acuity brands inc ayi reported tuesday fiscal fourthquarter profit and sales that rose above expectations citing strong demand and an ability to capture price shares of the lighting company were still inactive in premarket trading net income for the quarter to aug 31 rose to 1154 million or 348 a share from 981 million or 272 a share in the yearago period excluding nonrecurring items adjusted earnings per share of 395 beat the factset consensus of 361 sales grew 118 to 111 billion above the factset consensus of 108 billion cost of sales increased more than sales rising 130 to 6478 million as gross margin contracted to 417 from 422 the value of inventories rose 218 to 4857 million the stock has tacked on 12 over the past three months while the sp 500 spx has slipped 38