Finance & Capital Management

San Francisco -- Gap Inc. reported a 9.4% increase in third-quarter profit as the retailer's turnaround continues. The company also reaffirmed its full-year profit guidance and said it is increasing its stock buyback authorization by $1 billion.

The chain posted net income of $337 million in the three-month period ended Nov. 2, compared with $308 million last year.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Stein Mart reported a return to profit in the third quarter, recording net income of $28,000 for the period ended Nov. 2, compared with a loss of $1.7 million last year. Results matched Wall Street expectations.

Revenue climbed 6% to $290.5 million from $273.7 million, topping Wall Street's estimate of $287.9 million. Same-store sales rose 4.8%.

New York -- Bon-Ton Stores narrowed its loss in the third quarter to $931,000, compared with a loss of $10.1 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue dipped 3% to $651.2 million from $668.7 million, narrowly missing analysts’ expected $671.2 million in revenue.

Same-store sales fell 2.8%.

New York — The United States Postal Service has signed an agreement to occupy 8,440 sq. ft. of retail space at 333 East 14th Street in Manhattan, according to the Feil Organization.

The Peter Stuyvesant branch of the U.S.P.S. inked the 10-year sublease for the space, which includes 6,940 sq. ft. on the ground floor and 1,500 sq. ft. of basement. It is a relocation of the Postal Service’s existing 432 East 14th Street branch.

Rockville, Md. — TitleMax, a title lending company, and Curry in a Hurry have signed leases in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, according to Divaris Real Estate, which represented both tenants in the transactions.

TitleMax took 1,850 sq. ft. in Manassas Park Center in Manassas Park, Va. TitleMax has more than 1,000 stores in 12 states.

Curry in a Hurry leased 1,706 sq. ft. in Southbridge Plaza in Dumfries, Va. Curry in a Hurry joins Quiznos, Five Guys, Pizza Boli’s and Mandrian Court.

Covington, La. — Walgreens has opened a new full-service drugstore in Gulfport, Miss., at the intersection of Pass Road and Interstate 49. The 13,650-sq.-ft. store has a drive-thru window and full service pharmacy and may serve as a catalyst for retail development in the corridor. Stirling Properties provided development services, including lease negotiation, financing and project management for the third party owner of the property.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp.'s third-quarter net income fell 47%, hurt by costs related to its Canadian expansion. Its adjusted profit beat analysts' estimates, but sales fell short. The retailer lowered its full-year adjusted earnings forecast.

For the three months ended Nov. 2, Target earned $341 million, or 54 cents per share, down from $637 million in the year ago period. Removing Canada-related expansion costs and other items, earnings were 84 cents per share.

New Albany, Ohio -- Abercrombie & Fitch Co. swung to a loss in its third quarter, dragged down in part by charges related to the shuttering of its 28 freestanding Gilly Hicks stores. But its adjusted profit topped analysts' estimates, even as its sales softened.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings widened its loss in the third quarter as sales decreased at both its Sears and Kmart units.

For the three months ended Nov. 2, Sears lost $534 million, down from a loss of $498 million a year earlier.

Revenue fell 7% to $8.27 billion from $8.86 billion mostly because it had fewer Sears and Kmart stores operating.

Same-store sales dropped 3.1%, and were down 4% at Sears' stores and declined 2.1% at Kmart stores.

San Francisco -- Williams-Sonoma Inc.'s on Thursday reported that its third-quarter profit rose a better-then-expected 16% as same-store sales increased across all its brands. The company also raised its full-year view.