International Business

NEW YORK — Equinox, an operator of full-service fitness clubs, announced that Sarah Robb O'Hagan, who currently serves as president of Gatorade and global sports nutrition at PepsiCo, will join the company as its first president. Robb O'Hagan will lead an aggressive domestic expansion strategy to maximize the continued success of the growing company, including its family of brands: Equinox, Pure Yoga, Blink, and SoulCycle. She will report to Equinox CEO Harvey Spevak.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holding Corp. reported Thursday a loss of $132 million for the quarter ended July 28, narrowed from a loss of $146 million in the year-ago period. The retailer cited expense cutting and reduced inventory for the performance improvement.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — A fourth consecutive quarter of same-store sales growth at Walmart’s U.S. business helped the company achieve a slightly better than expected profit performance.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores reported Thursday that net income for the second quarter rose 5.7% to $4.02 billion, compared with $3.8 billion in the year-ago period. Total revenue increased 4.5% to $114.3 billion, but missed Wall Street’s forecasted $115.8 billion in revenue.

Same-store sales in the quarter advanced 2.2%, edging Wall Street expectations but trailing last quarter’s 2.6% same-store sales gain.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys“R”U opened its first stores in Beijing this weekend, marking its continued expansion across China. 

PURCHASE, N.Y. — The president of PepsiCo's Western Europe business has been given a new role.

Minneapolis -- Best Buy Co. co-founder Richard Schulze said Thursday that he is staying the course on his plan to acquire the company and take it private, adding that he has heard from a lineup of private equity firms prepared to make "significant commitments."

In a letter to the Best Buy board, Schulze indicated that he'd like to create a group and put forth a fully financed plan.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. reported Wednesday that profit for the second quarter remained essentially flat at $704 million.

Sales advanced 3.5% to $16.45 million, boosted by a 3.1% same-store sales rise in the quarter but missed Wall Street’s expected $16.75 million in revenue.