eCommerce

Minneapolis -- Target Corp.’s profit increased a better-than-expected 3.7% in the third quarter to $555 million, up from $535 a year earlier. The retailer’s performance was helped by solid spending and improvement in its credit card business.

Revenue rose 5.4% to $16.05 billion. Same-store sales were up 4.3% in the quarter.

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Profits at Staples grew 13% to $326 million and earnings per share grew 18% to 47 cents as the nation’s leading office products company overcame weak revenue growth that saw sales advance half a percent to $6.6 billion.

PITTSBURGH — Dick’s Sporting goods gave its shareholders a holiday surprise Tuesday morning when the company reported better-than-expected third-quarter results, increased its full-year guidance and declared its first ever dividend.

WASHINGTON — Retail sales edged up slightly during the month of October, the U.S. Census Bureau announced Tuesday.

Adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, sales totaled $397.7 billion. Retail trade sales rose 0.6% above September and 7.3% above the year-ago period.

Adjusted grocery store sales increased to $46.8 million from $46.3 million in September, while health and personal care stores saw adjusted sales of $23.3 million from $23.1 million last month.

Los Angeles -- A report released Tuesday by CBRE Group said that New York City remains the world’s most expensive shopping destination as retailers focus on the major fashion capitals.

“Retailers continued to expand their store networks to gain market share during the third quarter despite concerns regarding consumer confidence,” said Anthony Buono, CBRE executive managing director of retail services.

Pittsburgh -- Dick's Sporting Goods Inc. reported Tuesday that net income for the quarter ended Oct. 29 surged to $41.5 million, from $16.9 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 9% to $1.18 billion from $1.08 billion, beating Wall Street’s anticipated $1.16 billion in revenue.

Same-store sales rose 4.1%.

San Francisco -- Charlotte Russe Holding said Tuesday it has selected digital shopping solution-provider Fluid Inc. to redesign its e-commerce web and mobile sites. The new solution is intended to increase conversion rates online and drive in-store traffic through mobile and social networking elements.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. on Tuesday posted the first quarterly revenue gain in its U.S. namesake business in more than two years, but the discounter's profit was down 2.9%. Profit for the quarter ended Oct. 31 was $3.33 billion, missing Wall Street expectations.

Framingham, Mass. -- TJX Cos. reported Tuesday that profit for the quarter ended Oct. 29 rose 15% to $406.5 million, from $372.3 million a year earlier.

Sales increased 5% to $5.79 billion from $5.53 billion, but missed analysts’ expected $5.84 billion. Same-store sales rose 3%.

During the quarter, the retailer increased its store count by a net of 52 stores and increased square footage by 1% over the same period last year.
 

Washington, D.C. -- Retail sales rose more than projected in October, according to figures released Tuesday by the Commerce Department. The report showed that retail sales were up 0.5% in October following a 1.1% increase in September.

Excluding automobile sales, retail sales rose 0.6% in October — the best showing since March. And when excluding autos and sales at gasoline stations, sales rose 0.7%, also the biggest increase since March.