Financial/Banking

NEW YORK — The economic headwinds so often cited by mass market retailers as a drag on financial results had no impact on luxury goods retailer Tiffany during the second quarter. The company’s earnings per share excluding non-recurring charges increased 58% to 86 cents, well ahead of the 70 cents analysts’ expected as the retailer’s customers didn’t let lingering unemployment and economic uncertainty dampen their enthusiasm for luxury goods.

Topeka, Kan. -- Collective Brands, parent company of Payless and Stride Rite shoe chains, announced Wednesday that it would close 475 underperforming stores over the next three years and has hired a firm to help it explore its options.

The company hired Perella Weinberg Partners and Kurt Salmon as advisors to explore strategic alternatives.

Columbus, Ohio -- Big Lots reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended July 30 declined 8% to $35.7 million, compared with $38.9 million a year earlier. The company cited same-store sales declines and a charge related to its new Canadian stores for the performance slip.

Revenue rose 3% to $1.17 billion from $1.14 billion. Same-store sales fell 1.5%.

Big Lots acquired Liquidation World in July as part of a strategy to expand into Canada.
 

Johannesburg -- Massmart Holdings Ltd., the South African retailer controlled by Wal-Mart Stores, announced Thursday it will up its store counts in fiscal 2012 by 8.6% to 340 stores. The company will open 27 new stores during the period, mostly in South Africa and two in Nigeria.CEO Grant Pattison said the accelerated pace is to keep the company in front of its competitors.

Also on Thursday, Massmart reported an 11.6% rise in total sales for the year ended June 26 to $7.29 billion, and upped its forecast for the remainder of 2011.

San Francisco -- Guess reported Wednesday that profit for the second quarter dipped 9.1% on a hefty settlement charge.

The retailer said that net income fell to $60.7 million from $66.8 million, as it was hit by a $19.5 million settlement charge.

Revenue for the quarter rose 17% to $677.2 million from $577.1 million, beating analysts’ estimates.

 

Columbus, Ohio -- Express reported Wednesday that profit for the second quarter fell 43% to $12.6 million, compared with $22.1 million in the year-ago period. Results still topped Wall Street expectations, and the company has upped it s forecast for the third quarter and full year.

Revenue rose nearly 10% to $446 million from $407.3 million, beating analysts' average forecast for $439.6 million in revenue. Same-store sales rose 6%.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Despite a comps dip during its second quarter, Big Lots performance was enough for the company to raise its fiscal 2011 guidance.

Big Lots reported net income of $35.7 million, or 50 cents per diluted share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2011 ended July 30.  This compares with net income of $38.9 million, or 48 cents per diluted share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2010. 

New York City -- A Wednesday report by Bloomberg said that Borders and Books-A-Million reached an agreement for a lease sale involved 14 Borders superstores and specialty stores for $934,209.

Citing documents filed Wednesday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan, the report said the store locations include Portland, Maine; Canton, Ohio; Concord, N.H.; and Mays Landing, N.J.

The agreement is conditional on approval by the bankruptcy court by Aug. 29. A deal for Books-A-Million to buy 30 Borders locations fell through in July.