Finance & Capital Management

Equity One CEO David Lukes has accepted the chief executive’s position at DDR Corp., it has been announced in a press release from DDR. Equity One was acquired by Regency Centers in November to form the largest REIT focused on shopping center development.   Two of Luke’s lieutenants at Equity One will join him in leading the Beachwood, Ohio-based company. COO Michael Makinen and CFO Matthew Ostrower will perform the same roles at DDR.  

Big Lots on Friday posted an unexpected decline in total revenue in its fourth quarter as a reduced store count cut into its sales. But the chain’s earnings topped the Street.      The close-out retailer also boosted its dividend and initiated a new share buyback program.  

Shoppers just can’t get enough of off-price stores.   On the heels of strong results by TJX Cos. and Ross Stores, Burlington Stores on Thursday turned in a stellar fourth quarter performance. And it also revealed plans to expand its store base.    Burlington’s net income in the quarter, ended January 28, surged 27.1% to $125.6 million, or $1.77 per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, were $1.78 per share. The results easily topped Wall Street expectations. 

Privately-owned, family-operated Meijer announced plans to invest more than $375 million in new and remodeled stores in 2017 across its six-state footprint.    The investment includes the construction of seven new Meijer supercenters and 22 remodel projects. While Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin will each welcome new Meijer supercenters later this year, dozens of other Meijer stores have begun or will soon begin remodel projects to enhance the customer shopping experience.  

InvenTrust Properties has acquired The Shops at Town Center in Germantown, Maryland for $53.6 million. The necessity-based property boasts a strong lineup of food and beverage tenants including Baja Fresh, Chipotle, and Zoe’s Kitchen.  

The asset disposition company A&G Realty has entered into a joint venture with a supermarket real estate veteran with the business proposition that better data analysis will help retailers be more proactive in managing real estate portfolios.  

Abercrombie’s efforts to revive its namesake brand still have a ways to go judging by its fourth quarter performance. But Hollister is on the upswing.    Abercrombie & Fitch Co.’s total revenue in the quarter, ended Jan. 28, fell 7% to $1.04 billion, slightly below expectations.   

The Kroger Co. has broken its impressive record of 52 consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth.    The supermarket giant on Thursday posted an unexpected decline in fourth-quarter same-store sales on Thursday amid ongoing food price deflation and increased competition.   Kroger’s net income fell to $506 million, or 53 cents per share, for the quarter ended Jan. 28, in line with estimates, and down from $559 million, or 57 cents per share, a year earlier.