Finance & Capital Management

Improved sales in Pacific Sunwear’s men’s division helped bolster the company’s earnings for the second quarter ended Aug. 2.

The company reported earnings of $7.5 million for the quarter, compared to a net loss of $19.2 million in the year-ago period. Comparable store sales inched up 0.3%.

Revenue for the quarter was a better-than-expected $211.7 million, up from $210.1 million last year.

New York – A Credit Suisse analyst is reportedly recommending that Staples and Office Depot, itself recently merged with Office Max, merge. According to Investors Business Daily, Credit Suisse analyst Gary Balter made the suggestion in a note sent to clients on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

The Family Dollar board is under new pressure to walk away from a deal with Dollar Tree after Dollar General further increased an already more generous counter offer.

Early Monday Dollar General increased its all cash offer to $80 a share from $78.50 a share and increased the number of stores it said it would be willing to divest to 1,500 from 700. The company also said it would be willing to pay Family Dollar a $500 million reverse break-up if the deal failed to secure antitrust clearance.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. -- The battle for Family Dollar moved into higher gear on Tuesday with Dollar General raising its bid for Family Dollar to $9.1 billion, or $80 per share, up from $78.50 per share in its previous offer. Dollar General also warned that it would attempt a hostile bid if Family Dollar refused to enter into talks regarding the new offer.

The strategy at Conn’s to grow sales of its most profitable product lines have proved successful for the specialty retailer, which marked its 12th consecutive quarter of increasing same-store sales. But overall results were unsatisfactory, because provisions for credit losses were higher than expected, resulting in portfolio performance deterioration.

Online sales at regional department store operator Belk grew 43% during the second quarter, prompting the company to announce a major investment in its e-commerce and fulfillment capabilities.

Amazon and Barnes & Noble still pose an enormous threat, but things may be looking up for Books-A-Million where losses are declining and the company just hired an e-commerce veteran.

Books-A-Million said revenue for its second quarter ended August 2 declined 0.5% to $108.3 million, same store sales increased 0.1% and it lost $3 million, or 21 cents a share. The loss was significantly less worse than a prior year loss of $9.1 million, or 62 cents a share.

Improved merchandising strategies and marketing execution at Big Lots has president and CEO David Campisi feeling good about prospects for a company that continues to distance itself from its closeout roots.