(Filed Under Financial and General Interest News). Lifestyle retail company Urban Outfitters Inc. reported that net sales during the fourth quarter ended January 31 rose by 14 percent over last year’s fourth quarter, to $668 billion. The company called these figures record breaking.

Comparable retail segment sales, including direct-to-consumer, rose 4 percent, while comparable store sales decreased by 2 percent. Comparable retail segment sales for Anthropologie, Free People and Urban Outfitters increased 1 percent, 28 percent and 5 percent, respectively. Wholesale segment sales jumped 31 percent, and direct-to-consumer comparable net sales were up 28 percent. Earnings were $75 million, or 45 cents per diluted share.

During the year ended January 31, earnings totaled $273 million and $1.60 per diluted share. Urban Outfitters Inc. opened 46 new stores throughout last year, consisting of 21 Urban Outfitters, 16 Anthropologies and nine Free Peoples.

As of January 31, the company operated 176 Urban Outfitter stores, 153 Anthropologie stores and 42 Free People stores in the United States, Canada and Europe. The company also operates Free People wholesale, which sells to approximately 1,400 specialty boutiques and select department stores.

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Published 03-08-2011 by Amanda Torres Price