Earnings Roundup: Best Buy, ConAgra

Among the earnings stories for Thursday, March 26, from AP Financial News:

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Best Buy Co., the world's largest consumer electronics retailer, said Thursday that its fiscal fourth-quarter profit fell 23 percent because of one-time charges. Adjusted results beat analysts' estimates, however, as sales climbed on new store openings.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — ConAgra Foods Inc. said Thursday its third-quarter profit fell 38 percent compared to year-ago results that included income from a commodity trading business that has since sold. Its adjusted results beat expectations, and its shares gained.

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Shipping and supply chain company UTi Worldwide Inc. reported losses for the fourth quarter and fiscal year on Thursday, citing charges and a sharp drop in freight and logistics volumes.

NEW YORK (AP) — Book publisher Scholastic Corp. said Thursday that its fiscal third-quarter loss narrowed as the company recorded a smaller noncash write-down of the value of some assets in the more recent three-month period.

PLANO, Texas (AP) — Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. said Thursday that it lost $621 million in the fourth quarter as it wrote down assets and spent heavily on restructuring and severance, but its adjusted profit was better than Wall Street expected.

BEAUMONT, Texas (AP) — Conn's Inc., which will get a new chief executive this summer, said Thursday that its fiscal fourth-quarter profit fell 4 percent even as increased finance charges helped boost sales.