H&L True Value pulled off strong year-end sales to boost its last quarter net earnings by more than 30 per cent, but the hardware company had needed a bigger miracle to reclaim profit levels seen in 2005.

At the end of financial year to December 31, 2006, H&L made $5.6 billion in sales (2005: $5.3b) from which it managed to carve a profit of $37.7 million but this outturn was 46 per cent below its year-ago position when the trader made just under $70 million.

Its earnings per share tanked from 90 cents to 47 cents.

Sale of household goods remained the company's bedrock, accounting for $3.79 billion of revenue. Its assets of $2.9 billion largely comprised inventory valued at $1.6 billion.

business@gleanerjm.com

Symbol: HL
Revenues	$5.6 billion
Operating Profit Margin	2.89%
Net Profit Margin	0.67%
EPS	$0.47
Market Price/Share	$13.60
Current Ratio	1.51
Return on Assets	1.28%