Eagle sets profit sights higher

In what is becoming a habit, American Eagle Outfitters Inc. raised its quarterly earnings guidance again after sales in stores open at least a year rose 20 percent in April. The Marshall teen retailer is projecting earnings per share for the quarter ended April 30 will range between 33 and 34 cents, up from the 30- to 31-cent range projected earlier. American Eagle earned 18 cents a share in the same year-ago period. The company had raised its first quarter estimates last month and twice the previous quarter.

La-Z-Boys return to fold

La-Z-Boy Inc. has acquired the four Pittsburgh-area La-Z-Boy stores in Monroeville, North Fayette, Marshall and McMurray from licensed operator Paul Teplitz. The Michigan-based furniture retailer is working to convert its entire 300-plus store chain to a new, larger format with a central design area and more room for accessories. That process will include reviewing existing locations to see if they can be converted or, if not, possibly relocating stores, a company spokesman said.

PPG buys polarized film maker

PPG Industries said it is buying International Polarizer Holdings Trust, a privately held polarized film manufacturer for sun lens applications. Terms were not disclosed, but PPG said it would continue to operate the business under the International Polarizer name and that Richard Phillips, the Marlborough, Mass.-based firm's owner, will remain as president, reporting to Richard C. Elias, PPG's vice president of optical products. International Polarizer is the world's largest maker of sunglass polarizer, producing more than 1 million square feet of polarizer sheet annually.

Also in business ...

Local gasoline prices ended their two-week slide this week, according to the AAA East Central's weekly survey of stations, rising to an average $2.17 cents a gallon for self-serve regular, up nearly a nickel from a week ago and 36 cents from a year ago ... Wilmerding rail products and services concern Wabtec Corp. said its railway electronics unit had received a $5 million equipment order from CN, Canada's largest railroad.