Strategy

Nashville, Tenn. -- Footwear retailer Genesco Inc. said its fourth-quarter net income from continuing operations rose to $41.5 million from $31.4 million a year ago. Its results easily topped Wall Street expectations.

Revenue in the quarter rose 29% to $723 million. Same-store sales increased 12%. By brand, same-store sales were up 13% at Lids Sports Group and 14% at the Journeys Group. Johnston & Murphy Retail’s sales increased by 8%, and Underground Station decreased by 4%.
 

Fort Worth, Texas -- Pier 1 Imports Inc. said that its total revenue for the fourth quarter, ended Feb. 25, increased a better-than-expected 11.8% to $477 million. Same-store sales rose 10.3%.

The chain said total revenue for the fiscal year ended Feb. 25 climbed 9.8% to $1.53 billion.

The home décor retailer is upbeat about its first-quarter prospects.

New York City -- JDA Software Group announced that Woolworths, South Africa’s leading and most respected retail chain, selected a number of JDA solutions in fourth quarter 2011.

Suffern, N.Y. -- Ascenta Retail Group Inc., whose brands include Dressbarn, Maurices, and Justice, said its fiscal second-quarter profit rose 50% on higher sales. The company raised its earnings forecast for the current fiscal year.

Ascena said that during the quarter ended Jan. 28 it earned $63.7 million, compared with $42.5 million in the same period a year before.

Revenue during the quarter rose 15% to $862 million. E-commerce sales jumped 61% to $52 million in the quarter.

New York City -- Foot Locker Inc. said that its fourth-quarter profit increased 42% amid higher sales and cost cuts.

The company earned a better-than-expected $81 million in the three months that ended Jan. 28, up from $57 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue increased 8% to $1.5 billion, from $1.39 billion. Same-store sales were up 7.5% in quarter.

NEW YORK -- Liz Claiborne Inc. swung to a fourth-quarter profit, buoyed by gains from sales of certain brands and trademarks, including the sale of its namesake brand to JCPenney. But the company's total revenue came in well below expectations, hurt by the faltering performance of its Juicy Couture division.

Liz Claiborne, which is being renamed Fifth & Pacific Cos. as it focuses on its Juicy Couture, Kate Spade and Lucky Brand brands, earned $229.2 million in the quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with a loss of $30.1 million in the same period last year.

The surge in February same-store sales Target reported Thursday morning didn’t come as a surprise to incoming CFO John Mulligan who alerted the market to the above plan performance when Target reported fourth-quarter results on Feb. 23.

PHOENIX — When it comes to pets, no expense is too great, and many owners will even forgo spending on themselves in order to get the very best for their animals. Therefore, it is not surprising that such companies as PetSmart continue to perform well even in a down economy.

For its fourth quarter, PetSmart reported that earnings per share were up 18% to 91 cents. Comparable-store sales grew 5.5%, benefitting from comparable transactions growth of 2.9%. Total sales for the quarter were up 8% to $1.6 billion.

CINCINNATI — Kroger posted a loss in the quarter ended Jan. 28, attributing the loss to costs associated with consolidating its pension plan for union workers.

The grocer, which counts among its banners Kroger, Ralphs and Food 4 Less, lost $306.9 million in the quarter, compared with a profit of $278.8 million in the year-ago period.

Total sales in the quarter rose 7.7% to $21.4 billion. Excluding fuel, sales rose 5%. Same-store sales increased 4.9%.