ascena retail group, inc. reported unaudited consolidated earnings results for the fourth quarter and full year ended July 29, 2017. For the quarter, the company reported net sales of $1,658.1 million against $1,812.3 million a year ago. Operating loss was $8.5 million against operating profit of $65.2 million a year ago. The decrease reflects the lower operating results discussed above and costs associated with the Company's Change for Growth transformation program, along with the 53rd week included in the year-ago period, which represented approximately $27 million. Loss before provision for income taxes was $32.9 million against profit before benefit for income taxes of $37.3 million a year ago. Net loss was $15.8 million against profit of $13.8 million a year ago. Basic and diluted net loss per common share was $0.08 against EPS of $0.07 a year ago. The decrease was primarily driven by the comparable sales decline of 4%, costs associated with the Company's Change for Growth transformation program, and the 53rd week in the year-ago period related to reporting calendar. Non-GAAP net sales were $1,658.8 million against $1,731.0 million a year ago. Non-GAAP net income was $43.8 million against $61.2 million a year ago. Non-GAAP net income was $10.3 million or $0.05 per diluted net income common share against $15.7 million or $0.08 per diluted net income common share a year ago. Adjusted EBITDA was $134.3 million against $149.2 million a year ago.

For the year, the company reported net sales of $6,649.8 million against $6,995.4 million a year ago. Operating loss was $1,313.8 million against operating profit of $93.8 million a year ago. Loss before provision for income taxes was $1,414.2 million against $8.3 million a year ago. Net loss was $1,067.3 million against $11.9 million a year ago. Basic and diluted net loss per common share was $5.48 against $0.06 a year ago. Non-GAAP net sales were $6,652.5 million against $7,038.2 million a year ago. Non-GAAP net income was $175.8 million against $310.8 million a year ago. Non-GAAP net income was $42.2 million or $0.22 per diluted net income common share against $118.5 million or $0.60 per diluted net income common share a year ago. Adjusted EBITDA was $528.6 million against $644.6 million a year ago.

For the first quarter fiscal year 2018, the company expects non-GAAP earnings per share are estimated in the range of $0.08 to $0.13. Net sales in the range of $1.58 billion to $1.62 billion; Comparable sales in the range of down 4% to down 5%; Gross margin rate in the range of 60.8% to 61.3%; Depreciation and amortization expense of approximately $90 million; Operating income in the range of $55 million to $70 million; Interest expense of approximately $24 million; Effective tax rate of approximately 50%.

For the fiscal year 2018, gross margin rate in the range of 58.1% to 58.6%, including approximately $30 million of gross margin dollar improvement related to ANN deal synergies and cost savings; Depreciation and amortization in the range of $358 million to $363 million; Interest expense in the range of $100 million to $105 million; Capital expenditures in the range of $190 million to $220 million, with roughly two-thirds of planned spending on technology investments. Effective tax rate of approximately 50%.