Corporate Governance

Pittsburgh -- American Eagle's second-quarter net income was down 70% amid weak sales. But its results were better than analysts estimates.

For the period ended Aug. 2, American Eagle Outfitters Inc. earned $5.8 million, down from $19.6 million a year earlier.

Revenue decreased 2% to $710.6 million from $727.3 million, topping estimates of $689.5 million. Same-store sales fell 7%.

New York -- Macy's Inc. has agreed to pay $650,000 to settle allegations of racial profiling at its flagship store in Manhattan.

Under the agreement with New York's attorney general, the company will initiate enhanced training and education for its loss prevention and sales associates.

“We also will be adopting an expanded role for our security monitor to help ensure that we have the right policies and procedures in place, and that we are constantly reviewing our compliance with them,” the retailer said in a statement.

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe's second-quarter net income rose a better-than-expected 10%, helped by improving weather. But the chain lowered its full-year revenue outlook slightly, citing its year-to-date sales and prior assumptions for the second half.

For the three months ended Aug. 1, Lowe's Cos. earned $1.04 billion, up from $941 million in the prior year.

Revenue increased 6% to $16.6 billion, topping Wall Street's estimates.

Same-store sales were up 4.4%.

Framingham, Mass. -- Staples Inc. reported Wednesday that its net income in the second quarter declined 20% to $81.88 million, from $102.53 million in the prior year.  

Its results included $101 million of pre-tax restructuring and other related charges primarily associated with its closure of 80 stores, along with its plan to close approximately 40 stores in North America during the second half. (Staples had previously announced the planned closings.)

Sales were down 2% to $5.22 billion, which topped analysts' estimates.

Framingham, Mass. -- T.J.Maxx will be opening five stores in the Chicagoland area starting this week and through October.

"The opening of these five stores in the Chicagoland area marks a momentous occasion for our brand," Richard Sherr, president of T.J.Maxx, stated.

All five T.J.Maxx stores will occupy over 122,000 sq. ft. of retail space.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. on Wednesday reported a 61.7% drop in Q2 earnings. The chain also lowered slashed its annual profit outlook as it continues to deal with weak results in Canada, sluggish U.S. sales and the lingering effects of its data breach.   

Target earned $234 million in the quarter ended Aug. 2, down from $611 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 1.7% to $17.4 billion, slightly above the $17.38 billion analysts had expected.

Omaha, Neb. -- Gordmans Stores has named Andrew T. Hall president and CEO, effective Aug. 19. He also was appointed to the company's board of directors.

Hall, 53, was president and chief executive officer of Stage Stores, from 2008 to 2012 and served as its president and COO from 2006 to 2008. At Gordmans, he succeeds T. Scott King, Gordmans' chairman of the board, who has been serving as interim president and CEO since March 2014.

New York -- As analysts begin to speculate about the acquisition scenarios for Family Dollar – whether by Dollar Tree or Dollar General – one thing is clear: some store closures will occur.

According to a report by Wall Street Journal Online, a Dollar General takeover would close more stores than if Dollar Tree wins the bid. Dollar General said it is prepared to divest up to 700 of the combined company’s approximate 19,600 stores to satisfy antitrust regulators.
 

Atlanta -- Country Club Prep, an e-commerce retailer for preppy apparel, is hosting the grand opening of its first brick-and-mortar store in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Aug. 23. Launched from a basement in 2012 by two former attorneys Matt Watson and Stephen Glasgow, the concept will launch its brick-and-mortar presence at the University of Virginia.

New York -- Lane Bryant announced that American ready-to-wear designer Lela Rose will be creating a limited-edition line exclusively for the special-sized retailer. The collection is set to hit stores summer 2015, and will be sold under the Lela Rose Exclusively for Lane Bryant label.

Lela Rose will be the third designer collaboration for Lane Bryant, joining the Sophie Theallet and Isabel Toledo collections.