Ethan Allen Profits Slip

Danbury, Conn., Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. reported net income of $23.3 million for the quarter ended Dec. 31, down 4.5% from $24.4 million in the same quarter last year. Comparable Ethan Allen store-delivered sales increased 1.8% over the prior-year quarter. During that same period, retail division written sales increased 8.2% while comparable-store written sales increased 5.7%.

Sales were boosted during the quarter by increased distribution of its direct-mail magazine to 11 million magazines, up 33%. Net delivered sales for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2004 increased 1.7% to $245.3 million from $241.2 million in the prior-year quarter.