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Johannesburg - Woolworths [JSE:WHL] reported a lower-than-expected 10% increase in full-year profit on Thursday, hit by costs related to its acquisition of Australia's David Jones.
Woolworths said diluted headline earnings per share totaled 360 cents, below a 389c estimate in a Reuters poll of 14 analysts.
Headline earnings per share strips out certain one-off items.
Woolworths, which recently acquired Australia's second-largest department store, David Jones, said sales increased 14.4% to R39.5bn.
Retailers in SA are struggling to grow sales as consumers rein in spending due to high personal debt, unemployment and rising fuel and transport prices.
But Woolworths, similar in style and products to Britain's Marks & Spencer, is faring better, as most of its customers are from the high-income category.
Shares in Woolworths have gained in the past twelve months, far outpacing rivals such Massmart and the broader market.
