Duckwall-ALCO posts 4Q loss

ABILENE, Kan. Duckwall-ALCO Stores reported a net loss of $715,000, or 19 cents per basic share, for the fourth quarter compared with net earnings of $1 million, or 27 cents per diluted share, in the fourteen week fourth quarter of the prior fiscal year.

Adjusted same-store sales decreased 3.3%, excluding the company's two fuel centers, improving from the 6.3% decrease in the third quarter.

Net loss for fiscal 2009 was $5 million, or $1.30 per basic share, compared with net loss of $224,000, or 5 cents per basic share, for the prior fiscal year.

Net sales from continuing operations, excluding the company's two fuel centers, year-to-date increased 3.9% to $478.4 million, adjusted for the fifty-third week in the prior year. Adjusted same-store sales decreased 5.1%, excluding the company's two fuel centers.