Nordstrom Profit Up 14%

Upscale fashion retailer Nordstrom said Friday that first-quarter earnings rose 14% due to higher sales.

The Seattle-based company said its profit from operations rose to $27.3 million, or 34 cents a share, from $23.9 million, or 29 cents, a year ago.

Wall Street had expected Nordstrom to earn 35 cents a share.

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Cisco Systems reported that its fiscal third-quarter earnings rose 84%, as it continues to enjoy strong sales--despite slowing personal computer sales--from customers improving their telecommunications infrastructure.

The world’s biggest maker of equipment to run computer networks said net income rose to $229.7 million, or 39 cents a share, from $125 million, or 22 cents, a year ago.

Analysts had expected San Jose-based Cisco to earn 36 cents a share.

At a Glance:

Sotheby’s Holdings reported a first-quarter net loss of $8.16 million, or 15 cents a share, compared with a loss of $6.95 million, or 12 cents, in the year-ago quarter.

Giant Group reported a first-quarter profit of $419,000, or 8 cents a share, compared with a net loss of $1.6 million, or 31 cents, a year ago.

All-American Communications said first-quarter earnings were $2.07 million, or 18 cents a share, contrasted with a loss of $895,000, or 11 cents, in the year-earlier period.

Koo Koo Roo reported a first-quarter net loss of $1.7 million, or 12 cents a share, compared with a loss of $1.1 million, or 12 cents, a year ago.