(Adds background, details on store openings)
March 31 (Reuters) - Canada's Dollarama Inc DOL.TO missed analysts' sales estimates for the crucial holiday quarter on Wednesday as renewed COVID-19 restrictions dented traffic at its stores.
The discount store chain said its business took a hit due to more stringent measures by provincial authorities in December, including stricter in-store capacity limits, and a temporary ban on the sale of non-essential items in Quebec.
However, Dollarama said sales had improved in the current quarter with the gradual lifting of such curbs and that it plans to open 60 to 70 stores for this fiscal year.
The company also said it had increased its long-term growth target to 2,000 stores in Canada by the next decade, from a previous aim of 1,700 stores by 2027.
Discount and off-price retailers, known for their treasure-hunt shopping experience, have continued to expand their store networks as they benefit from consumers making the bulk of their purchases under a single roof.
Dollarama's net earnings fell to C$173.9 million, or 56 Canadian cents per share, in line with analyst estimates, from C$178.7 million, or 57 Canadian cents per share a year earlier.
Net sales rose to C$1.10 billion ($872.95 million) in the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31, from C$1.07 billion a year earlier, below Refinitiv IBES estimates of C$1.13 billion.
The company said it would raise its quarterly dividend by 7% and intends to resume share buybacks in 2022. ($1 = 1.2601 Canadian dollars)