Finance & Capital Management

Carle Place, N.Y. – 1-800-Flowers.com net income almost sextupled to $3.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, compared to $538,000 in the previous year period. Continued focus on leveraging its operating platform helped boost net income.

Foothill Ranch, Calif. – Teen retailer The Wet Seal reported a new loss of $22 million for its second quarter, up from $1 million to $22 million in the year-ago period. Lower merchandise margins, higher occupancy costs, costs related to exiting its Arden B business, and non-cash asset impairment charges all helped increase Wet Seal’s net loss.

Net sales decreased 11.6% to $121.2 million, from $137.2 million. One bright spot was e-commerce, where sales rose 25%.

Cincinnati – The Kroger Co. beat Wall Street expectations with strong net earnings and sales results for the second quarter of fiscal 2014. Net earnings rose 9% to $347 million from $317 million, while total sales increased 12% to $25.3 billion compared to $22.7 billion for the same period in the prior year.

RadioShack posted a net loss of $137.2 million in its second quarter, more than double the $52.2 million loss reported in the year-ago period. It was the troubled retailer’s 10th straight quarterly loss.

RadioShack warned in a regulatory filing it may seek bankruptcy protection, with a possible sale or third-party investment as other potential avenues to remedy its ongoing financial woes.

CATOOSA, Okla. — Cherokee Nation Businesses has partnered with commercial real estate developer Woodmont Outlets, an affiliate of The Woodmont Company, to potentially locate a new upscale retail development at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa.

CNB has agreed to lease property west of the casino to Woodmont Outlets, which plans to invest $80 million into premium outlet shops to be called “Cherokee Outlets.”
 

Non-deductible costs related to the purchase of Jos. A. Bank helped sharply reduce net earnings at The Men’s Wearhouse during the second quarter of fiscal 2014.

The Men’s Wearhouse reported net earnings of $12.3 million, down 71% from $42.9 million the same period a year earlier, although the total still beat Wall Street projections.

City of Commerce, Calif. — Net income at 99 Cents Only Stores Inc. slightly increased to $2 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 from $1.9 million a year earlier. Net sales rose 6% to $458.2 million from $433.1 million, while same-store sales increased 0.1%.

99 Cents Only cited the short-term impact of several long-term growth initiatives, as well as California’s ongoing drought, as limiting its financial growth during the quarter.

Five Below’s profit more than doubled to $8.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2014, from $4.1 million in the same period last year. Its results beat expectations. The chain issued a third-quarter earnings estimate slightly below Wall Street views, while increasing its full-year sales and earnings guidance.

Revenue in the quarter increased 30% to $152.5 million. Same-store sales increased by 3.2%.