Family Dollar Stores Reports Q4 Results (FDO)

Family Dollar Stores Inc. (NYSE: FDO), an operator of a chain of general merchandise retail discount stores in 44 states, today released its fourth-quarter and fiscal 2011 financial results. The company reported record sales and earnings for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2011.

For the fourth quarter ended August 27, 2011, the company reported net sales of $2.134 billion, compared with $1.957 billion reported for the same period in the previous year. The company’s net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 climbed 17.9% to $0.66 per share.

Family Dollar’s comparable store sales in the fourth quarter increased 5.6%. The increase was driven by higher customer traffic and higher average customer transaction values. The company’s gross margin for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 was 34%, down from 34.7% reported for the same period in the previous year. Its operating profit for the fourth quarter was $131.8 million, compared with $114.5 million reported for the same period in the previous year.

For fiscal 2011, the company’s comparable store sales increased 5.5%. Its gross margin for the full fiscal year was 35.5%, compared with 35.7% reported in fiscal 2010. The company’s operating profit for the full fiscal year was $638.1 million, compared with $575.6 million reported for the same period in the previous year.

Family Dollar Stores also provided guidance for fiscal 2012.  The company expects net sales to increase between 8% and 10% in fiscal 2012. Comparable store sales are expected to increase between 4% and 6%. The company expects to open between 450 and 500 new stores in fiscal 2012.

Howard Levine, Chairman and CEO of Family Dollar Stores, said that in fiscal 2012, the company plans to accelerate investments to drive sales and profitability. Levine said that he remains confident that the company’s planned investments in fiscal 2012 combined with the strategy of proving customers with great value and convenience, will continue to deliver strong shareholder returns in fiscal 2012 and beyond.

Post Written By: Ed Liston Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications. He is widely quoted in various financial publications on the Internet. When Ed is not writing about stocks, investing in stocks, talking about stocks, or otherwise doing something stock related, he likes to go sailing and fishing in his yacht.