Publix profit up 26.3% in Q3

Lakeland, Fla. Publix reported that sales for its third quarter were $5.83 billion, a 0.6% increase from last year’s $5.8 billion. Same-store sales for the third quarter of 2009 decreased 4.7%.

Net earnings for third quarter 2009 were $254.9 million, compared to $201.8 million in 2008, an increase of 26.3%.

Publix’s sales for the first nine months of 2009 were $18.2 billion, a 1.8% increase from last year’s $17.9 billion. Same-store sales for the first nine months of 2009 decreased 3.4%.

Net earnings for the first nine months of 2009 were $877.3 million, compared with $840.7 million in 2008, an increase of 4.3%.