Finance & Capital Management

Issaquah, Wash. -- Costco Wholesale Corp. reported Thursday that profit for the quarter ended Nov. 20 rose 2.6% to $320 million, from $312 million a year earlier. The wholesale club operator attributed the lackluster performance, which missed Wall Street expectations, to higher costs, which offset increased revenue.

Costco's revenue rose to $21.18 billion, missing analysts’ predicted $21.29 billion in revenue.

Same-store sales rose 10%; excluding gas prices and strengthening foreign currencies, the figure rose 7%.

Houston -- ATM owner Cardtronics said Thursday it has forged a long-term agreement in Puerto Rico with National Lumber & Hardware to install ATMs at 38 locations for the home improvement and interior design retailer.

National Lumber & Hardware is a division of Pitusa, the island’s largest Puerto Rico-based retailer.

Mooresville, N.C. — At its annual conference in Mooresville, N.C., held Tuesday, Lowe's executives are prepared to talk growth and the transformation from retailer to a "home improvement company."

By Tom Mullaney, [email protected]

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Staples has named Cynthia Pevehouse SVP general counsel, effective Jan. 3, 2012. Pevehouse will have global management responsibility for the company’s legal team and report to Ron Sargent, Staples’ chairman and chief executive officer.

“Cynthia brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to Staples,” said Sargent. “With her extensive legal management experience and proven leadership, Cynthia will play an important part in supporting the company’s growth.”

Philadelphia — Comparable sales for the third quarter took a slight dip at The Pep Boys due to continued weakness in the company's retail segment. The company reported that comparable sales fell 0.4%, consisting of a 0.4% comparable service revenue increase and a 0.6% comparable merchandise sales decrease. Total sales increased 5.2% to $522.2 million, from $496.4 million for the same period last year.

Washington, D.C. — Supervalu announced that it has joined the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge, which aims to engage building operators nationwide in improving energy efficiency by 20% by 2020. The announcement was made by President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton during a leadership event attended by Craig Herkert, Supervalu CEO and president, this morning in Washington, D.C.

Goodlettsville, Tenn. — Dollar General on Monday told analysts the company plans to open 40 DG Market concepts in 2012 in both new and existing markets based on the success of the concept.