Rubbermaid earnings rise 15%
Consumer products maker Newell Rubbermaid is reporting a 15% increase in first-quarter profit on a modest increase in sales.
The results reported Thursday, when one-time items are excluded, were in line with Wall Street expectations.
The Atlanta-based maker of Sharpie pens, Rubbermaid trash cans and Graco car seats says it earned $56.9 million, or 20 cents a share, in the January-March quarter, compared to a profit of $49.3 million, or 18 cents a share, in the same period a year ago.
Excluding charges, the company earned $74 million, or 27 cents a share, in the quarter pay day loans. That met the forecast of analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial.
Revenue increased 3.6% to $1.43 billion from $1.38 billion recorded a year earlier.
Rubbermaid (NWL, Fortune 500) says it is raising its full-year sales outlook, but is adjusting its earnings per share outlook due to higher cost inflation.