Finance & Capital Management

As Dollar Tree prepares to absorb the costs associated with its pending acquisition of Family Dollar, the discounter beat Wall Street estimates of earnings for the fourth quarter.

Dollar Tree said net revenue improved 11% to $2.48 billion. Analysts had projected $1.15 a share in earnings and revenue of $2.47 billion. Dollar Tree said same-store sales rose 5.6% in the quarter and that the number of transactions rose 5%. For the period ended Jan. 31, Dollar Tree posted a profit of $206.6 million, or $1 a share, down from $213 million, or $1.02 a share, a year earlier.

Toano, Va. – Despite falling net income, Lumber Liquidators Inc. plans to open 30-35 new stores and remodel 15-20 stores, all in an expanded showroom format, during fiscal 2015. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, the retailer reported net income of $17.3 million, down 17% from $20.8 million in the same quarter the prior year.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses $6.5 million, or 9%, to $77.8 million primarily due to higher advertising, depreciation, occupancy and payroll expenses.

Despite weak sales and possible criminal charges from the Department of Justice, Lumber Liquidators Inc. plans to keep its aggressive expansion plans in 2015

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe's Cos. reported net earnings of $450 million for the fourth quarter ended Jan. 30, a 47.0% increase over the year-ago period. Sales for the quarter increased 7.6% to $12.5 billion, up from $11.7 billion in the year-ago quarter.

It’s no wonder Macy’s is looking to allocate part of its $1 billion capital expenditure budget into opening off-price stores when you look at the financial results TJX Co. reported for the fourth quarter.

The company reported an 11% increase in profit for the quarter ended Jan. 31. Net sales for the fourth quarter were $8.3 billion, a 6% increase over last year. Same store sales increased 4% over last year’s 3% increase. Net income was $648 million and diluted earnings per share were $.93, a 15% increase over last year’s $.81 per share.

Minneapolis -- Target on Wednesday reported a net loss of $2.6 billion (pre-tax loss of $5.1 billion) in its fourth quarter due to the impact of its exit from Canada, compared to a $520 million gain year-ago period. However, the chain’s adjusted earnings came in at $1.50 per share, beating Wall Street estimates of $1.46 per share.

Target’s sales increased 4.1% to $21.8 billion, also better than expected, on increased store traffic and online growth. It was the chain’s best sales growth in three years.

Expense from a pension settlement and higher selling, general and administrative costs drove Havertys into the red for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014.

Dillard’s CEO credited an improved assortment and top-notch service with the company’s best sales performance of 2014 in the fourth quarter.

The company reported fourth-quarter net income of $130.5 million, up 9.5% from $119.1 million. Same-store sales rose 3% to $2.136 billion. Dillard's took in $2.18 billion in revenue during the fourth quarter, up from $2.08 billion during the same period last year.