On March 9, Big Lots (NYSE:BIG) released fourth-quarter earnings for the period ended Feb. 3.

  • Sales rose 10.8%, fuelled by a comparable store sales increase of 4.9%.
  • Operating improvements, especially in merchandising and inventory management, helped the company extract more value from its sales, as margins increased across the board.
  • Management anticipates EPS for fiscal 2007 to grow in the range of 17%-22%.

(Figures in millions, except per-share data.)

Income Statement Highlights

Q4 2006

Q4 2005

Change

Sales

$1,545.4

$1,394.9

10.8%

Net Profit*

$91.6

$37.7

143.3%

EPS*

$0.83

$0.33

151.5%

Diluted Shares

111.0

114.0

(2.7%)

*From continuing operations

Get back to basics with the income statement.

Margin Checkup

Q4 2006

Q4 2005

Change*

Gross Margin

40.5%

37.1%

3.4

Operating Margin

8.9%

4.5%

4.4

Net Margin**

5.9%

2.7%

3.2

*Expressed in percentage points
**Continuing operations

Margins are the earnings engine.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Assets

Q4 2006

Q4 2005

Change

Cash + ST Invest.

$281.7

$1.7

Big %

Inventory

$758.2

$836.1

(9.3%)



Liabilities

Q4 2006

Q4 2005

Change

Accounts Payable

$194.0

$170.0

14.1%

Long-Term Debt*

$0.0

$5.5

(100.0%)

*Long-term obligations taken as long-term debt.

The balance sheet reflects the company's health.

Cash Flow Highlights

The company did not include a statement of cash flows in its release. We'll have to wait for the 10-K.

Free cash flow is a Fool's best friend.

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