A late blast of cold, snowy weather around the country may have had commuters grumbling but it was refreshing for Dick's Sporting Goods Inc., which Tuesday reported a 10.7 percent increase in fourth-quarter sales.

"We did have a great winter from a weather standpoint," said Edward W. Stack, chairman and CEO of the Findlay sporting goods chain, which has stores across most of the nation.

Cold-weather gear had been selling slowly as the days stayed relatively warm. "It then got to be the perfect storm from a weather standpoint," he told analysts on a conference call to discuss the company's earnings.

Meanwhile, sales of guns and ammunition were down from 2008 when election results spurred fears of stepped up gun-control regulations.

In the end, Dick's posted a profit of $67.4 million, or 56 cents per share, in the three months ended Jan. 30, compared with a loss of $105.6 million, or 94 cents per share, in the same period last year. Excluding certain one-time costs, the retailer calculated it would have earned $62.2 million, or 54 cents, during last year's fourth quarter.

Analysts polled by Thomson Financial Network had been looking, on average, for the company to earn 55 cents per share in the most recent quarter. Dick's raised its guidance in late January, saying holiday sales had been stronger than expected.

The retailer sold $1.3 billion in goods during the quarter, up from $1.2 billion last year, with the gains credited to a 2.5 percent increase in sales at stores open at least a year, as well as the addition of new stores and online sales.

Sales of golf merchandise showed an improvement at both Dick's stores and at the Golf Galaxy chain that it operates, although Mr. Stack cautioned the improvements come after a couple of years of customer pullbacks in that sport.

Boots and athletic shoes also were cited as areas of strength. In particular, Mr. Stack said Reebok had done very well with new styles meant to help with toning.

For the full fiscal year, the company reported a profit of $135.4 million, or $1.15 per share, vs. a loss of $39.9 million, or 36 cents per share, last year.

Excluding one-time costs, officials calculate the company would have earned $141.4 million, or $1.20 per share, this year vs. $134.1 million, or $1.15 per share, the previous year.

Dick's took steps to cope with the recession, including putting off some capital expenditures. But it continued to open new stores and to sign leases for real estate sites that opened up at lower rates as a result of the downturn.

The retailer, in the process of moving to a new headquarters building in Findlay, plans to open at least 24 new sporting goods stores this fiscal year and five Golf Galaxy stores, in addition to the 419 sporting goods stores and 91 golf stores already operating.

Looking ahead to fiscal 2010, the retailer expects earnings in the range of $1.32 to $1.35 per share, which would be on the high end of analysts' expectations. Sales at stores open at least a year are projected to increase 2 percent to 3 percent, compared with a 1.4 percent drop last year.

Dick's shares closed at $25.45, down 17 cents, but rose in after-hours trading.

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