FINANCE

As the holidays approach, this group of retailers is feeling very confident about its financial health.        Eighty-percent of middle-market retailers (revenue between $5 million and $2.9 billion) rated their overall financial condition as healthy or very healthy in the 8th annual CIT Retail Outlook. Sixty-percent expect an increase in total sales of more than 5% for the 2016 holiday season, compared to only 33% three years ago.    

Dollar Tree on Tuesday reported a third-quarter profit that more than doubled compared to last year amid lower merchandise and freight costs. The retailer also lifted its guidance for the fourth quarter.    Dollar Tree’s net income for the quarter, ended Oct. 29, rose to a better-than-expected $171.6 million, or 72 cents a share, up from $81.9 million, or 35 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The prior year included some charges and markdowns related to the Family Dollar business, which Dollar Tree acquired in 2015.

Things are looking up at Chico’s FAS.   The women’s apparel retailer on Tuesday reported net income of $23.6 million for the third quarter, after reporting a net loss of $11.6 million in the same period a year earlier.   Chico’s had a profit of 18 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 20 cents per share. The results topped Wall Street expectations.  

Cost cuts help improve Barnes & Noble’s profitability in the third quarter even as its sales continued to decline.    “While we are pleased to have improved our performance due to expense reductions, we did experience sluggish sales, which we believe are directly related to the election cycle,” said Len Riggio, chairman and CEO of Barnes & Noble. "With the election behind us, we hope and expect sales will improve over the holidays."  

After four consecutive quarters of year-over-year earnings decline, DSW Inc. got back on track in its third quarter.   The footwear and accessories retailer had adjusted net income of $42 million, or 51 cents per diluted share, a 16% year-over-year improvement and 3 cents above estimates.  

Not everyone is feeling confident about retail sales.    U.S.-based importers and suppliers who sell goods to retailers are not entirely confident consumers are going to open their wallets, according to a new survey conducted by Capital Business Credit, a supply chain finance company.     

Foot Locker reported third-quarter profit that surpassed analysts’ expectations.   The retailer’s earnings soared 96.3% in the quarter ended Oct. 29 to $157 million, or $1.17 a share, up from $80 million, or 57 cents, a year ago.   Total sales increased 5.1% to $1.886 billion this year. Same-store sales were up 4.7%.  

Gap Inc. delivered another weak quarter as store closures outside of North America impacted its profitability and sales continue to slump at its namesake and Banana Republic divisions.   The retailer earned $204 million, or 51 cents per share, in the quarter ended Oct. 29. That compares with $248 million, or 61 cents per share, last year. Adjusted results were 60 cents per share, which matched estimates from FactSet.