Group and international businesses.”
In the same release, investors could also see that net sales for the quarter ending July 30 increased 4.9% to $882.4 million. The second quarter 2011 net loss attributable to Collective Brands, Inc. was $35.0 million or $0.58 per diluted share. Excluding certain impairment and severance charges, adjusted net earnings attributable to Collective Brands were $9.9 million, or $0.16 per diluted share.