Finance & Capital Management

City of Industry, Calif. -- Hot Topic reported Wednesday that it tightened its loss in the second quarter to $6.2 million, compared with a loss of $6.3 million a year earlier.

Revenue edged up to $150.9 million from $150 million. Same-store sales rose 2.6% for quarter.

Hot Topic said it will open 25 to 45 Torrid stores in fiscal 2012. It also plans to close 10 to 20 Hot Topic stores and about five Torrid stores next year, and remodel or relocate 40 to 50 Hot Topic stores and 10 to 20 Torrid stores.
 

PHOENIX — While consumers may be cutting back, it appears most don't feel buying items for their pets falls into the category of discretionary spending. Just look at  PetSmart, which reported that earnings per share soared 32% to 54 cents for the second quarter, compared with earnings per share of 41 cents for the same period last year. Net income totaled $61 million in the second quarter of 2011, compared to $48 million in the second quarter of 2010.

Grapevine, Texas -- GameStop Corp. reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended July 30 dropped 23% to $30.9 million, compared with $40.3 million in the year-ago period. The company cited slowing video game sales for the lackluster performance.

Revenue fell 3% to $1.74 billion, missing expectations, and same-store sales dropped 9.1%.
 

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Limited Brands reported Wednesday that net income for the second quarter rose a better-than-expected 29% to $231.2 million, compared with $178.7 million in the year-ago period. 

It cited strong full-price sales at Victoria’s Secret and Bath and Body Works for the strong showing.

Revenue rose 10% to $2.46 billion, matching Wall Street expectations. Same-store sales rose 9%.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — The discount store channel continues to thrive, as evidenced by Dollar Tree's strong second-quarter performance.

The company reported that sales for its second quarter ended July 30 increased 11.9% to $1.54 billion from $1.38 billion for the same period last year.  Comparable-store sales increased 4.7%, on top of a 6.7% increase for the second quarter 2010.

Dollar Tree's earnings rose an impressive 26.2% to 77 cents per diluted share from 61 cents per diluted share for the prior-year quarter. 

Secaucus, N.J. -- The Children's Place Retail Stores reported Thursday that its loss for the second quarter widened to $9.8 million, from $8.2 million a year earlier.

Revenue dipped almost 1% to $343.5 million, missing Wall Street’s expected $356.3 million.

Same-store sales declined 5.6%.



 

Look for a big number out of Walmart come early October when it discloses 2012 expansion plans for smaller formats in conjunction with the company’s fall analysts’ meeting. Here’s how you can tell. Reading between the lines on the company’s second quarter earnings call transcript Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon touted the fact that the return on investment for Neighborhood Market stores is now the same as Walmart supercenters. Recall, in the past the rationale for the slow expansion pace of the 40,000-sq.-ft.

Chesapeake, Va. -- Dollar Tree reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended July 31 surged 21.7% to $94.9 million, compared with $78 million in the year-ago period. The rise marks the fifth straight quarter of double-digit profit increases.

Revenue rose 12% to $1.54 billion, just missing Wall Street estimates. Same-store sales increased 4.7%.