NEW YORK, United States

BARNES & Noble Inc’s fiscal second-quarter loss narrowed, but results missed expectations and the bookseller issued a weak outlook as it continued to invest in an effort to sell more electronic books.

The company said Thanksgiving weekend, including Black Friday, was a bright spot in the current quarter, with revenue in stores open at least a year up 17.2 per cent. But it forecast third-quarter and full-year results below expectations, and shares fell three per cent in pre-market trading.

The largest US traditional bookseller is hoping its growing e-book business will help offset tough competition from online retailers and discount chains.

Barnes & Noble said its loss narrowed to US$12.6 million, or 22 cents per share.

That compares with US$24 million, or 43 cents per share, last year. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected a smaller loss of eight cents per share.

Barnes & Noble had expected anywhere between a profit of five cents per share to a loss of 25 cents per share for the quarter.

Revenue jumped 64 per cent to nearly US$1.91 billion. Analysts expected US$1.98 billion. Revenue rose just one per cent excluding the company’s acquisition of its college book unit.

Revenue in stores open at least a year fell 3.3 per cent. The figure is considered key because it excludes results from stores that opened or closed during the year.

The bookseller said it continues to “invest heavily” in digital initiatives related to its recently introduced colour Nook electronic e-reader and its digital catalogue. It is creating interactive content for children’s books and developing applications for e-readers and smart phones beyond the Nook.

Barnes & Noble’s Nookcolor competes with Amazon’s Kindle and other readers.

By its own estimates, Barnes & Noble said it has 20 per cent of the eBook market since it launched its digital bookstore last year.

“We have plans to grow our share well beyond 20 per cent, and the early success of Nookcolor is encouraging,” said CEO William Lynch.

The company predicts revenue in stores open at least a year will rise between five per cent and seven per cent in the third quarter, and to be flat to up three per cent for the full year. But rather than traditional books, Barnes & Noble expects revenue increases to be largely driven by sales of Nook devices and accessories, and by increases in children’s products and other non-book items.

The company expects third-quarter net income between 90 cents to US$1.20 per share, below analyst predictions of US$1.29 per share.

It expects a loss of 75 cents to US$1.15 for the year, while analysts expect a loss of 40 cents per share.

The bookseller recently fought and won a proxy battle against activist investor billionaire Ron Burkle to install a poison pill plan limiting investors to a 20 per cent stake. That plan was ratified by shareholders two weeks ago.

Barnes & Noble put itself up for sale during the process. The company said it is meeting with “both strategic and financial institutions,” but said the review might not result in a sale or any other deal.