Big Lots (BIG) reported earnings Fri 4 March 2016 (b/o)

** charts after earnings **

  

Big Lots beats by $0.02, misses on revs; guides Q1 EPS in-line; guides FY17 EPS in-line; announces $250 mln repurchase program, boosts dividend :

Reports Q4 (Jan) earnings of $2.00 per share, $0.02 better than the Capital IQ Consensus of $1.98; revenues fell 0.6% year/year to $1.58 bln vs the $1.6 bln Capital IQ Consensus. Comparable store sales for stores open at least fifteen months increased 0.7% for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, compared to guidance of an increase of 1% to 2%.

• Co issues in-line guidance for Q1, sees EPS of $0.66-0.72 vs. $0.71 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate. This guidance assumes a comparable store sales increase in the low single digit range
• Co issues in-line guidance for FY17, sees EPS of $3.20-3.35 vs. $3.29 Capital IQ Consensus Estimate; expects comparable store sales to increase in the low single digit range
• On March 1, 2016, the Board approved a share repurchase program providing for the repurchase of up to $250 million of its common shares; the co also increased its quarterly dividend 11%