UPDATE: Weight Watchers Posts 8.9% Drop In Q4 Profit, Issues Downbeat 2013 View

Weight Watchers International

reported an 8.9% drop in its fourth-quarter earnings and issued downbeat 2013 forecast. For the year, Weight Watchers expects earnings of $3.50 to $4 per share, versus analysts' estimates of $4.75 per share. Weight Watchers' quarterly profit fell to $58 million, from $63.7 million, in the year-ago period. On a per-share basis, its earnings rose to $1.03 from $0.86. Excluding special items, its adjusted earnings came in at $0.96 per share. Its revenue rose 1.7% to 407.9 million. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.87 per share on revenue of $398 million. Weight Watchers shares dropped 14.99% to $46.00 in after-hours trading.