Finance & Capital Management

Fayettville, Ark. — Wal-Mart Stores president and CEO Doug McMillon told shareholders at the company’s annual meeting on Friday that the company would accelerate the pace of change going forward. Presiding over over his first shareholders’ meeting since being named chief executive, McMillon put a big emphasis on technology, saying that the chain needs to be “at the forefront of innovation and technology.”

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores CEO and president Bruce Johnson cited weather and promotions as factors affecting the retailer’s first quarter results.

Net sales in the quarter decreased 1.9% to $589.9 million from $601.1 million in the first quarter of 2013, driven primarily by a 6.2% decrease in same-store sales. Lower initial franchise revenues and lower liquidation revenues on end-of-season mark-out apparel merchandise received from Sears Holdings also negatively impacted net sales.

The Men's Wearhouse expects to complete its merger with Jos. A. Bank in the next few weeks, and looks forward to reaping the benefits of that combination as it closes its fiscal first quarter ended May 3.

Total net sales for quarter increased 2.3% to $630.5 million from $616.5 million in the prior-year quarter. Retail segment sales for the quarter increased by 2.4% and corporate apparel sales increased by 0.8% as compared to the prior year quarter.

St. Louis — The Panera Bread Company board of directors has approved a new three-year share repurchase program of up to $600 million. This new program will replace an existing program which was scheduled to expire on Aug. 23, 2015 and has been terminated by the board of directors in connection with approving the new program.

The repurchases will be effected from time to time. The share repurchase program and the board's authorization of the program may be modified, suspended, or discontinued at any time.

Houston — Mattress Firm Holding Corp. has completed its acquisition of the mattress specialty retail assets and operations of Mattress Liquidators, Inc., which operates Mattress King retail stores in Colorado and BedMart retail stores in Arizona.

Fremont, Calififornia — The Men’s Weahouse reported a decline in first-quarter profit, hurt mostly by expenses. But the retailer’s results still topped Wall Street expectations.
 
Men's Wearhouse, which is acquiring smaller rival Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, reported first-quarter net earnings of $16.5, compared with $33 million last year. Results include $26.5 million in costs related to strategic projects, primarily Jos. A. Bank and cost reduction initiatives.

Atlanta — Shapewear wholesaler and retailer Spanx announced that Jan Singer has been named CEO of the company. She joins Spanx from Nike, where she held various senior leadership roles, including corporate VP of global apparel and corporate VP of global footwear.  

Singer, who will report to Spanx founder and owner Sara Blakely, is expected to come on board in early July.  Gregg Ribatt, interim CEO, will assist Singer through a transition, and then continue to serve on the company’s board of advisors.

Wal-Mart Stores chairman Rob Walton, 69, announced the appointment of Greg Penner, 44, as vice chairman at the company's shareholders' meeting Friday morning, a move that positions Penner, Walton 's son-in-law, as his successor.