Finance & Capital Management

LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix has raised its private stock from $26.90 per share to $27.55 per share following a 5% sales increase for the first half of 2013 to $14.5 billion, compared to the first half of 2013. Comparable-store sales for the first half of 2013 increased 3%.

Austin, Texas -- Whole Foods Market reported that its net income in the third quarter increased 21% to $142 million, better than analysts had expected. The company also sounded a bullish note about expansion.

Walter Robb, co-CEO, Whole Foods, said the company continues to gain market share and still sees the potential for 1,000 stores in the United States alone. It currently operates 355 U.S. locations.

New York -- CIT Group Inc., the largest commercial lender in the U.S. apparel industry, has stopped supporting deliveries from smaller manufacturers to J.C. Penney stores, the New York Post reported on Wednesday.

The reason for the crackdown could not be immediately confirmed, the report said, but insiders speculated that CIT got nervous after getting a peek at Penney’s financials.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation, Food Marketing Institute and Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) both issued statements applauding the ruling on the Federal Reserve Swipe Fee Regulation. The groups were responding to a U.S. District Court ruling on Wednesday that the implementation rules for debit swipe fee reform established by the Federal Reserve were inconsistent with the intent of the law.

Sandpoint, Idaho -- Coldwater Creek and Alliance Data Systems Corp. announced they have signed a new, long-term agreement for Alliance Data's Retail Services business to expand Coldwater Creek's co-branded credit card program and launch a Coldwater Creek private label credit card program.

Naperville, Ill. -- OfficeMax Inc. said Wednesday it received a $72 million cash distribution from Boise Cascade Holdings LLC, in which it has a minority stake.

OfficeMax owns about 20% of the voting equity securities of Boise Cascade, which went public in February. The company manufactures plywood and other building materials.

OfficeMax is in the process of merging with rival Office Depot.

Denver — Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage plans to open freestanding locations in Beaverton and Bend, Oregon in August.

New York -- The Jones Group Inc. swung to a loss in the second quarter as the company was challenged with lower sales, weaker margins and higher costs.

Jones Group reported a loss of $3.4 million for the second quarter, compared to a profit of $8.1 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue decreased 1.1% to $845.6 million from $855 million for the second quarter of 2012. Analysts estimated revenues of $832.06 million for the quarter. One bright spot for Jones Group was an almost 21% year-over-year increase in wholesale jeanswear sales.

Philadelphia -- Five Below will make its Texas debut, opening four locations in Austin. The stores, slated to open Aug. 2, are the first of more than a dozen stores Five Below plans to open in the Lone Star state this year.

Targeted at pre-teens and teens, Five Below offers a variety of merchandise across a number of retail categories, with every item priced $1 to $5

El Segundo, Calif. -- Big 5 Sporting Goods reported that its second-quarter profit more than doubled from a year ago on higher sales and expanding margins, but its revenue fell short of expectations.

The sporting goods’ retailer said its net income increased to $6.1 million for the period ended June 30, up from $2.6 million in the year ago period. Net sales climbed 5.9%, to $239.9 million, below the $244 million expected by analysts.