=The Children's Place (PLCE) reported earnings on Thur 17 May 18 (b/o)

The Children's Place misses by $0.34, misses on revs; guides Q2 EPS above consensus; reaffirms FY19 EPS, revs, and comp guidance; Q1 comps -1.8% 

• Reports Q1 (Apr) earnings of $1.87 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.34 worse than the Capital IQ Consensus of $2.21; revenues fell 0.1% year/year to $436.3 mln vs the $443.78 mln Capital IQ Consensus. Comparable retail sales decreased (1.8%) in the first quarter of 2018.
• Co issues upside guidance for Q2, sees EPS of $0.51-0.61 vs. $0.18 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate.  Q2 guidance was based upon a high single digit comparable retail sales increase.
• Co reaffirms guidance for FY19, sees EPS of $7.95-8.20, excluding non-recurring items, vs. $8.16 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate; sees FY19 revs of $1.92-1.935 bln vs. $1.92 bln Capital IQ Consensus Estimate.  This guidance assumes a comparable retail sales increase of approximately 3.5% to 4.5%. The Company now expects adjusted operating margin to be in the range of 8.5% to 8.7%.