/ Source: The Associated Press
Staples says its second-quarter profit dropped 16 percent, hurt by slow sales in the U.S. at established stores.
The Framingham, Mass. office supply retailer said Wednesday its net income fell to $150.2 million, or 21 cents per share, from $178.8 million, or 25 cents per share.
Thomson Reuters says analysts expected profit of 21 cents per share.
Staples Inc. says sales jumped 18 percent to $5.07 billion from $4.29 billion. Analysts anticipated sales of 4.69 billion.
Same-store sales fell 7 percent as fewer customers come through the doors. Staples says sales of furniture, desktop computers, printers and digital cameras were also weak.
Staples says it expects low single-digit earnings per share growth for the full year.