Dollar Tree 4Q Same-Store Sales Edge Up

Chesapeake, Va., Dollar Tree Stores Inc. said total sales in the fourth quarter rose 10.6% to $987.5 million, missing analysts’ estimates for sales of $995.4 million. The company said business accelerated in December but fell in January due to severe winter weather. Same-store sales for the period rose 0.5%.

Dollar Tree said that based on fourth-quarter sales volume, it expects to report earnings of 78? to 79? a share, up from 70? posted a year ago.

For fiscal 2004, sales rose 11.6% to $3.13 billion, which was in line with analysts’ estimates. Same-store sales increased 0.5%.