Skip to main content

FINANCE

  • More good news for J.C. Penney

    J.C. Penney on Monday received an official vote of confidence in its performance: an improved credit rating.

    Fitch Ratings upgraded Penney’s credit rating, saying the department store retailer has “demonstrated a meaningful turnaround of its business over the last over the last two years.” Fitch upgraded Penney from B- to B with a positive outlook.

  • Is Gap Inc. really back on track?

    Gap Inc. says its fourth quarter results show the company's turnaround plan is working, but the retailer continues to post lackluster sales and earnings.

    The parent company of Old Navy and Banana Republic says fourth-quarter profits were $214 million, or 53 cents per share, for the three-month period ended Jan. 30. That compares with $319 million or 75 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Revenue dropped nearly 7% in the quarter to $4.39 billion. Same-store sales declined 7%.

  • Foot Locker reports healthy Q4 sales, profit

    The CEO of Foot Locker credits the company's revised strategic framework with single digit sales gains and double digit earnings gains in the fourth quarter.

    For the period ended Jan. 30, Foot Locker reported net Income of $1.14 per share, a 13% increase from the prior year quarter. Earnings per share were $1.16, 16% above last year. Same-store sales increased 7.9%.

  • Sprouts Farmers Market sales hit record high

    Perhaps no other retailer is profiting as well from Americans' changing eating habits than Sprouts Farmers Market, which reported record sales and earnings for the fourth quarter.

    The Arizona-based grocer said that same-store sales during the period ended Jan. 3 rose 7.4%. Net income was $28.2 million and diluted earnings per share were 18 cents. Net sales were $3.59 billion, a 21% increase compared to reported net sales in 2014. Adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.86, a 19% increase from 2014.

  • Dillard’s stocking on its own shares

    Dillard’s has approved a new share repurchase program authorizing the company to repurchase up to $500 million of its Class A Common Stock.

    The new open-ended authorization permits the company to repurchase its Class A Common Stock in the open market, pursuant to preset trading plans meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or through privately negotiated transactions. The company completed the authorization under its previous $500 million share repurchase program during the fourth quarter of 2015.

  • Victoria's Secret lifts L Brands

    The parent company of Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works credited the strength of its brands with helping it to buck the financial doldrums affecting many other retailers in the fourth quarter.

    For the period ended Jan. 30, L Brands earned $636 million, or $2.15 a share, up from $564.8 million, or $1.89 a share, a year earlier. Net income increased 13% to $636.0 million, compared to $564.8 million last year. Net sales were $4.395 billion, an increase of 8%. Same-store sales increased 6%.

  • Sales slowdown at Best Buy to continue?

    Softness in the mobile phone category continues to hinder growth at Best Buy Co., which reported a drop in same-store sales in the fourth quarter and continued online strength.

    For the fiscal quarter ended Jan. 30, the electronics retailer reported a decline in same-store sales of 1.7%. Specifically, sales of mobile devices and computing devices fell 6.8% in the United States. The category accounts for 43% of the company's total U.S. revenue.

  • Record results for Ace Hardware
    Ace CEO John Venhuizen

    Even with one less week in the calendar year, Ace Hardware Corp. ran up its wholesale sales to a record $5.0 billion. Along the way, the Oak Brook, Illinois-based co-op delivered a pre-tax return on equity of 33%.

    “I'm honored to report the third consecutive year of record financial performance for the company," said John Venhuizen, president and CEO.

X
This ad will auto-close in 10 seconds