By Melodie Warner Family Dollar Stores Inc.'s FDO +0.95% fiscal fourth-quarter earnings rose 1.4% as strong consumables sales helped to offset weaker apparel and accessories sales, though margins shrank. The discount retailer also forecast fiscal 2013 earnings of $4.10 to $4.40 a share with same-store sales increasing 4% to 6%. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect $4.22 a share for the year. Family Dollar expects current-quarter earnings of 69 cents to 78 cents a share on 4% to 6% same-store sales growth, while analysts were expecting per-share earnings of 77 cents. Family Dollar's results have benefited from more consumers seeking lower-priced household staples amid a slow U.S. economic recovery. The company has become more aggressive with plans to make itself a one-stop shop for its core low-income customers by adding stores and expanding private-label offerings. Family Dollar has also added tobacco products, Pepsi soda and higher-margin private brands. For the quarter ended Aug. 25, Family Dollar reported a profit of $80.9 million, or 69 cents a share, up from $79.8 million, or 66 cents, a year earlier. Excluding a six-cent litigation charge, earnings were 75 cents a share in the most-recent quarter. Its June projection was for per-share earnings of 71 cents to 81 cents. Sales jumped 11% to $2.36 billion, matching the consensus estimate from Thomson Reuters. Same-store sales rose 5.4%, compared with the company's June forecast of 5% to 7% growth. Sales of consumables increased 16% and seasonal and electronics sales were up 4.8%. Meanwhile, home products sales fell 1.4% and apparel and accessories sales declined 6.7%. Gross margin shrank to 33.8% from 34%. Shares closed Tuesday at $66 and were inactive premarket. The stock has risen 14% so far this year. Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires

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