Buckle Inc (NYSE: BKE) stock fell over 8.7% in the pre-market session on November 27th, 2018 (Source: Google finance) after the company reported disappointing third quarter of FY 18. The net sales for the 13-week fiscal quarter ended November3, 2018 decreased 4.1 percent to $215.1 million from net sales of $224.3 million for the prior year 13-week fiscal quarter ended October28, 2017. Comparable store net sales for the 13-week period ended November3, 2018 decreased 1.4 percent from comparable store net sales for the prior year 13-week period ended November 4, 2017. Online sales increased 8.8 percent to $25.5 million for the 13-week period ended November3, 2018, compared to net sales of $23.4 million for the 13-week period ended October28, 2017.
Online sales for the period increased 8.8% to $25.5 million for the 13-week fiscal period compare to net sales of $23.4 million for the prior year 13-week fiscal period. Year-to-date net sales decreased 1.8% to $621.1 million for the 39-week fiscal period ended November 3, 2018 compared to net sales of $632.2 million for the prior year 39-week fiscal period, which ended October 28, 2017.
Comparable store sales for the year-to-date period were down 1.1% in comparison to same 39-week period in the prior year and online sales increase 7.1% to $69.8 million, which compares to net sales of $64.7 million for the prior year 39-week fiscal period.
Gross margin for the quarter was 40%, down 50 basis points from 40.5% in the prior year third quarter. The year-over-year decrease was result of a 95 basis point of deleverage occupancy, buying and distribution costs, partially offset by 45 basis point improvement in merchandise margin. For the quarter, UPTs increased approximately 0.5%, the average unit retail decreased approximately 2% and the average transaction value decreased about 1.5%. operating margin for the quarter was 12.2% compared to 13.8% for the third quarter of fiscal 2017. . Other income for the quarter was $1.3 million compared to $0.8 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2017. And other income for the year-to-date period was $3.8 million compared to $2.6 million in the prior year.
At quarter-end, inventory and comparable store bases was up approximately 9% and total markdown inventory was up compared to the same period last year. The company ended the quarter with $136.5 million fixed assets net of accumulated depreciation. The capital expenditures for the quarter were $1.8 million and depreciation expense was $6.4 million.