Finance & Capital Management

The addition of retired KPMG International chairman Timothy Flynn to the Walmart board gives the retailer some compliance expertise amid ongoing investigations into alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

INDIANAPOLIS — Hhgregg's first quarter loss widened to $5.7 million, or 16 cents per diluted share, from a loss of $0.8 million, or 2 cents per diluted share, for the comparable prior year period, thanks to same-store sales decline of 5.1% and increased expenses.

PLEASANTON, Calif. and FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Retailers of discounted apparel should feel pretty good heading into back-to-school season, as shown by the strong monthly performance of Ross Stores and TJX Cos. With both delivering another month of comps growth, it’s clear value-oriented stores remain popular with consumers.

Sales at Ross increased 12% to $709 million for the month, up from $635 million for same period last year. Comparable-store sales for the month grew 7% on top of a 7% increase last year.

New York -- Costco Wholesale Corp. set the July same-store sales pace when it reported Wednesday a better-than-expected gain of 5%, and other discounters answered Thursday with similar positive results.

Naperville, Ill. -- Office Max Inc. reported Thursday net income of $10.7 million for the second quarter, besting Wall Street predictions and representing a strong turnaround from last year’s $3 million loss stemming from store closures and severance expenses.

Revenue for the quarter slipped 2.7% to $1.6 billion, missing analysts’ forecasted $1.64 billion in revenue. The office supply retailer said it will reinstate its quarterly common stock dividend, which it suspended more than three years ago.

Indianapolis -- Hhgregg reported Thursday a loss of $5.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, compared with a loss of $0.8 million in the year-ago period. The electronics and appliances retailer cited higher expenses coupled with same-store sales declines for the poor performance.

Net sales increased 13.5% to $489.9 million from $431.5 million, and same-store sales decreased 5.1%.

No company gave more money and products to charity in 2011 than Walmart, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual ranking.

The publication put Walmart at the top of its list of the 10 most charitable companies, indicating that the company donated $342 million in cash and $616 million in products last year. That is the equivalent of 4.1% of the company’s 2010 pretax profits.

New York -- An affiliate of Manhattan-based real estate company Jemb Realty Corp. has agreed to purchase the leases and certain intellectual assets of Daffy’s Inc. for $43 million, Bloomberg reported. The deal is subject to bankruptcy court approval.

Daffy’s filed for Chapter 11 protection listing assets of $60.2 million and debt of $70.5 million as of July 1. The chain operates 19 stores, with the majority in the New York City metro area.