Best Buy profit below view on expenses, shares off

By Karen Jacobs

ATLANTA (Reuters) - U.S. consumer electronics retailer Best Buy Co (BBY.N) posted a steeper-than-expected drop in quarterly profit as it spent more on store redesign and labor than anticipated, sending shares down 4 percent.

Best Buy has been spending to improve its stores and lay the groundwork for expansion, but some investors are concerned about the pace of investment as the U.S. economy weakens.

"Best Buy's error is being too aggressive, and we do expect the company to dial back expenses, but this lack of expense discipline/control is a periodic issue," Sanford Bernstein analyst Colin McGranahan said in a research note.

McGranahan rates Best Buy "market perform."

Net earnings fell 19 percent to $202 million, or 48 cents a diluted share, for the second quarter that ended Aug. 30, compared with $250 million, or 55 cents a share, a year earlier.

Analysts had expected 57 cents a share, according to Reuters Estimates.

Best Buy's selling, general and administrative expenses rose 17 percent in the quarter as it revamped its stores to add Best Buy Mobile shops. Musical instruments and Apple Inc (AAPL.O) computer departments have also been added to some stores.

The company also said it boosted labor hours in the quarter to help sales during the back-to-school shopping period. It said it would cut some overhead and travel expenses in the second half but would not scale back growth investments.