(Reuters) - Family Dollar Stores reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit, and forecast earnings that should top Wall Street estimates, as the discount retailer got a lift from extended hours, more profitable private label items and higher acceptance of food stamps.
Family Dollar reported net income of $112.2 million, or 81 cents a share, in the quarter ended February 27, up 33 percent from $84.1 million, or 60 cents per share, a year ago.
Analysts on average were expecting earnings of 81 cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Family Dollar forecast earnings of between 71 cents and 76 cents a share for the third quarter, above analyst expectations of 70 cents a share.
Shares of the company closed at $37.79 Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange.
(Reporting by Shradhha Sharma in Bangalore; Editing by Vinu Pilakkott)
