Domino's Pizza 3Q profit up; U.S. and abroad strong

ANN ARBOR (AP) -- Domino's Pizza Inc.'s fiscal third-quarter net income climbed 18 percent, bolstered by strong sales in the U.S and abroad. The company said Tuesday that sales at U.S. restaurants open at least a year rose 5.4 percent. The figure increased 5 percent overseas -- the 79th straight quarter of international growth in the metric. Sales at restaurants open at least a year is a gauge of a restaurant operator's health because it excludes results from locations recently opened or closed, thereby measuring growth at ongoing locations. The chain earned $30.6 million, or 53 cents per share, for the period ended Sept. 8. That compares with $26 million, or 44 cents per share, last year. Removing a tax benefit, earnings were 51 cents per share. Revenue increased 7 percent to $404.1 million from $378.1 million. Analysts, on average, expected earnings of 52 cents per share on revenue of $402.4 million, according to FactSet. Domino's stock slid $1.48, or 2 percent, to $67.37 in premarket trading. Shares closed at $68.85 on Monday, up 58 percent since the start of the year. Over the past year, the shares have traded in a range of $38.98 to $69.92. Published: Wed, Oct 16, 2013