Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of specialty retailer Cost Plus (Nasdaq: CPWM) were heavily discounted today, falling as much as 12% in intraday trading after the company reported fourth-quarter results.

So what: Cost Plus' fourth quarter and 2010 fiscal year actually weren't that bad. The company has been busy trying to turn around its business, and it appears efforts are paying off. Fourth-quarter sales were up 7% from last year on the back of 7.7% growth in same-store sales. The company's gross margin expanded, and the percentage spending on selling, general, and administrative costs fell. Earnings per share for the quarter came in at $1.23, a penny shy of analysts' estimates but up nearly 30% from 2009.

Now what: It would appear that it was the company's guidance that has investors breathlessly selling shares today. While management's projections for the next quarter look favorable when compared with analysts' estimates, expected growth for the entire year is lower than hoped for. For all of 2011, the company is looking for revenue between $946 million and $956 million and earnings per share of $0.45 to $0.55. Wall Street was expecting $956 million in revenue and $0.79 in per-share profit.

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