Finance & Capital Management

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Safeway reported Thursday net income of $229.6 million for the quarter ended Jan. 1, compared with a loss of $1.61 billion in the year-ago period, based on a hefty charge for the reduced value of its assets.

The grocery chain said revenue inched up 1% to $12.8 billion from $12.69 billion, topping Wall Street estimates of $12.45 billion.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Limited Brands reported Thursday that its jumped 27% to $452.3 million in the fourth quarter, compared with $356.1 million in the year-ago period, on strong sales and healthy margins.

The parent to Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works previously announced that revenues for the quarter ended Jan. 29 rose 13% to $3.46 billion, beating Wall Street's estimate. Same-store sales increased 10%.

For the full year, net sales were $9.613 billion compared with net sales of $8.632 billion last year. Same-store sales rose 9%.

Sears Holdings named Lou D’Ambrosio its new CEO in conjunction with the release of fourth-quarter results that sales and profits decline, as a 2.5% same-store sales increase at Kmart was not enough to offset a 4.5% comp decline at Sear’s flagship stores.

Minneapolis -- Christopher & Banks Corp. said Thursday that it has named Michael Lyftogt to the position of senior VP and CFO.

Lyftogt, a 12-year veteran of the company, has worked in a variety of financial roles including chief accounting officer and VP finance and has served as interim CFO since July 2010.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway surprised analysts Thursday morning with fourth-quarter earnings per share of 62 cents, well above a consensus of 57 cents among analysts.

Total sales were up 0.9% to $12.8 billion in the fourth quarter. Higher fuel sales and an increase in the Canadian exchange rate were offset by reduced sales due to store closures and a 0.8% decline in identical-store sales, excluding fuel, the grocer reported. Same-store sales, excluding fuel, declined 0.5%. Fuel sales rose 23%.

Columbus, Ohio -- Limited Brands reported Thursday that its jumped 27% to $452.3 million in the fourth quarter, compared with $356.1 million in the year-ago period, on strong sales and healthy margins.

The parent to Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works previously announced that revenues for the quarter ended Jan. 29 rose 13% to $3.46 billion, beating Wall Street's estimate. Same-store sales increased 10%.

For the full year, net sales were $9.613 billion compared with net sales of $8.632 billion last year. Same-store sales rose 9%.

Members shopped Sam’s Club more often and spent more on each trip during the fourth quarter, propelling Sam’s to a 2.7% same-store sales increase, while operating profits were flat. The forecast for the first quarter calls for same-store sales to increase between 1% and 3%.

Everyone has an opinion on Walmart, especially given the subpar performance of the U.S. stores division. The search for answers makes for some interesting conversations such as the one that took place earlier this week on the financial news network CNBC. Click here to watch.