Columbia Sportswear Results Top Estimates, FY15 Guidance Strong; Stock Up 6%

(RTTNews) - Columbia Sportswear Co (COLM) on Thursday reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $55.6 million or $0.79 per share compared with $36.7 million or $0.53 per share last year.

Revenues for the quarter were up 27% at $677 million compared with $533 million in the prior year.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters estimated earnings of $0.67 per share on revenues of $634 million for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

For the full year 2015, the company expects earnings of $2.10 to $2.20 per share; and continues to forecast low double-digit constant-dollar sales growth and high single-digit growth in U.S. dollars.

Analysts expect earnings of $2.07 per share on revenues of $2.24 billion for 2015.

The company's board authorized an additional $200 million of share buyback and approved a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share.

"We expect the Columbia, Sorel and prAna brands to be the primary drivers of sales growth, concentrated in North America and Europe-direct markets, offsetting the anticipated effects of a stronger U.S. dollar on our other international businesses," the company said.