On Dec. 12, consumer-electronics behemoth and Stock Advisor selection Best Buy (NYSE:BBY) released its third-quarter earnings for the period ended Nov. 25.

  • Sales were up 15.5% for the quarter, with same-store sales rising 4.8%. That's the good news.

  • Margins were down across the board, causing the company to miss its expectations. That's the bad news.

  • In our new community-intelligence service, Motley Fool CAPS, 570 out of 621 investors think Best Buy will outperform the S&P 500. What do you think? Sign up today, and let your voice be heard.

(Figures in millions, except per-share data)

Income Statement Highlights

Q3 2007

Q3 2006

Change

Sales

$8,473.0

$7,335.0

15.5%

Net Profit

$150.0

$138.0

8.7%

EPS

$0.31

$0.28

10.7%

Diluted Shares

495.8

507.2

(2.2%)



Get back to basics with a look at the income statement.

Margin Checkup

Q3 2007

Q3 2006

Change*

Gross Margin

23.5%

24.4%

(0.9)

Operating Margin

2.3%

2.6%

(0.3)

Net Margin

1.8%

1.9%

(0.1)

*Expressed in percentage points.

Margins are the earnings engine. See how they work.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Assets

Q3 2007

Q3 2006

Change

Cash + ST Invest.

$2,715.0

$3,097.0

(12.3%)

Accounts Rec.

$1,112.0

$883.0

25.9%

Inventory

$6,084.0

$5,314.0

14.5%


Liabilities

Q3 2007

Q3 2006

Change

Accounts Payable

$6,332.0

$5,325.0

18.9%

Long-Term Debt*

$650.0

$571.0

13.8%

*Includes current portion of long-term debt.

Learn the ways of the balance sheet.

Cash Flow Highlights
A press release without a cash flow statement is like a stereo without speakers.

Find out why Fools always follow the money.

Related Companies:

  • Circuit City (NYSE:CC)
  • Tweeter Home Entertainment (NASDAQ:TWTR)
  • Conn 's (NASDAQ:CONN)

Related Foolishness:

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At the time of publication, David Meier did not own shares in any of the companies mentioned. Fool rules for disclosure are here.