Kurt D. Barton
good and everyone. Greg, Thanks, afternoon,
ended XX, per of quarter store increased on million, $X.XX share. XXXX, income a of September consolidated net XX.X% the X.X% $XX.X last billion, X.X% in or sales increased versus diluted year-over-year $X.XX decrease a sales reported basis, net year. resulting to Comparable For
As shift, would quarter comparable been our have year's decrease results associated the XXXX XXrd XXXX. week shift reflect in comparable a last QX the Adjusting sales store third week with the X.X%. reminder, store calendar for
As later we in approximately benefited all and geographic categories, across from to product points. and Sales of positive benefited basis XXX the Irma. sales quarter season. Harvey And by were benefited same-store mentioned, major from also regions selling the sale hurricanes comps an estimate this products Greg and extended related response summer emergency
store As a products, This being increased X.X% July the increase. of in to compares strength reported across sales count by transaction comp in principally store comp result, all increased and categories with the all well. months Comparable as X%. seasonal reported regions C.U.E. quarter, Comparable emergency and driven three prior-year's transaction decrease. highest the of items, with count country, our increased increase. ticket response-related prior-year's along X.X% were to compared strong strength was Average X.X% in
as the We This above quarter's approximately sales, average partially strength by estimate as goods, strong average, generators, points. comp deflation by utility of and XX well overall the chain ticket basis as ticket in was strength Big increase by mix by well principally items. driven as big-ticket of of offset principally sales deflation. fuel-handling impacted vehicles driven was
base our reported stores results, are included will reflected sales Petsense reminder, the in store fourth sales be those XXXX. of beginning with quarter the a As in store not yet comparable as store
to Now with the The during management was being sourcing turning Direct was positive team basis gross strategic to strong We to principally year, product rate and managed were driver. XX.X%. improvement margin, how pleased initiatives. inventory the quarter. XX the increased driven with through points margin margin primary rate which prior
in significant performance sales summer were and Additionally, to of margin, operate strong of categories, all a stores fuel comp costs, gross as in a Freight, higher benefit negatively broad higher have was to business. than margin, through. impacted across on impact sales lesser merchandise our generator the freight-intensive these unfavorable Tractor accessories, however, stores. as of Petsense offset during a product promotional at sell as average categories. impact strong the mix the to season due greater extent, did the margin, a gross we of online tools sales seasonal are not a slight selling hardware, and, quarter, which resulted Supply The of mix direct favorable impact above-margin provided growth categories. by strong The extended strong rate based product was less truck principally
to compensation as basis year's performance in strong incentive expense. primarily represented increase in The third remaining of including By the comparison, year's primarily points key as the investments quarter, XX.X% third points well investments basis operate expense in higher XX expense of strategic versus by SG&A, payroll quarter. of the earnings. the prior-year's was depreciation and quarter. and was areas. from long-term a addition XX.X% of the deleveraged tends compensation points incentive to third percentage deleverage sales this a SG&A, compensation and additional other approximately quarter last the due basis amortization, in and by The XX driven service higher the softer last expense rate approximately incentive Incentive to SG&A quarter than sales which in at deleverage as compared Supply. and The initiatives drove to to drive For Tractor strategic sales year's higher expense declined Petsense in growth, in ratio XX quarter of customer the sales
XX.X% income quarter last rate for to compared tax flat was at the effective Our year. essentially XX.X%
the At quarter, in million Turning to million had balance of million cash compared sheet. million a and and to $XXX a $XXX outstanding the $XX the balance debt $XX debt of outstanding in balance end of we year. third last cash
X.X impact the consolidated X.X year's reported acquired shares Year-to-date, our through against million $XX.X of total quarter. per million we average X.X% million chain have quarter, shares $XXX.X average. third Petsense, the million. program. we of last of stock on store for inventory per-store for decline a Exclusive repurchase During average acquired the decreased X.X% third includes inventory stores The levels of Petsense
of our are productivity of We as as capital. quarter the well during working the management inventory with our the pleased
our quarter, updating outlook we're based in trends with the third for outlook, results XXXX. the Now, on to respect and the full-year our fiscal
earnings increase full-year diluted to to between expect sales to $X.XX. $XXX million, X.X%, store and from and $X.XX to income sales range billion million $X.XX and net to $X.XX be We to from X.X% $XXX range per share billion, comparable
a in tax operating margin $XXX basis to to XX.X%, Assumed average of of expenditures approximately and points, XX million XX decline an XXX.X XXX guidance of is million million shares million. outstanding of basis this points $XXX rate capital to diluted
stores, Petsense than of targets the store of our first during and continue with and new respect stores new warmer to Supply fourth two productivity. hit we XXX the experienced to normal weather expect Tractor quarter, store to We XX the quarter. conditions pleased be With weeks
see products. weather turned the we demand plan the heading to where well-positioned However, increased We fall winter solid arrives. cold has into the drive when season we begun winter believe to and for cooler, have weather are with colder weather seasonal seasonal merchandise a
As a prior-year adjusting X.X% for fourth results. the the positive reminder, quarter shift, sales store cycling is week comparable
to market in of approximately the XX year our deflation quarter, growing our to we and continue margin be sales both focused the fourth expect With gross and remaining drive price We basis full points. to margin, to goal management tools respect will while use share. on
fourth to the we be costs quarter quarter, to initiatives. in comparison headwinds drive including to the continue efficiencies therefore, to operating respect expect to key to are fourth down year. margin targeting prior in slightly we strategic and product SG&A, We will and in depreciation incremental amortization, gross flat With offset investments from and mix in both transportation
For medical key we chain compared customer of cycling in quarter, from incremental the payroll stores, the lesser to and and to in the to centers, strong compensation-related basis supply center in and XXX is reflects This we to over to enhancements. solution anticipate extent, to technology prior drive Depreciation investments year, We're costs fourth consider favorable first, prior continue rates customer-service points. levels. our to also are: SG&A to a to wage XX% invest prior XX% approximately expense expect grow higher average our Factors XX distribution and, hours investment year. resulting strategic expected year. worker's deleverage
Additionally, are leverage. week, prior quarter the which year's expense cycling we XXrd year benefited last fourth
year. with initial our of for modeling keeping call, on outlook you practices, course your for conference into some me with our provide let past considerations We our next but will XXXX provide year-end in
quarter. finish York stores in servicing We of center late our construction the expect in QX New fourth to begin and distribution XXXX
could and are by $X.XX, per earnings most a impacting distribution We this forecasting pre-opening on SG&A center for that expenses our half operating by basis, of the the with to expenses incentive to earnings increase second impact Also, incremental related the we and $X.XX should compensation year-over-year raise share approximately results XXXX, to higher $X.XX year. targeted in of in SG&A achieve $X.XX. impact
to as well the from We stores expect both and some moderate regulations, at inflation distribution impact centers due state from both higher-wage as pressures competition.
from more freight in freight-intensive due Additionally, other in average transportation we and higher and to anticipate continued growth headwind our products, costs expense C.U.E. growth online business.
company have Over the position in invested long-term key for past several the two to years, we growth. initiatives
the We company, in long continue the remarks. solid impact invest while is deliver term That turn call over absorb have related goal growth. to and to to incremental now our questions. bottom-line our the while of us these financial enable investments for earnings execute managing investment spending growth. prepared we as concludes the managed to delivering in business to will we financial our model these Therefore, costs growth Operator,
