Shares of closeout retailer Big Lots jumped after first-quarter earnings and sales topped views as the company moved to tighten operations. Earnings dropped 18 percent from a year earlier to 50 cents a share, but that still beat analysts’ expectations by 6 cents. The company said sales rose 1.1 percent to $1.28 billion, beating estimates. CEO David Campisi said sales in the period “could have been better,” if not for the severe winter weather that crimped seasonal sales. The company also raised its guidance for the next quarter.