NEW YORK, July 26 (Reuters) – Furniture Brands International Inc. (FBN.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Wednesday said quarterly profit rose, as higher sales helped offset the impact of charges.


The maker of Thomasville, Broyhill, Henredon and other brands had earnings of $17.0 million, or 35 cents a share, compared with $9.6 million, or 18 cents a share, a year earlier.

The company said the latest quarter’s results included restructuring, asset impairment and severance charges of 1 cent per share as well as 2 cents per share in increased expense related to interest rate swaps.

Net sales rose to $601.3 million from $593.8 million a year ago.

For the third quarter, the company forecast earnings of 18 cents to 22 cents per share, including 7 cents per share in charges and 3 cents per share related to the interest rate swaps.

The company also said it expects net sales to rise by a low-single digit percentage.