Finance & Capital Management

The addition of 700 new stores last year and a 4.9% increase in fourth quarter same store sales helped Dollar General achieve record results and has the company looking to capitalize on the momentum by accelerating what is already the retail industry’s most aggressive new store expansion plan.

Dollar General chairman and CEO Rick Dreilling said the company will add to its 2014 year end store total of 11,789 units in 2015 by opening 730 new stores and remodeling 875 others.

The acquisition of JoS. A. Bank is weighing on the financials at Men’s Wearhouse, which posted a decline in profits for the fourth quarter.

Men’s Wearhouse reported a quarterly loss of $35.9 million, or $0.75 per share, versus a year-ago loss of $30.4 million, or $0.64 per share. Excluding non-operating items, the company lost $0.03 per share, versus a year-ago loss of $0.38 per share. Its net sales surged 66% to $928.4 million.

Off-price retailer Stein Mart is poised for expansion as stronger traffic in the holiday quarter helped the company post an increase in same store sales. 

Genesco Inc. cited construction expenses and currency pressures as reasons for the company’s weaker-than-expected fourth quarter earnings. 

The company posted earnings from continuing operations of $51.8 million, or $2.18 per diluted share, for the quarter ended Jan. 31. The numbers are an improvement from the year-ago period, which saw earnings from continuing operations of $42.2 million or $1.79 per diluted share. 

Bon-Ton plans to refocus the brand, expand omnichannel efforts and open an e-commerce fulfillment center on the heels of a successful fourth quarter.

The company saw an increase in net income in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 to $71.7 million, up 17% from net income of $61.3 million in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year.

The strong sales momentum at Kirkland's during the holidays apparently held through January, as the retailer just reported a big jump in same store sales for the fourth quarter. 

The company increased net income during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 26% to $15.6 million, from $12.3 million in the year-earlier period. Net sales increased 14.5% to $178.7 million, from $156.1 million. Same-store sales, including e-commerce sales, increased 8.2%.

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The Children’s Place Inc. on Thursday accelerated its store closing plans to 200 stores through 2017 (including 76 stores closed in 2013 and 2014), up from its previous announced target of 125 stores through 2016.

New York -- Juicy Couture, which was acquired by Authentic Brands Group in 2013, may no longer be a coveted brand in the United States, but it is still has great appeal in foreign markets. The company expects to open 133 stores (through its various licensing partners) during the next five years, according to Women's Wear Daily.

Juicy will open 31 international locations in eight countries this year, the report said. Three of the countries — India, South Africa and Azerbaijan — will be new market entries for the brand.

Clayton, Mo. -- Increased sales at its Famous Footwear division and the sale of its shoes.com online site, helped boost Brown Shoe Company’ profit in the fourth quarter.  

The retailer reported net earnings of $16.2 million, which included adjustments related to the sale of Shoes.com, compared with $6.2 million in the year-ago period. Adjusted net earnings were $9 million.

Consolidated net sales in the quarter, ended Jan. 31, totaled $615.4 million, up 2.6% from year-ago period. Same-store sales increased 4%.