Research Topic

If you’re peeking at the news between slats in your fingers, scared to see where the S&P 500 sits or what’s happening with the NASDAQ, the Dow and the price of oil, you’re quite obviously not alone. Each day is a frightening new one, and no one – not even economists – are quite sure what’s going to happen next.

New York City -- Ann Inc., formerly known as Ann Taylor Stores Corp., reported that its second -quarter earnings rose 33% $24.8 million, helped by strong online sales and a jump in revenue at the company's Loft stores. The company raised its full-year sales guidance, saying it is confident despite the challenging consumer environment.

It was the company’s eighth consecutive quarter of double-digit earnings growth

Not long after the Vintage Varsity collection of young men’s and women’s apparel hits stores, Target News Now opined that the garments seemed a little pricy and cost conscious college kids would be likely to defer purchases until the goods were marked down.

More specifically, we said, “College girls may love the look of the tees, tanks, sweats and shorts Target has offered up under the Vintage Varsity brand this season, but the prices the items are offered at isn’t anything to text home about.”

It’s always satisfying to look back and enjoy your professional successes. While I see nothing wrong with patting yourself on the back and basking in well-earned personal kudos, I have found that, from time to time, we must also remember where we’ve fallen short. Thinking about past mistakes certainly keeps me humble. More importantly, I’m almost always able to learn something from my missteps. After all, the more insight and information I can gather about why I was wrong about something, the more accurate I will be in the future.

The trend of fewer people shopping Walmart stores less often has hurt the company’s efforts to revitalize U.S. sales growth, and now it the appears trip consolidation trend is playing out internationally as well.

New York City -- Foot Locker reported Thursday that net income in the second quarter was $37 million, compared with $6 million in the year earlier period.

Sales surged 16.3% to $1.3 billion this year, and same-store sales increased 11.8%. 
 

GRAPEVINE, Texas — GameStop reported a same-store sales decline of 9.1% for the second quarter on slow hardware sales and a lighter software slate than the prior year quarter. Despite the poor performance in new hardware and software, the company said pre-owned sales were strong for the quarter.

Total sales for the second quarter of 2011 were $1.74 billion, a decrease of 3.1% compared to $1.80 billion in the prior year quarter. 

Foothill Ranch, Calif. -- The Wet Seal reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended July 30 rose to $2.2 million from $1.6 million.

Sales rose to $148.8 million, compared with $131.5 million a year earlier.  Same-store sales increased 6%, the strongest second-quarter comps since 2005, according to the company.

Looking ahead, Wet Seal said it plans to spend $17 million to $18 million in fiscal 2011 on construction of new stores or remodeling of existing stores upon lease renewals and/or store relocations.