Financial/Banking

Cabela's has confirmed that it is in the process of reviewing strategic alternatives weeks after speculation surfaced that Bass Pro Shops is looking to acquire the retailer.

Cabela's announced Wednesday that its board of directors is initiating a process to explore and evaluate a wide range of strategic alternatives to further enhance shareholder value.

Target Corp. has tentatively reached another milestone in its continuing efforts to remediate financial losses caused by its massive 2013 data breach.

Target Corp. has tentatively reached another milestone in its continuing efforts to remediate financial losses caused by its massive 2013 data breach.

According to multiple media reports, Target has reached a settlement with MasterCard Inc. and a number of issuing banks. In papers filed in federal court in Minneapolis, Target said it would reimburse a total of $39 million in the settlement. That figure would include about $20 million for issuing banks not covered in other class action suits against Target and about $19 million to the MasterCard Account Data Compromise program.

Save-A-Lot, the deep-discount division of grocery giant Supervalu, on Wednesday named a supermarket veteran with more than 30 years of experience as its new CEO. Eric Claus, 59, takes the reins of Save-A-Lot after spending the past two-plus years as chairman, president and CEO of Red Apple Stores Inc., a chain of value retail stores based in Canada.

The Home Depot Inc. has reached a contingent settlement with MasterCard International Inc. over the home improvement giant's massive 2014 data breach, according to a new report. The Atlanta Business Journal says that while a contingent deal with MasterCard International appears to have been reached, other financial institutions suing the retailer say they want more information. [Atlanta Business Journal]

Everything old is new again at American Eagle Outfitters, apparently with good reason.

The teen apparel retailer on Wednesday named Jay L. Schottenstein as CEO, effective immediately. Schottenstein, who has served as interim chief since January 2014, will also continue in his role as executive chairman of the board. The news of his appointment came as the retailer reported a strong increase in its third quarter earnings. It was the chain’s third consecutive quarter of increased sales and profits.

Haggen has received approval from a federal bankruptcy court to sell 47 stores. Included in the sale are 33 supermarkets to Albertsons LLC, which formerly owned the stores. Albertsons sold the stores to Haggen just less than 12 months ago.

Click here to read more.

How will retailers fare in 2016? Very well, according to experienced market watchers.

“We expect core retail sales to grow 5.3% in 2016,” says Scott Hoyt, senior director of consumer economics for Moody’s Analytics, a research firm based in West Chester, Pa. (Core retail sales exclude volatile revenues from auto sales and gas stations.)

That is notably faster than the 4.2% rate anticipated when 2015 sales are finally tallied. The 2015 experience was, again, slightly better than that the 3.9% growth of 2014.