Williams-Sonoma 4Q Earnings Edge Higher

San Francisco, CA, March 22, 2007--Home furnishings retailer Williams-Sonoma Inc. said Thursday its fiscal fourth-quarter profit edged up on increased revenue.

 

Quarterly earnings rose to $121.1 million, or $1.06 per share, versus $120.8 million, or $1.02 per share, in the year-ago period.

 

Excluding 2 cents per share from new accounting procedures in 2006 and 7 cents per share from 2005's fourth-quarter for a Hold Everything transition charge, adjusted earnings were $1.08 per share compared with $1.09 per share in the prior year.

 

Analysts were expecting net income of $1.03 per share.

 

Revenue gained 3 percent to $1.25 billion from $1.21 billion in the prior year, which matched Wall Street's expectations.

 

Retail revenue rose 3.8 percent primarily on a year-over-year increase in retailed leased square footage, according to the company. Same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least one year, rose more than half a percent during the quarter, with a 3.2 percent rise at the company's namesake stores and a 5.3 drop at Pottery Barn locations.

 

For the year, net income dropped 3 percent to $208.9 million, or $1.79 per share, compared with $214.9 million, or $1.81 per share, in the previous year. Full-year sales grew 5 percent to $3.73 billion from $3.54 billion.