07:09 AM EDT, 03/14/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Empire Company Limited (EMP-A.TO) on Thursday announced its financial results for the quarter ended February 3, 2024.

The company recorded net earnings of $134.2 million, or $0.54 per share, compared with net earnings of $125.7 million. or $0.49 per share, last year.

On an adjusted basis, net earnings were $153.1 million, or $0.62 per share, versus $164.8 million, or $0.64 per share, last year.

Quarterly sales was essentially flat YoY at $7.49 billion. Same store sales growth was 1.3% for the quarter (2023: 0.6%), while same store sales growth (excl fuel) was 1.9% (2022: 0.1%).

Free cash flow was $349 million, compared with $78 million, the year before.

The Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.1825 per share that will be payable on April 30.