Financial News

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets on Monday reported an increase in 2011 sales of 5% to $2.8 billion.

Weis said its comparable sales for the calendar year also were up, increasing 4.2% for 2011, compared with the year-ago period.

NEW YORK — The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index continued on a downward trend in January, and consumer spending will face additional economic headwinds in 2012, according to Deloitte. The index tracks consumer cash flow as an indicator of future consumer spending.

TORONTO — Shoppers Drug Mart announced on Thursday a boost in fourth-quarter sales thanks to moderate sales growth in pharmacy and strong results at the front end.

Sales for the quarter, ended Dec. 31, 2011, totaled C$2.6 billion, up 4.3% compared with the year-ago period. Prescription sales rose 2.8% to C$1.8 billion. On a same-store basis, prescription sales rose 2.3%.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Stater Bros. reported its first-quarter sales for fiscal year 2012 on Tuesday.

First-quarter sales rose 6.86% to $960.7 million, compared with the year-ago period, while same-store sales also increased 6.86% to $61.7 million. The company also reported net income for the 13-week first quarter ended Dec. 25 totaled $9 million, compared with net income of $2.8 million during the 13-week first quarter ended Dec. 26, 2010.

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. — Automated retail kiosks operator Redbox has agreed to purchase assets from NCR's entertainment line of business, including DVD kiosks, certain retailer contracts and DVD inventory.

NCR, which will be paid up to $100 million for the assets by the Coinstar subsidiary, said the business move is part of an effort to focus on other targeted industries.

In line with the assets purchase, Coinstar said it will also will enter into a strategic supplier arrangement where it will purchase product and services from NCR.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark recorded strong financial results for the fourth quarter and full year, and made solid progress across the enterprise during 2011, which set the stage for future growth. However, it was the potential benefit that CVS Caremark is seeing from Walgreens’ battle with Express Scripts that was top of mind for many and was a key question that president and CEO Larry Merlo hit head on at the top of Wednesday morning’s conference call.

ALLEGAN, Mich. — New product sales and the acquisition of Paddock Labs prompted second-quarter net sales to jump 17% to $838 million for Perrigo for fiscal year 2012, the drug maker said.

For the company's consumer healthcare products segment, net sales rose 10% to $471 million, compared with the year-ago period, thanks to new product sales of $26 million and the diabetes care category, along with an increase in sales of existing products of $20 million.

NEW YORK — Executives and guests of Post Holdings visited the New York Stock Exchange to celebrate the spinoff from parent company Ralcorp Holdings on Tuesday.

As part of the celebration, Post Holdings CEO William Stiritz rang the opening bell.

As reported, the cereal maker now is a publicly-traded standalone company. It will trade under the ticket symbol "POST."