Finance & Capital Management

Nordstrom joined Macy's this week in blaming weak traffic for its disappointing same store sales as the Seattle-based chain also lowered its full-year guidance.

Nordstrom Inc. said that for the third quarter ended Oct. 31 same store sales increased .9%. It posted earnings of 57 cents per share on $3.33 billion in revenue. And net sales increased 6.6 percent.

Apple Inc. may be planning an entry into the fledging industry of mobile person-to-person payment.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple is in discussions with several banks to develop a service that would let consumers make mobile payments to each other, rather than use cash or personal checks. The service would be in direct competition with the Venmo mobile payment platform from PayPal, which is popular among millennial consumers.

BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc. is preparing to open its first store in a new state.

GBT Realty Corporation, a national commercial development company headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, is developing the BJ’s Wholesale Club in South Carolina, in the city of Summerville. The $12 million development is situated on a 10.5-acre site. The 87,800-sq. ft. membership warehouse club that will feature a BJ’s gas station is expected to open in late 2016. Construction is set to commence immediately following the acquisition of the site in December.

Strong back-to-school sales allowed Kohl's to upstage Macy's in the third quarter.

Kohl's reported that for the third quarter ended Oct. 31, same store sales increased 1%. It had net income of $120 million, or 63 cents per share, compared with net income of $142 million, or 70 cents per share, in the same period a year before. Revenue rose 1.2% to $4.43 billion.

Advance Auto Parts announced its CEO is stepping down as the retailer also reported a decline in third quarter profit and nearly flat same-store sales.

The auto parts retailer reported that for the third quarter ended Oct. 10, same-store sales increased .5%. Profit declined 1.4% to $120.5 million, or $1.63 per share. Revenue ticked up slightly to $2.3 billion.

Orchard Supply Hardware is still marching toward its expansion goal of 100 stores and $1 billion in sales by 2017. And the San Jose, California-based retailer with deep Golden State roots has learned a thing or two during its journey, according to president Bob Tellier.

The 76-store chain is actively upgrading its fleet into a shopper-friendly "neighborhood format" while finding a comfortable home in various urban locations.

J.C. Penney says the company's third quarter results will "exceed expectations" despite a $50 million settlement charge to settle a false advertising class action lawsuit.

The company announced Wednesday that it has reached an agreement to settle a false advertising class action lawsuit brought on behalf of California customers who purchased certain J.C. Penney private or exclusive branded products.

Macy’s blamed warm weather, weak foot traffic and excessive inventory for the company's worse-than-expected third quarter results and said it is studying real estate options for some of its most iconic stores.