Metro's Q4 profit increases 10%, as same-store sales rise

MONTREAL -- Grocery store chain Metro Inc. (MRU.TO) reported a 10 per cent increase in its fourth-quarter profit compared with a year ago.

The Montreal-based company says it earned $145.0 million or 60 cents per diluted share for the 12 weeks ended Sept. 24.

That's compared with a profit of $131.7 million or 52 cents per diluted share a year ago.

Sales in the quarter totalled nearly $2.93 billion, up from $2.83 billion in the same quarter last year. Same-store sales grew 2.8 per cent.

For its full financial year, Metro said it earned $586.2 million or $2.39 per diluted share on $12.79 billion in sales.

That's compared with a profit of $519.3 million or $2.01 per diluted share on $12.22 billion in sales in the previous year.