International Business

Coach ends its fiscal with a set of strong results that signify the turnaround program is making excellent progress. Although sales shrunk in both North America and Europe, this is because this quarter was a week shorter than the same period last year. When this is stripped out, total Coach brand sales rose by 5%, or by 7% on a constant currency basis.  

Coach beat the Street on earnings in the fourth quarter even as its sales declined as the company continued to pullback on shipments to department stores.    Net income nearly doubled to $151.7 million, or 53 cents per share, in the quarter ended July 1, amid a 16% decline in selling and general expenses, compared to net income in year-ago period of $82 million. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains, came to 50 cents per share. Analysts had estimated earnings of 49 cents per share.  

TJX Companies reported second-quarter revenue and earnings that beat the Street, fueled by strong traffic across all its brands.      Total sales rose 6% to $8.36 billion, beating analysts' estimates of $8.29 billion, in the quarter ended July 29. Same-store sales rose 3% for the quarter, also better than expected. By brand, same-store rose 7% at Home Goods and TJX Canada; 2% at Marmaxx (TJ Maxx and Marshalls); and 1% at TJX International.   

A premium outerwear best known for its signature goose-down jacket with fur-trimmed hood is expanding its fledgling store footprint.    Canada Goose Holdings Inc. announced plans to open three additional retail stores this fall, with locations in Boston, Calgary (Canada), and Tokyo, Japan. Also opening this fall are two previously announced stores in Chicago and London.   

After eliminating in excess of $435 million in funded debt.   Payless ShoeSource has emerged from bankruptcy — with a slimmed down U.S. portfolio and a cleaner balance sheet.  

Weak sales made for a rough second quarter for Office Depot.   The retailer said its profit fell to $24 million, or 5 cents a share, short of Wall Street expectations, compared with $210 million, or 38 cents a share, in the year-ago period. (The 2016 quarter included a $250 million fee paid by Staples to Office Depot after Staples abandoned its intent to acquire its rival.)  

Amazon is the "best long-term growth story available to investors today." But don't expect the company to generate meaningful profits anytime soon.   That's according to MKM Partners managing director Rob Sanderson who, on Tuesday, raised his price target on the online giant's stock to $1,275 per share, up from $1,095.  

Move over Amazon — China's largest online player is looking to take on the world.    Now the largest e-commerce company in the world with $430 billion in gross merchandise volume, Alibaba is seeking to become a global company as well with a goal of serving more than 2 billion shoppers, according to a new report by global think tank FGRT (Fung Global Retail & Technology).