Ethan Alan, which operates 311 retail home furnishing stores inthe United States and abroad, earned $20 million, or 59 cents pershare, for the quarter ending March 31, beating analysts' estimatesof 56 cents per share on revenue of $246.4 million. For the sameperiod in 2005, quarterly results were $17.9 million, or 50 centsper share.

Revenue for the quarter was also up nearly 16% to $267.1million, from $231.2 million a year ago. For stores open at least ayear, sales grew 15.2% over the same quarter last year. The companysaid it is also "within reach" of meeting analysts' estimates forthe fourth quarter.

A series of initiatives, implemented earlier last year,including the relocation of underperforming stores, quicker homedelivery and increased pricing and advertising, have helped thenumbers, even though higher fuel delivery charges have cut intoprofits. To defray some of those rising charges, the company, whichopened three new stores during the quarter and 12 during thisfiscal year, said it would increase pricing about 2.5%.