Books-A-Million reports slight drop in 4Q income

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. Books-A-Million reported that net sales for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31, decreased 2.5% to $164 million from net sales of $168.3 million in the year-earlier period. Comparable-store sales for the fourth quarter decreased 5.3% when compared with the prior-year fourth quarter.

Net income for the fourth quarter decreased to $11.4 million, or 74 cents per diluted share, compared with net income of $11.9 million, or 76 cents per diluted share, in the year-earlier period.

For the 52-week fiscal period ended Jan. 31, net sales decreased 4.1% to $513.3 million from net sales of $535.1 million in the prior fiscal year. Comparable-store sales decreased 7.2% when compared with the same period in the prior year.

For the fiscal year , the company reported net income of $10.8 million, or 69 cents per diluted share, compared with net income of $16.5 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, for the prior fiscal year.