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SAO PAULO, March 13 (Reuters) - Brazilian retailer

Magazine Luiza reported on Thursday an adjusted net

profit of 139.2 million reais ($24 million) for the fourth

quarter, up some 37% from a year earlier.

It also came above the 126.9 million real profit expected

from analysts polled by LSEG.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Magazine Luiza is one of Brazil's largest retailers.

BY THE NUMBERS

Core earnings, or adjusted earnings before interest,

taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), increased about

12% year-on-year to 846.2 million reais. Analysts had estimated

845.9 million reais.

Adjusted EBITDA margins rose by 0.6 percentage points in

the quarter from the same period of 2023, to 7.8%.

Magazine Luiza's net revenue stood at 10.8 billion

reais, up 2.3% year-on-year as total sales, which include

brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce operations, rose 2.6%.

KEY QUOTES

"Our main focus continues to be on expanding our

margins," investors relations director Vanessa Rossini told

Reuters, adding she sees room for further profitability growth

in 2025 after the increase last year.

In the earnings report, Magazine Luiza said 2025 will

conclude its strategic cycle started in 2021, saying it is now

preparing for a new cycle more focused on artificial

intelligence.

($1 = 5.7991 reais)