Dial Tops Estimates

Dial(DL Quote) posted a profitable fourth quarter and beat estimates ahead of its acquisition by German conglomerate Henkel.

The Arizona-based company most famous for its soap had net income of $24.9 million, or 26 a cents a share. That compares with a loss of $29.2 million, or 31 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue rose from $333.6 million to $346.7 million.

But excluding asset writedowns, a special tax charge and costs related to the acquisition, Dial earned $36.2 million, or 37 cents a share, exceeding the Thomson First Call analysts' consensus forecast of 35 cents a share.

International sales rose almost 16%, as the weak dollar lead to a particularly strong showing in Canada.

Dial said its acquisition by Henkel, which is paying $2.9 billion for the consumer products company, should be completed around April.