Did you hear?… Gart Sports Co. stated that same store sales for October were 3 percent higher than a year ago

Gart Sports Co. (GRTS), a 182-store, Denver-Colo.-based retailer, stated in the 3Q report conference call that same store sales for October were 3 percent higher than a year ago. Overall, 3Q sales ending Nov. 3 — excluding Oshmans, which was acquired on June 7 — declined 5 percent, which company CEO Doug Morton attributed to the Sept. 11 attacks, a weak economic environment, and dismal scooter sales. Fiscal third-quarter sales rose 32 percent to $219.1 million, versus $166.1 million a year ago. Company CFO Thomas Hendrickson pointed out that the dramatic increase was due to the purchase of Oshman’s, since its results were included in this year’s third quarter but not part of last year’s third quarter report. In the conference call Wednesday, Morton confirmed his backing for 90 cents in earnings per share for the company’s fiscal fourth quarter, in line with Wall Street estimates. “We think,” he said, “we’re in great shape for the fourth quarter.”