The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday, Feb. 16, edition that Canadian Tire's fourth quarter profit exceeded expectations, as sales grew compared with a year ago. A Canadian Press dispatch to The Globe reports that Canadian Tire earned a profit attributable to shareholders of $275.7-million or $4.10 a diluted share. That compared with $246.8-million or $3.46 in the same quarter a year earlier. Analysts, on average, had expected a profit of $3.80 a share and revenue of $3.75-billion. Actual revenue totalled $3.96-billion, up from $3.64-billion as same-store sales gained momentum across its banners. Same-store sales at Canadian Tire were up 3.5 per cent, while its Mark's clothing stores saw same-store sales gain 3.4 per cent. FGL Sports saw same-store sales increase 5.8 per cent. RBC analyst Irene Nattel says the company's strong results are a "direct result of initiatives implemented by management around assortment, promotional activity and sourcing terms/efficiency initiatives." On Wednesday, Canadian Tire said it has acquired SherWood Athletics Group's global hockey trademarks, and related inventory of hockey gear and hockey licensed products for an undisclosed price.