Finance & Capital Management

While the monetary value of Bitcoin has had its ups and downs (and will likely continue to in the near future), the technological value and the transactional advantages of using the digital currency remain reliable and increasingly promising.

New day dawning at Tuesday Morning Tuesday Morning CEO Michael Rouleau declared the company’s turnaround complete after same store sales popped 7.6% and operating profits surged 32% during the second quarter ended Dec. 31.

The operator of 800 stores reported that the same store sales increase was as a result of a 7.7% increase in customer transactions, offset by a 0.1% decrease in average ticket. Sales at the 31 stores relocated during the past 12 months increased approximately 50% and contributed 140 basis points to the comparable store sales increase of 7.6%.

Hundreds of retail industry power players and leaders helped the National Retail Federation raise $1.2 million for student scholarships at a gala in New York City.

Indianapolis – Hhgregg Inc. had a difficult third quarter of fiscal 2015, swinging to a loss from a profit the prior year period and missing Wall Street expectations for both profit and revenue. The retailer posted a net loss of $86.9 million compared to net income of $5.05 million, which was a wider loss than projected by analysts.

Hangzhou, China – Although Alibaba Holding Group Inc. reported a healthy sales increase for the third quarter of fiscal 2015, it became a victim of its own expectations as it still missed on revenue projections and also reported declining profits. Net income totaled $964 million, a 28% drop from $1.36 billion in the same quarter a year earlier.

Cary, N.C. – The Pantry Inc. is heading into its pending merger with Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. in a profitable state. During the first quarter of fiscal 2015, The Pantry reported net income of $18.9 million, compared to a net loss of $5.1 million in the same quarter a year earlier.

Clearwater, Fla. – Cost of sales did not grow in pace with revenue growth during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 at MarineMax Inc., resulting in a higher gross profit that helped produce net income of $214,000. This compares to net loss of $3.36 million the same period a year earlier.

Brentwood, Tenn. – Tractor Supply Company Inc. announced strong results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, including a 17% year increase in net income. The retailer also said it will open 110 to 115 stores and build a new Southwest distribution center, in Casa Grande, Arizona, in fiscal 2015.

Tractor Supply’s net income rose to $112.1 million in the fourth, up from $95.9 million in the year ago period, fueled by the leveraging of store operating costs and reduced year-over-year incentive compensation expense.

Dublin, Calif. - Doug Baker, who served as president and chief merchandising officer of Ross Stores’ DD’s Discounts division since 2011, is leaving the company. A specific reason has not been given.

The senior merchandising executives at DD’s Discounts will report to Ross executive chairman Michael Balmuth while the company conducts a search to fill this position.

Matthews, N.C. – Howard Levine, CEO of Family Dollar Stores Inc., reportedly plans to sell between one and two million shares of company stock in the next 10 days. According to the Charlotte Business Journal, Levine filed his intention to make the sale with SEC.