Article: Big Lots on upswing.(Spotlight)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Overcoming pressures on gross margins, income from continuing operations grew at a double-digit pace for Big Lots Inc. in both the final quarter and the full span of fiscal 2003, helped by solid sales, lower interest costs and favorable onetime items. A loss from discontinued operations held the nation's largest closeout retailer to a 6% gain in net earnings for the year.

Income from continuing operations for the 13 weeks ended January 31 soared 41.7% to $93.8 million. Results include net gains of $621,000 from the company's recent settlement of wage and hour litigation in California and $10.6 million (net of tax benefit) for the charge-off of a ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!