Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 18, 1995                   TAG: 9505190033
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

EARNINGS

Hanson PLC, the British owner of MW Manufacturers Inc. of Rocky Mount and the Jacuzzi Whirlpool Baths plant to open this summer in Salem, reported net earnings equivalent to $749 million in U.S. currency, or 82 cents per American depository receipt, on revenues of $9.3 billion for the first half of its fiscal year ended March 31, compared with year-earlier $831 million, or 72 cents, on revenues of $8.9 billion.

Hechinger

Hechinger Co., Landover, Md.-based retailer, reported net earnings of $1.2 million, or 3 cents per share, on sales of $553.2 million for its first quarter ended April 29, compared with year-earlier $4.6 million, or 11 cents per share, on sales of $574.3 million.

Hills Stores

Hills Stores Co., Canton, Mass. discount retailer, reported a net loss of $4.3 million, equal to 42 cents per share, on sales of $362.9 million in its first quarter ended April 29, compared with year-earlier net loss of $2.4 million, equal to 25 cents per share, on sales of $365.6 million.

J.C. Penney

J.C. Penney Co. Inc., Dallas-based retailer, reported net income of $156 million, or 61 cents per share, on sales of $4.37 billion in its first quarter ended April 29, compared with year-earlier $223 million, or 84 cents per share, on sales of $4.35 billion.

Roanoke Electric Steel

Roanoke Electric Steel Corp. reported net earnings of $4.2 million, or 79 cents per share, on sales of $62.2 million in its second quarter ended April 30, compared with year-earlier $1.4 million, or 27 cents per share, on sales of $51.6 million. For the first half, net earnings were $8.1 million, or $1.51 per share, on sales of $119.7 million, compared with year-earlier $5.6 million, or $1.05 per share, on sales of $98.7 million.

Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer, reported net income of $553.4 million, or 24 cents per share, on sales of $20.44 billion in its first quarter ended April 30, compared with year-earlier $498.5 million, or 22 cents per share, on sales of $17.69 billion.

Westmoreland Coal

Westmoreland Coal Co., Philadelphia-based producer and marketer of coal with operations in Western Virginia, reported net income of $1.5 million, or 4 cents per share, on revenues of $45.7 million in the first quarter, compared with a year-earlier net loss of $4.8 million, equal to 86 cents per share, on revenues of $99.2 million.