Finance & Capital Management

eBay continues to strengthen its position in global commerce, as the company reported a 14% increase in revenue for the first quarter ended March 31 to $4.3 billion compared to the same period last year.

Total company enabled commerce volume (ECV) increased 24% in the quarter to $58 billion. Mobile ECV advanced 70% to $11 billion representing 19% of volume. Mobile downloads since inception exceeded 240 million and attracted 6.5 million new customers in the quarter. Cross-border trade grew 24%, representing $13 billion, or 22%, of total company ECV.

Although bad weather hurt some retailers during the crucial fourth quarter, it didn’t stop Michaels Stores from seeing comparable store sales increase 4.6% for the period ended Feb. 1.

Comparable store sales were driven by a 4.2% increase in the company's average ticket and a 0.5% increase in transactions, partially offset by a 10 basis point impact from deferred custom framing revenue.  

Net sales increased 2% to $1.55 billion from $1.52 billion during the quarter, which had a 53rd week that generated an estimated $66 million in net sales.

Carle Place, N.Y. – A shift in the Easter holiday from the third to the fourth quarter and severe weather negatively impacted financial results at 1-800-Flowers.com during the third quarter of fiscal 2014. 1-800-Flowers reported a net loss of $1.42 million, compared to net profit of $2.64 million in the prior fiscal year.

Net sales dropped 9% to $139.92 million, from $144.55 million.

Coppell, Texas – The Container Store increased net income by about 800% year-over-year during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, to $18.34 million from $2.09 million. A substantial drop in effective tax rate, as well as lower net interest expense, helped drive the impressive growth in net income.

Net sales slipped from $217.02 million to $216.82 million, while same-store sales climbed 1.4%. The company cited severe weather as reducing sales.

New York -- Coach Inc. third-quarter net income dropped 20% to $190.7 million, from $238.9 million a year earlier, amid increased competition from Michael Kors and others.

Revenue for the quarter ended March 29 fell 7.4% to $1.1 billion, compared to analysts’ $1.13 billion estimate. Same-store sales in North America fell 21%. Sales will continue to fall through the rest of the year, the company said.

Foot Locker Foundation, the charitable arm of Foot Locker, announced the 20 recipients of the Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Program. Each student will receive $20,000 in college scholarships, totaling $400,000.

The scholarship program, funded by the Foot Locker Foundation and administered by DoSomething.org, honors students who demonstrate academic excellence and exemplify strong leadership skills in sports and within their communities. To date, the program has awarded $1.2 million to help deserving high school student athletes pay for school.

Tuesday Morning Corporation has added Frank M. Hamlin, EVP of marketing at Guitar Center, and Sherry M. Smith, who most recently served as EVP and CFO of Supervalu, to its board.

Hamlin will serve on the nominating and governance committee, while Smith will serve on the audit and compensation committee.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. named veteran IT executive Bob DeRodes as chief information officer. The retailer also announced that it plans to incorporate MasterCard chip-and-PIN technology across its Target-branded REDcard portfolio by early 2015, and is converting existing payment terminals at its stores this year ahead of schedule.