Smart & Final Tops Estimates, FY Earnings Guidance Strong; Stock Up 10%

(RTTNews) - Smart & Final Stores Inc (SFS), a value-oriented food retailer, on Wednesday reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $9.3 million or $0.12 per share compared with a loss of $7 million or $0.12 per share last year.

Excluding items, adjusted earnings for the quarter were $0.16 per share compared with earnings of $0.14 per share a year ago.

Revenues for the quarter were up 13% at $839.3 million compared with $742.8 million in the prior year.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters estimated earnings of $0.11 per share on revenues of $820.5 million for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Comparable store sales for the quarter increased 7.8%, the company said.

For the full year 2015, the company expects adjusted earnings of $0.67 to $0.70 per share, sales growth of 11% to 12% and comparable store sales growth of 3.5% to 4.5%.

Analysts expect earnings of $0.63 per share on sales growth of 12.2%.