Publix Sales, Stock Rise in Q1

LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix Super Markets here on Wednesday said sales in the fiscal first quarter totaled $7.5 billion — a 6.1% increase helped in part by the shift of Easter sales to the period.

Publix said Easter sales — which fell in the second quarter a year ago — increased quarterly sales by 1.3%. Comparable-store sales for the period improved by 3.9%.

Net earnings for the quarter were $471.3 million, compared to $409.4 million in 2012, an increase of 15.1%, also helped in part by the Easter holiday shift.

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Publix also said Wednesday that its stock price rose from $23.20 per share to $26.90 per share. Publix stock is not publicly traded and is made available for sale only to current Publix associates and members of its board of directors.

“I’m very pleased that our strong operating performance and improvements in the stock market resulted in a significant increase in our stock price,” Ed Crenshaw, chief executive officer of Publix, said in a statement. “I want to thank our associates — the owners of Publix — for continuing to make us a leader in our industry.”