Abercrombie Profit Up 9%

New Albany, Ohio Abercrombie & Fitch Co. said Friday that its fourth-quarter earnings rose 9% on increased sales from its expanding Hollister Co. chain that cater to teens and its abercrombie stores for children.

The apparel retailer said it earned $216.8 million for the quarter ended Feb. 2, compared with a profit of $198.2 million a year ago. Fourth-quarter sales rose 8% to $1.23 billion, from $1.14 billion.

At the end of the quarter, Abercrombie operated 447 Hollister Co. stores compared with 390 stores the year before, and 201 abercrombie stores compared with 177 stores the year before.

For the year, Abercrombie earned $475.7 million compared with $422.2 million the previous year. Sales rose 13% to $3.75 billion for the year, up from $3.32 billion a year ago. There was an extra week in the year-ago period. Same-store sales fell 1% for the year.