Wednesday, December 23, 2009

The Finish Line Inc. post a profit

The Finish Line Inc. post a profit during its third quarter, ended Nov. 28.

Earnings during the period were $6.5 million, or 12 cents a diluted share, compared with a loss of $6.5 million, or 12 cents, during the same year-ago quarter. The most recent results include a $6.5 million one-time tax benefit.

Analysts polled on Yahoo Finance had predicted a loss of 9 cents a share for the quarter.

Sales during the quarter remained flat, at $240.1 million, compared with $240.6 million a year ago. Comparable-store sales increased 1.7 percent from last year, when the Indianapolis-based retail company posted a 3.3 percent decline.

For the first three weeks of December, net sales rose 4.9 percent, versus a 22.1 percent drop during the same period a year ago.