Whole Foods Posts Lower Profits but Still Tops Estimates

Whole Foods Market Inc. said profit declined in its latest quarter as the natural-and-organic grocer continues to try to reinvigorate sales and manage costs.

Results, though, topped analysts' expectations, sending shares 3.9% higher in after hours trading. Through Wednesday's close, the stock fell 46% over the past 12 months.

Whole Foods has been working for more than two years to cut prices and repair its reputation for lofty prices, launching a loyalty program in late 2014 and working to develop a sister chain of lower-priced grocery stores aimed at attracting younger shoppers. Sales at Whole Foods have been under pressure as traditional grocers like Kroger Inc. have stepped up offerings of natural-and-organic foods, often at lower prices.

In the latest quarter, sales at existing stores, adjusted for currency volatility, fell 1.8%. The decline, while not as steep as some analysts expected, followed a 0.2% decrease in the third quarter and marks the first back-to-back decline since 2009.

Meanwhile, the company's gross margin deteriorated further in the fourth quarter, sliding to 34% from 34.8% a year earlier. That is as Whole Foods managed to keep overhead costs, as a percentage of revenue, flat.

Over all, the company reported a profit of $157 million, down from $167 million a year earlier. On a per-share basis, earnings were flat at 46 cents a share, thanks to a lower share count.

Revenue increased 3.4% to $4.83 billion. Analysts projected 40 cents a share in adjusted earnings on $4.81 billion in revenue, according to Thomson Reuters.

Write to Lisa Beilfuss at lisa.beilfuss@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 10, 2016 17:15 ET (22:15 GMT)

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