Shoe Carnival Retraces Its Steps

The festive atmosphere is on hold for now at Shoe Carnival (Nasdaq: SCVL).

Investors have stomped the share price down nearly 60% in the past year, and fourth-quarter results were no consolation.

Fourth-quarter sales continued a gloomy slide, slipping 1%, adjusted for the extra week in 2006. Comparable-store sales were down 5.7%.

The only cheer in sight was that the company managed to record EPS that was a little better than expected -- $0.09 versus consensus expectations of $0.07. Small consolation in my book, compared to the $0.37 per share they earned last year. But investors seemed to take heart from it, giving the stock a healthy boost in early trading.

I have to give management credit for keeping inventories in line, up 2.1% on 7% more stores. This inventory discipline allowed management to post merchandise margins equal to last year's on a rate basis. But expense deleverage on the bleak sales drove operating income 80% down from the previous year's levels.

No one in the value-shoe category is on much of a spree these days. Collective Brands (NYSE: PSS) and Foot Locker (NYSE: FL) are feeling the pain as well, reporting Q4 comps that slid even lower. It seems that companies from Brown Shoe (NYSE: BWS) to DSW (NYSE: DSW) are down more than 50% in the last year.

A situation like this might lead Foolish investors to think the stocks are in the bargain bin, and from a price perspective they look it. But remember, earnings in this sector are about half what they were last year, and sales continue a forlorn trend.

I've considered DSW the prime player in the value-shoe segment. Trading similar to Shoe Carnival at 11 times training earnings, I'd say DSW fits a bit more comfortably with its strong management team and significant potential for growth.

For related Foolishness:

• Shoe Carnival Stubs Its Toe
• Foot Locker May Get Run Over
• DSW Has Its Act Together