Publix Posts Q2 Sales, Earnings Gains

Publix Super Market posted $8 billion in sales for Q2 of 2015, a 6 percent increase from $7.5 billion in the year-ago period. Comparable-store sales for the quarter were up 4.1 percent.

Earnings for the quarter increased 19.5 percent to $482.7 million, up from $404.1 million in 2014. Per share earnings for the Lakeland, Fla.-based grocer increased to $0.62, up from $0.52 percent last year.

Publix said its stock price decreased from $42.10 per share to $42 per share, effective Aug. 1.

“I’m very pleased that our Publix associates delivered excellent results,” said Publix CEO Ed Crenshaw. “Unfortunately, these results were not enough to offset challenges in the stock market.”

For the first half of 2015, sales came in at $16.3 billion for the grocer, up 6.4 percent from last year's $15.3 billion; comparable-store sales were up 4.7 percent.

Net earnings for the first half were $1 billion, compared to $897.8 million in 2014, an increase of 14.9 percent. Earnings per share increased to $1.33, up from $1.15 per share in 2014.