Hydro Flask contributed to a 7.8 percent increase to $126.1 million in the revenues of the Housewares segment of Helen of Troy, which also includes the OXO brand, in the fourth quarter of the group's fiscal year, ended on Feb. 28. The segment's growth was driven by higher online and club sales, new product introductions and a higher turnover outside the U.S. Lower closeout sales, lower product costs and a more favorable product mix helped push the quarterly operating margin up to a relatively high level of 18.1 percent from 17.4 percent in the year-ago period, despite higher advertising and freight expenses. For the full year, Housewares delivered a 14 percent increase in revenues to $523.8 million and 13 percent higher operating earnings of $100.7 million. Helen of Troy expects Housewares to record a sales increase of between 4 and 6 percent for the current financial year. It indicates that it may add other brands to its portfolio.

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