Limited Profits Up 14.5% in Fourth Quarter

Limited Brands Inc. nudged past profit expectations for the fourth quarter, but projected earnings for this year that lagged Wall Street’s expectations.

The company, which operates Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works, posted a 14.5 percent rise in net income to $411.4 million, or $1.39 a diluted share, from $359.4 million, or $1.17, a year earlier. Adjusted earnings tallied $1.76 a share and were 2 cents ahead of analysts’ consensus projection. Sales for the 14 weeks ended Feb. 2 rose 9.7 percent to $3.86 billion from $3.52 billion.