Domino's Pizza 4Q results beat analysts' estimates

ANN ARBOR (AP) -- Domino's Pizza Inc. said Tuesday that its fiscal fourth-quarter net income increased 19 percent, led by continued strength abroad. Its latest results topped Wall Street estimates, and its shares edged higher in premarket trading. For the period ended Dec. 29, the pizza chain earned $44.7 million, or 78 cents per share. That's up from $37.6 million, or 64 cents per share, a year ago. Analysts predicted earnings of 76 cents per share, according to a FactSet survey. Revenue climbed 5 percent to $566.5 million from $539.7 million. Wall Street expected $564.1 million in revenue. Sales at locations in the U.S. open at least a year rose 3.7 percent. Internationally, the figure increased 7 percent. This metric is a key indicator of a restaurant operator's health. It excludes results from locations recently opened or closed. Full-year net income increased to $143 million, or $2.48 per share, from $112.4 million, or $1.91 per share, in the previous year. Annual revenue rose 7 percent to $1.8 billion from $1.68 billion. Sales at restaurants in the U.S. open at least a year climbed 5.4 percent. The metric rose 6.2 percent overseas. Domino's said that it opened a record 573 new stores internationally in 2013. It opened 58 new stores in the U.S. Published: Thu, Feb 27, 2014