TRU plays up positives of otherwise lackluster Q4

WAYNE, N.J. — The decision to open fewer Express stores during the 2011 holiday selling season, along with a decline in comparable-store sales both in the United States and internationally, contributed to Toys“R”Us's fourth-quarter net sales decline of $47 million to $5.9 billion. On a positive note, the company's new ventures in Greater China and Southeast Asia have offset the sales decline. Toys"R"Us said its strongest performing categories continue to be learning and core toys, while the entertainment category (which includes electronics, video game hardware and software) was the weakest, declining 7.3%. Net earnings were $343 million, an increase