Barnes & Noble Quarterly Profit Dips

Barnes & Noble Inc. said its profit slipped 2% for its fiscal fourth-quarter to $68.4 million, or 95 cents a share, a penny less than analyst forecasts, as losses from its Internet business offset higher sales at its namesake bookstores. The results for the three months ended Jan. 30 exclude a gain of $37.6 million, or 52 cents a share, from the purchase by German media conglomerate Bertelsmann of a 50% stake in barnesandnoble.com. Barnesandnoble.com contributed an operating loss of $14.3 million to the latest results. Total revenue rose 6.3% to $1.03 billion. * AnnTaylor Stores Corp. said its earnings surged nearly sixfold for its fiscal fourth quarter, to $14 million, or 49 cents a share, from $2.35 million, or 9 cents, on strong demand for its women’s fashions. Analysts had forecast 43 cents. Revenue grew 24% to $262.8 million, and same-store sales jumped 14%.