Finance & Capital Management

Fort Myers, Fla. -- Chico's FAS said Wednesday that profit for the first quarter was $45.9 million, compared with $35.4 million in the year-ago period.

Net sales increased 11.5% to $537.2 million, from $481.6 million in last year's first quarter. Consolidated same-store sales rose 7.7%.

The operator of Chico’s, White House|Black Market and Soma Intimates said it anticipates opening 21 net new stores in the May-June 2011 time frame.

MINNEAPOLIS — First-quarter sales at Target increased 2.8% to $15.6 billion, and same-store sales increased 2% the company reported. The modest sales growth translated into earnings per share that advance 9.8% to 99 cents, four cent better than analysts’ consensus estimate of 95 cents, and net income that increased 2.7% to $689 million. Share repurchase activity contributed to the earnings per share growth as Target spent $819 million during the first quarter to buy back 15.4 million shares at an average price of $53.32.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.  — Staples reported that total company sales for the first quarter of 2011 increased 2% to $6.2 billion compared with the first quarter of 2010.  Net income for the first quarter of 2011 increased 5% year-over-year to $198 million, and diluted earnings per share, on a GAAP basis, increased 8% to 28 cents from 26 cents in the first quarter of 2010.

Beachwood, Ohio -- Shopping center owner and developer Developers Diversified Realty Corp. said Wednesday it will raze Terrell Plaza shopping center in San Antonio, Texas, and an existing two-story enclosed mall at Tamarac Square in Denver, Colo., to accommodate Target Corp.’s construction of two new stores.

DDR said it intends to redevelop adjacent retail space at both centers.

Framingham, Mass. – Staples reported Wednesday that first-quarter profit rose 5% to $198.2 million, compared with $188.8 million a year earlier. Results were boosted by overseas strength and increased buying by small businesses in North America.

But results were softer than expected, and the company cut its full-year earnings guidance. Its earnings outlook for the second quarter and the year are below Wall Street estimates.

Revenue rose 2% to $6.18 billion, from $6.06 billion a year ago. Same-store sales slipped 1%.

Pittsburgh -- Dick's Sporting Goods reported Tuesday that net income for the first quarter rose to $37.5 million, compared with $26.2 million a year earlier.

Net sales increased 6.3% to $1.1 billion. Same-store sales rose 2.1%.

The retailer will open 34 new Dick's Sporting Goods stores in 2011, as well as remodel 14 existing locations. It also plans to open approximately three Golf Galaxy stores and relocate one Golf Galaxy store this year.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores reported Tuesday that net income for the first quarter ended April 30 rose 3% to $3.39 billion, beating Wall Street estimates. Overall results were powered by overseas stores and stringent cost controls, but business in the United States remains soft as U.S. Walmart stores posted an eighth straight quarter of same-store declines.

Wal-Mart's U.S. division recorded a 0.3% dip in same-store revenue, dragged down by a 1.1% drop at its namesake stores. Same-store sales increased 4.2% at Sam’s Club warehouse stores.

Dallas -- Lucernex Technologies said Tuesday that Jack in the Box has implemented Lucernex’s store lifecycle management solution to manage its real estate portfolio, which includes more than 2,200 Jack in the Box restaurants across 19 states.

According to Lucernex, by implementing the retail version of the Lx Retail product suite, Jack in the Box can streamline its process of selecting store sites, building and opening new store locations, as well as managing existing locations to avoid time delays and save costs.