UPDATE 1-Monro Muffler raises 2009 outlook
* Sees 2009 EPS $1.17 to $1.20
* Sees 2009 sales $475 mln to $477 mln
* Sees 2010 EPS $1.30 to $1.45
March 24 (Reuters) - Operator of auto-repair chains Monro Muffler Brake Inc (MNRO.O) raised its 2009 outlook as it expects customer traffic to grow 5 percent in the last quarter of the year.
The company now sees 2009 earnings of $1.17 to $1.20 a share on revenue of $475 million to $477 million. It expects comparable store sales to jump about 7 percent.
Monro had previously forecast earnings of $1.14 to $1.19 a share on revenue of $467 million to $471 million.
The company has benefitted from customers opting to repair their existing vehicles rather than buy new ones in a tight credit environment.
Monro also forecast 2010 earnings of $1.30 to $1.45 a share, while analysts' were expecting $1.39 a share.
Shares of the company closed at $26.90 Monday on Nasdaq. (Reporting by A.Ananthalakshmi in Bangalore; Editing by Anil D'Silva) ((ananthalakshmi.as@thomsonreuters.com; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 4135 5800; Reuters Messaging: ananthalakshmi.as.reuters.com@reuters.net))
