Scotts Miracle-Gro Q4 Loss Narrows - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. (SMG), a marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products, Wednesday said fourth-quarter net loss narrowed to $15.5 million or $0.24 per share from $19.4 million or $0.31 per share last year.

Adjusted loss per share from continuing operations was $0.18, compared to $0.19 last year. On average, 11 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected a loss of $0.23 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

The firm attributed the improvement in adjusted earnings to strong second half of the lawn and garden season, with continued momentum driving a 5 percent improvement in the fourth quarter.

Company-wide net sales increased 5 percent to $454.3 million from $433.6 million for the same quarter a year ago. Analysts expected revenues of $438.24 million.

The firm expects company-wide net sales to increase 4 to 5 percent in fiscal 2015 on increased U.S. unit volume, the recent acquisitions of Action Pest Control, Solus and Fafard, and the consolidation of AeroGrow, as well as the continued organic growth of its LawnService business.

Total company sales growth is expected to result in adjusted earnings from continuing operations of $3.40 to $3.60 per share in fiscal 2015. Wall Street looks for earnings of $3.54 per share.