Bermuda-based Signet Jewelers Ltd., the world's largest specialty retail jeweller, expects to record income of between $222.5 million and $232.5 million before tax.

The jeweller, which last week announced its holiday sales and fiscal 2010 (for the year ended January 30, 2010) results expectations, predicts earnings per share to range from $1.76 to $1.84, while year end net debt is anticipated to be below $50 million.

Terry Burman, chief executive of Signet, said: "Reflecting a same store sales performance up 5.6 percent over the holiday season, income before income tax for fiscal 2010 is expected to be between $222.5 million and $232.5 million, with earnings per share anticipated to be between $1.76 and $1.84.

"For the year as whole we expect to have outperformed our financial targets set out in March 2009 and, in particular, to have very significantly exceeded our free cash flow objective.

"We believe our long-term strategy of focusing on sustainable competitive advantages in the basic retail disciplines has once again proven to be successful.

"In the forthcoming fiscal year, Signet will continue to seek to optimize sales by implementing additional differentiated product initiatives, improved customer service and best in class marketing that leverages our leading share of voice."