11.06.12
• Clorox posted a bigger-than-expected rise in quarterly profit, as price increases, lower advertising spending and a decreased tax rate offset higher costs, and it stood by its forecast for the current fiscal year.
Sales rose 4% to $1.54 billion for the fourth quarter.
For the year, Clorox sales rose 5% to more than $5.4 billion. Volume increased 2%, but net income dipped less than 1% to $543 million.
“I’m very pleased with our strong finish to fiscal year 2012,” said chairman and CEO Don Knauss.
“Despite the continuing challenges of a tough global economy, we delivered strong fourth-quarter results, growing sales for the sixth consecutive quarter. We continued to see our categories recover, and our US all-outlet market share reached a record-high.”