FINANCE

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.  

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.

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.     

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.       

Abercrombie & Fitch’s efforts to turnaround its struggling namesake brand aren’t finding much traction with shoppers.   The teen apparel brand on Friday said that its profit declined 81% in the third quarter and warned that it expects a challenging holiday season for its namesake banner.     Abercrombie posted net income of $7.88 million, or 12 cents per share, for the quarter ended Oct. 29, down from $41.9 million, or 60 cents per share, in the year-ago period.  

The U.S. shopper’s love affair with the off-price channel shows no signs of winding down any time soon.       Ross Stores easily beat analysts’ expectations as its earnings increased 13% in the quarter ended Oct. 29, amid better-than-expected revenue growth and stronger margins.