Cost Plus ends '03 with Florida entry.(home goods & housewares)(Cost Plus World Markets Inc.)(Brief Article)

Cost Plus World Markets entered Florida in its fourth quarter ended Jan. 31, as the Oakland, Calif.-based retailer continues its East Coast expansion. Cost Plus surpassed 200 stores, adding 10 units to finish fiscal 2003 with 204.

For the year, Cost Plus net income was $33 million, or $1.48 per diluted share, versus $28.4 million, or $1.28 in the year earlier. Fiscal 2003 net sales were $801.6 million, a 15.8% advance year-over-year, with comp-store sales increasing 2.7%.

Joan Storms, a Wedbush Morgan analyst, found results good but …