Finance & Capital Management

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp. reported Thursday a loss of $132 million for the second quarter, tightened from a loss of $146 million in the year-ago period. Sales dropped 6.6% to $9.47 billion and same-store sales declined as well, by 2.9% at U.S. Sears stores and by 4.7% at its Kmart units.

New York -- Saks Inc. said Thursday that it will close its Highland Park, Ill., store, located in Renaissance Place, and its Austin, Texas, store, located in the Arboretum Market.

Both stores are slated to close on Dec. 31.

Chelmsford, Mass. -- A report released Thursday by workforce management solution-provider Kronos Inc. found that retail experienced gains in job applications and hiring during the month of August.

Pittsburgh -- American Eagle Outfitters said Thursday it has struck a deal with Suyen Corp. that will see the AEO banner open throughout the Philippines.
 
American Eagle signed a multiyear retail license agreement with Suyen, which operates more than 700 stores under various banners in the Philippines, along with 126 franchised stores in the country. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The first stores in the country, which will consist of standalone and in-store shops, are slated to open spring 2013.
 

Houston -- The Men's Wearhouse Inc. reported Wednesday that net income for the quarter ended July 28 rose to $59.4 million, from $57.1 million in the year-ago period.

Sales edged up 1% to $662.3 million, narrowly missing Wall Street’s expected $662.9 million in revenue. Same-store sales grew 4.4% at namesake stores, but fell 3.3% at K&G stores.

The company has raised its guidance for full-year 2012.
 

San Francisco -- The Gymboree Corp. reported Wednesday a loss of $14.1 million in the second quarter, compared with a loss of $6.9 million for the same period last year.
 
Sales rose 3.8% to $268.8 million, from $259.0 million last year, and same-store sales dipped 1%.

During fiscal 2012, the company reiterated its plans to open 115 new stores, including 90 locations for its value-priced Crazy 8 concept.
 

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. reported Thursday that same-store sales for the month of August slid 8.2%. The report came on the heels of Wednesday’s announcement that Tricare would not reinstate the drug retailer into the pharmacies approved to fill prescriptions.

Little Rock, Ark. -- Dillard’s said Thursday that it has appointed Chris Johnson as its VP real estate. He succeeds James Cherry, Jr., who retired in December.

Johnson, a CPA, was previously VP of accounting for the department store retailer.
 

Minneapolis -- Supervalu announced Wednesday it will close about 60 underperforming or nonstrategic stores in fiscal 2012. The closings include 22 Save-A-Lot locations, 27 Albertsons stores, four Acme stores and one previously announced Jewel-Osco.

The majority of the stores are expected to close before Dec. 1, which marks the end of the company’s fiscal 2013 third quarter.

Same store sales increased 5.1% at Dollar General during the second quarter and the company remains on track to open more than 600 new stores this year.

Sales increased 10.4% to $3.95 billion during the second quarter ended August 3, thanks to the combination of same store sales growth and the addition of new stores. Net income increased 47% to $214 million in the second quarter compared to $146 million the prior year and earnings per share increased 52% 64 cents, inline with analysts’ consensus estimated, compared to 42 cents the prior year.