Jos A Bank says holiday-qtr off to slow start

JoS A Bank Clothiers Inc's quarterly results beat market estimates but the men's apparel and accessories retailer warned of a slow start to its holiday quarter, with comparable sales slipping in November.

Hampstead, Maryland-based JoS A Bank, which sells products ranging from men's tailored suits to shoes and belts in 552 stores in the United States, said it has tweaked its December merchandising and marketing plans to attract shoppers.

Third-quarter net income was $15 million, or 54 cents a share, compared with $12.6 million, or 45 cents a share, last year.

Sales jumped 21 percent to $209.6 million, while same-store sales rose 14.6 percent.

Analysts, on average, had expected earnings of 51 cents a share, on revenue of $196 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

JoS A Bank shares closed at $51.17 on Tuesday on Nasdaq.

(Reporting by Ranjita Ganesan; Editing by Viraj Nair)