Wal-Mart is urged to stock day-after pill

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NATION

A coalition of women's groups and family planning organizations on Friday urged Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to change its policy and start stocking emergency contraceptive pills in its pharmacies.

The groups, claiming a total membership of 10 million women, called on Wal-Mart Chief Executive Lee Scott to stop blocking access to a legal medication. Their joint statement came in the same week that three Boston women filed a suit against Wal-Mart, contending that the retail giant violated Massachusetts state law by failing to stock emergency contraceptives, also known as "morning-after" pills, in its pharmacies.

Countrywide chief named to Home Depot board

The Home Depot Inc., the world's biggest home improvement chain, said Friday it named Angelo Mozilo to its board, and added that current board member Dick Brown will retire when his term expires in May. Mozilo, 67, is the chairman and chief executive of mortgage lending firm Countrywide Financial Corp.

Brown, 58, served as chairman and as CEO of information technology service firm Electronic Data Systems Corp. from 1999 to 2003, the company said. Home Depot's shares fell 14 cents to close at $39.82 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Wendy's posts profit for quarter, but sales slip

Fast-food chain operator Wendy's International Inc. on Friday reported a profit for the fourth quarter in contrast to a loss a year ago, but revenue slipped. Yearly sales at its flagship Wendy's stores open for at least a year fell for the first time in 18 years.

Earnings were $30 million, or 25 cents per share, for the three months ended Jan. 1 versus a loss of $141.4 million, or $1.25 per share, a year earlier. The latest results include $55.4 million in charges for store closures, $36.1 million in goodwill impairment, $8.1 million in stock compensation expense and $3.2 million related to the planned initial public offering of its Tim Hortons division. All the charges reported are before taxes.

Amazon.com shares sink, earnings are missed

Shares of Amazon.com Inc. sank Friday after the Internet retailer disappointed investors with a fourth-quarter earnings report that missed Wall Street's revenue expectations and showed the company continues to make heavy investments in areas such as technology and marketing The results, released after the markets closed Thursday, sent shares tumbling $4.41, or 10.3 percent, to close at $38.33 on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The shares had fallen $1.24, or 2.8 percent, to close at $42.74 on Thursday.

For the three months ended Dec. 31, Seattle-based Amazon.com said it earned $199 million, or 47 cents per share.

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