Strategy

Toronto - Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) is capitalizing on 42 real estate assets. The retailer has closed a joint venture with Simon Property Group focused on credit tenant, net-leased and multi-tenanted retail buildings in the U.S. and internationally.   

Baltimore – Even a reduction in income taxes couldn’t fully offset the impact of rising expenses on profit at Under Armour during the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income decreased 17% to $15 million, compared with $18 million in the prior year's period.   The decline in net income came even as net revenues increased 29% to $784 million, compared with $610 million. Direct-to-consumer net revenues, which represented 32% of total net revenues for the second quarter, grew 33% year-over-year.

Brooklyn, N.Y. – If you’re wondering whether you should become an Etsy seller, being young, female, and a parent may be factors in your favor. According to a new survey of 4,000 U.S. Etsy sellers conducted by the online handmade crafts marketplace, 86% of Etsy sellers are women.   In addition, Etsy sellers are twice as likely to be under the age of 35 and many are parents with children at home.   

Framingham, Mass. – The future of technology looks cloudy, and IT professionals should be pleased. In a new study, International Data Corporation (IDC) predicts the number of new cloud-based solutions will triple in the next four to five years.    

Minneapolis – Target Corp. is taking a centralized approach to security to help ensure that data breaches such as the one which inflicted serious financial and branding damage in late 2013 do not happen again. Target has opened a Cyber Fusion Center (CFC) that brings Target’s key information security teams together.  

Brentwood, Tenn. – Tractor Supply Company met Wall Street expectations with profit growth that was part of an overall bountiful financial harvest in the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income rose 15% to $153.3 million from $133.4 million the same period a year earlier, aided by selling, general and administrative expenses, which stayed flat as a percentage of increasing sales.  

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is taking control of its e-commerce operations in China. The discount giant has acquired the 49% of its Chinese e-commerce arm Yihaodian it did not previously own, taking full ownership of its e-commerce business in China.   

Seattle – Starbucks Corp. is snubbing Uber in new extension of its loyalty program. Starbucks is partnering with rival online transportation service Lyft to offer Lyft drivers and passengers the chance to earn points in its loyalty program.  

Cupertino, Calif. – Sales of gadgets such as iPhone, iMac and the new Apple Watch, as well as services, helped propel Apple’s strong performance during the third quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income soared 39% to $10.7 billion from $7.7 billion the same quarter the prior year, aided by costs and taxes that did not increase as fast as sales.   Revenue increased 33% to $49.6 billion, from $37.4 billion.  

Sidney, Neb. – Specialty outdoor retailer Cabela’s Inc. missed the target Wall Street set for profit and revenue during the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Cabela’s reported net income of $40.5 million, down 8% from $43.5 million the same quarter the prior year.   Growing cost of revenue helped drive down profit. Total revenue grew 10% to $836.28 million, from $761.2 million. Consolidated same-store sales dropped 0.9% due to Canadian currency fluctuations, although same-store sales in the U.S. increased 0.8%.