MW: Dollar Tree profit up; forecasts may fall short
By Andria Cheng
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Discounter Dollar Tree Inc. DLTR -2.64% said Wednesday that its fourth-quarter profit rose to $187.9 million, or $1.60 a share, from $162.5 million, or $1.29 a share, a year earlier. Shares outstanding fell to 117.6 million from 125.8 million. Sales in the quarter ended Jan. 28 rose 13% to $1.95 billion. The company forecast profit of 91 cents to 97 cents a share in the first quarter and profit of $4.65 to $4.90 a share for the year. Analysts surveyed by FactSet estimated the dollar-store chain to earn $1.58 a share in the fourth quarter, 97 cents a share in the first quarter and $4.79 a share for the year. Dollar Tree shares fell 1.4% in premarket trading.
