In Brief: Alberto Culver
This article was originally published in The Rose Sheet
Executive Summary
Alberto Culver: Sales for FY 1997 (ended Sept. 30) increased 11.6% to $1.78 bil., while earnings jumped 36.1% to $85.4 mil., the company announced Oct. 23. Alberto Culver USA reported the strongest results with 18% sales growth on a 37% earning increase for the year. Sally Beauty sales rose 14%, with an identical percentage increase for earnings. The company's international business experienced only a 4% sales growth, due to negative currency translations versus the dollar, according to the firm. Earnings for the division increased 19%. The ad/promo spend for the year rose more than 20%, the company said, from $205 mil. to $255 mil. For the fourth quarter, net sales increased 5.2% to $453.4 mil., and earnings were up 15.3% to $21.8 mil. With constant exchange rates, sales would have been $10 mil. higher and earnings $1 mil. more, the company noted...