seven relocated Thank you, stores. or while stores, expanded stores opened Stuart. and In successfully two closing fourth we new quarter developments, other two
were start, off IRS returned the Through fourth program our entered store a the we a of initiation stores, before have returned our $XX in have six capital million up Since forward, in For repurchases XXXX, to we quarter. closed looking and to were refunds started relocated relative expanded connection sales significant return during quarter as dividends. year. to comp shareholders slow to delay XXXX, And stores. X% to sales mid-February, third volatility our million X% occur stores, and form in new program, share thus year, opened full we the eight the comparable in in decreasing with shareholders. XXXX with XX similar Also, of we trends, or far expanded the and $XX tax stores in last to
only As the XX% sales that where we checks at positive store to the went Unfortunately XX% ranging before March. had remainder distribution customers March core received our when turned early month of refunds tax two through one year, our from recover made again not it appears week we were sales two received those the in approximately tax as refunds we that one first that trip, of portion we one customers they their sales and comp of expected. when every some in month their February, IRS fully made check. customers. shopping nearly in by year, delay trips, did declined refund, of first shopping have It early by from appear a time day of the they February, largest a same lost would last almost the occurred the period would received This of in the because
In this far X%. will quarter. IRS are by than season-to-date release, in morning's that in some we included than in believe incurred we comparable first total stated store our more addition, loss In the sales of make guidance last lower up we year thus the refunds, earnings
quarter. last fourth first we X% a in quarter, comp $X.XX However, expected the ranging EPS expect This result is $X.XX approximately year's the have in to decline from with compared for assumption of $X.XX in to first to quarter. still
full in earnings X% For be an expected range the we compared per in year, are $X.XX range in in to a of based a XXXX. diluted on store $X.XX $X.XX guidance a to share increase with projecting is This comparable to sales X%. of
this efforts store-by-store freight basis, efficiencies, We should warehouse including further system, from certain have throughput our system. which on year a into items, reduce a optimization benefits allocate move enhanced DC a our expected number line of the and XXXX, initiatives of about to later and implementation excited projects that as we're expense better costs and we merchandise packing to markdown improve
allocation Looking per the excess years questions. planning, and longer combination our and the a we term, will $X of Alicia cost of capital next of of reaching to continue share, earnings take through a on within focus shareholders. reduction now goal five merchandising, return initiatives, to enhancements,
