Spectrum Brands Holdings Inc. posted stronger-than-expected earnings for its fiscal third quarter Friday, and raised its fiscal 2021 guidance. The owner of household brands swung to a profit of $36.8 million, or 88 cents a share, in the quarter to March 29, from a loss of $59.2 million, or $1.29 a share, in the year-earlier period. Adjusted per-share earnings came to $1.76, well ahead of the 99 cents FactSet consensus. Sales rose to $1.149 billion from $937.8 million, also ahead of the $1.032 billion FactSet consensus. Sales at the company’s hardware and home improvement division rose 18.4% to $389.5 million. “Security sales reflected growth across retail, e-commerce and new build channels,” the company said. Home and personal care sales rose 28% to $297.9 million, driven by strength in small kitchen appliances. Pet care sales rose 23.9% to $293.6 million, driven by aquatics and companion animal categories, while home and garden sales rose 21% to $168.8 million. Spectrum Brands is now expecting fiscal 2021 sales to rise by double-digits, compared with earlier guidance of high single-digit growth. The company is raising its total savings gross target from productivity improvements to $200 million from $150 million. The board has approved a new 3-year, $1 billion share buyback program. Shares were not yet active premarket, but have gained 16% in the year to date, while the S&P 500 has gained 11.9%.
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