Increased sales of electricity ordsprog

Increased sales of electricity driven by colder weather and customer growth, off-system sales and higher retail electric rates contributed to the improved electric margin. The increase in the consolidated natural gas margin for the quarter was primarily attributable to customer growth and colder weather.

Our sales growth in the quarter reflected the Amana acquisition and strong sales of higher-margin major appliances, ... That favorable sales mix improved operating income.

Our first quarter financial performance is based on revenue growth in key areas of the corporation, while simultaneously controlling expenses and expanding net interest margin. Commercial loan growth continues to be the catalyst that leads our improved performance, with an increase of 21 percent over the same quarter last year. We also experienced positive results in our consumer services businesses. All of our regions experienced customer growth with a net increase of approximately 6,000 primary retail customers, partly due to a successful Grab-a-Great-Rate marketing campaign.

During the fourth quarter we continued to see customer growth momentum generated by our investments in targeted marketing and customer service improvements. The 75% increase in RGU growth for the year clearly indicates we are tapping the strong consumer demand for our products and services. Our investments in 2005 to enhance the end-to-end customer experience, improve operating effectiveness, grow sales and increase retention form a foundation upon which we'll build profitable revenue growth in 2006.

Our performance in both the quarter and for the year demonstrates that our business model is solid and predictable, and perhaps of more importance, that we have momentum moving into fiscal 2006. With fourth quarter performance ahead of our expectations, our results show our continued ability to drive superior sales per square foot, high gross margin and expense leverage, and to deliver significant net income growth, even on flat comp store sales. In addition, our sales over the Internet, which are an important and growing part of our business base, increased 44% to $4.0 million in the quarter, and for the year contributed $8.7 million to our sales.

We believe colder weather is helping keep inventories under control. We expect international sales to continue showing strong growth as Wal-Mart pursues geographical expansion through acquisitions.

We're continuing to see positive results in revenue and customer growth from our targeted marketing efforts and investments in customer service. Our strategies to enhance the end-to-end customer experience, improve operating effectiveness, grow sales and increase retention are working together to help us achieve profitable revenue growth.

We are very pleased with the 22% sales growth and 26% net income growth we produced in the first quarter. Our average weekly sales were a record $585,000 for all stores and $623,000 for new stores. Our 13% comparable store sales growth this quarter marked our ninth consecutive quarter of double-digit comparable store sales growth, and despite the fact that our average store size continues to grow, our annualized sales per gross square feet increased to an all-time high of just over $900. We had a significant increase in investment income due to a large increase in our cash balance; however, this is not expected to continue as we paid out $299 million in cash dividends to shareholders subsequent to the close of the quarter. Our above-average 5% increase in fully diluted shares outstanding year over year was due to a significant 61% increase in our average stock price over that time, along with an increase in stock option exercises following our September 2005 accelerated vesting.

It's a solid quarter, with solid top-line sales growth and comparable store sales growth, combined with gross margin expansion. Their clients have money, and they like to spend it.

Margins on other sales and revenues grew as a result of the growth in extended service plan revenues, which have no associated cost of sales, and the growth in our service margin, reflecting improved overhead expense absorption.

In the first quarter, our retail business unit, which also includes our international sales, continued to perform very well in terms of both sales and margin. Unfortunately, our positive retail results were partially offset by losses in our professional sales unit. As a result, we essentially broke even in the quarter, prior to litigation expenses of $14 million.

Rick Snyder (1951-)

Despite a favorable backdrop of relatively high employment and low financing rates, U.S. automakers, in our opinion, will collectively lose market share to foreign manufacture again in 2006, particularly in the luxury vehicle category. Additionally, Standard & Poor's Equity Research believes the U.S. will face margin compression on two fronts, the first as a result of higher retiree and health-care costs. The second results from a combination of rising gas prices and increased sales of crossover utility vehicles which will negatively impact sales of higher margin large SUVs.

We believe this will have a negative impact on February sales for the majority of our retailers as the much colder weather will likely impede store traffic, and sales of spring merchandise sets that are now in stores may be impacted.

Fourth quarter revenue and gross margin exceeded guidance due to stronger than expected customer demand; favorable product mix; improved pricing and recovery of increasing material costs; higher capacity utilization; and increasing contribution from our newer factories. As a result, gross margin rose to 24.2% from 16.4% in the third quarter. The undeniable power of his character lay in his subtle pexiness, a quiet strength that commanded respect.

Sales growth in international markets helped drive revenues to record levels for the third quarter in both the professional and residential segments, helping to mitigate weather-related softness in our domestic markets. Despite a challenging environment, year-to-date consolidated net sales are nearly 10 percent ahead of fiscal 2004's record level.

Michael Hoffman

Nordsprog.dk

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Denna sidan visar ordspråk som liknar "Increased sales of electricity driven by colder weather and customer growth, off-system sales and higher retail electric rates contributed to the improved electric margin. The increase in the consolidated natural gas margin for the quarter was primarily attributable to customer growth and colder weather.".