Supervalu loses $201M in 4th-quarter on charges, but adj. results beat analysts’ estimates

Supervalu loses $201 million in 4th-quarter

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu Inc., one of the nation’s largest grocery chains, says it lost $201 million in its fiscal fourth-quarter mostly because of hefty goodwill and asset impairment charges. Adjusted results managed to top analysts’ estimates.

The Eden Prairie, Minn.-based company lost 95 cents per share. That’s down from a profit of $156 million, or 73 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding $1.82 per share in charges related to store closings and other items, profit was 87 cents per share.

Analysts expected earnings of 79 cents per share.

Sales rose 4 percent to $10.82 billion, but missed analysts’ estimates of $10.86 billion.

Supervalu predicts 2010 adjusted profit of $2.50 to $2.65 per share. Analysts expect earnings of $2.59 per share.