Strategy

Everyone has an opinion on Walmart, especially given the subpar performance of the U.S. stores division. The search for answers makes for some interesting conversations such as the one that took place earlier this week on the financial news network CNBC. Click here to watch. 

Columbus, Ohio -- Limited Brands reported Thursday that its jumped 27% to $452.3 million in the fourth quarter, compared with $356.1 million in the year-ago period, on strong sales and healthy margins.

The parent to Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works previously announced that revenues for the quarter ended Jan. 29 rose 13% to $3.46 billion, beating Wall Street's estimate. Same-store sales increased 10%.

For the full year, net sales were $9.613 billion compared with net sales of $8.632 billion last year. Same-store sales rose 9%.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart said it will present more than $1.5 million to nonprofits in six U.S. communities, thanks to Facebook users' help with the retailer's commitment to fight hunger through 2015.

Walmart's Fighting Hunger Together campaign called on Facebook users to go to Walmart.com/fighthunger and "like" one of the 100 hungriest communities in the United States, as ranked by the Food Research and Action Center. More than 10 million votes were cast during the campaign, which ran from Nov. 15 through Dec. 31.

Little Rock, Ark. -- Dillard's said Tuesday that its net income grew 38% in the fourth quarter as its sales improved and the retailer controlled expenses and inventory.

Dillard's earnings rose to $109.6 million in the three months ended Jan. 29, compared with $79.5 million one year earlier.

Sales rose 5% to $1.93 billion from $1.83 billion, with merchandise sales up 6% to $1.91 billion. The rest of its revenue comes from its CDI Contractors construction business. Same-store sales rose 7%.

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe’s reported a 39% increase in fiscal fourth-quarter earnings to $285 million, up from $205 million a year earlier.

Sales grew 3% in the latest quarter to $10.5 billion. Same-store sales rose 1.1%.

For fiscal 2010, net income grew to $2 billion, from $1.8 billion in fiscal 2009. Sales grew to $48.8 billion from $47.2 billion.

The company expects to open 25 to 30 stores in 2011.

NEW YORK — Saks returned to profitability in its fiscal fourth quarter as the chain sold more items at full-price and used fewer promotions.

The company reported net income of $25 million for the period ended Jan. 29, compared with a loss of $4.6 million a year earlier.

Revenue rose 7% to $866.3 million, topping Wall Street's estimate of $854.4 million. Same-store sales were up 8.4%, compared with the year-ago period.

On Feb. 17, Borders Group announced that it had retained Melville, N.Y.-based DJM Realty, a Gordon Bros. Group Co., to manage the disposition project of the 200 stores that would be shuttered as a result of the bookseller’s just-reported Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.

Chain Store Age talked with Andy Graiser, co-president of DJM Realty, about the assignment, and how a better Borders might emerge from the process.

Tell me about the Borders assignment, including your timeline and strategy for disposition.

FORT MEYERS, Fla. — Chico's FAS announced Tuesday that it has appointed Kent Kleeberger to the position of EVP and COO.

Kleeberger will replace Jeffrey Jones, who is retiring from the company, effective March 7. Jones will serve as part-time consultant to the company during a transition period.

Kleeberger, 58, has served as EVP finance and CFO of Chico's FAS since joining the company in November 2007. Previously, he was SVP and CFO for Dollar Tree Stores.