Early this morning, discount retailer Big Lots (NYSE: BIG) reported first-quarter earnings of 44 cents per share. These results are up from 42 cents a year ago, and are four cents better than the consensus estimate. BIG tallied quarterly sales of $1.14 billion, down from $1.15 billion a year ago. Comparable-store sales slipped 0.5% during the quarter.
BIG forecast second-quarter earnings of 26 to 32 cents per share. On average, analysts expected 30 cents per share. This outlook assumes that BIG's same-store sales will fall 1% to 3% during the quarter.
After five consecutive quarters of losses it was reported today after the markets closed that 
