Zumiez Inc. reported sales results for the five-week ended December 30, 2017. The company's comparable sales increased 7.9% for the five-week period compared to a comparable sales increased 3.4% for the five-week period ended December 31, 2016. Total net sales for the five-week period ended December 30, 2017, increased 11.4% to $160 million compared to $143.6 million for the five-week period ended December 31, 2016. The increase in comparable sales for the five weeks ended December 30, 2017, was driven primarily by an increase in comparable transactions, partially offset by a decrease in dollars per transaction. Dollars per transaction were down for the 5-week period due to the decrease in units per transaction, partially offset by the increase in average unit retail. Fourth quarter to date 2017 comparable sales increased 7.9%. Year-to-date comparable sales are up 5.8%.

Due primarily to stronger-than-expected quarter-to-date sales and product margin, the company is increasing guidance, and now expects fiscal 2017 fourth quarter comparable sales growth of approximately 7% and earnings per share between $0.88 and $0.90. This compares to the previous guidance for comparable sales growth between 3% and 5%, and earnings per share between $0.78 and $0.84, and excludes any potential impact of recently passed tax reform.