Fresh Market Q4 Profit Plunges - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - The Fresh Market, Inc. (TFM) Thursday reported fourth-quarter profit of $2.0 million or $0.04 per share, down from $20.6 million or $0.43 per share in the same period last year.

Adjusted earnings for the quarter were $18.8 million or $0.39 per share. On average, 20 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to earn $0.42 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Sales increased 15.1 percent to $425.8 million from $369.86 million last year. Analysts expected sales of $428.63 million.

Looking ahead to the first quarter, the company has forecast earnings in the range of $0.41 to $0.44 per share. Analysts currently expect first-quarter earnings of $0.50 per share.

For fiscal 2014, the company expects earnings in the order of $1.30 to $1.43 per share and adjusted earnings in the range of $1.56 to $1.66 per share. Analysts currently expect full-year earnings of $1.43 per share.