Though sales were up in its stores, Barnes & Noble has reported a decline in profits for the last quarter of 2004. “For the three months ended Jan. 29, the retailer earned $115.6 million, or $1.56 per share, compared with $130.2 million, or $1.65 per share in the year-ago period. The New York-based company also warned that profits for the first quarter and for all of 2005 will be lower than analysts expected.”