Mass Merchant

Framingham, Mass. -- The TJX Cos.' fiscal third-quarter earnings rose 7%, topping its own forecasts, as the discount retailer's sales improved.

The company reported a better-than-expected profit of $372.3 million, up from $347.8 million in the year-ago period. Net sales rose 5% to $5.53 billion, from $5.24 billion. Same-store sales increased 1%.

New Albany, Ohio -- Abercrombie & Fitch Co. on Tuesday reported a profit of $50 million for the quarter ended Oct. 30, compared with $38.8 million in the year-ago period. Its results were helped by improving sales in the United States and international revenue.

Sales rose 18% to $886 million, matching Wall Street expectations. Same-store sales increased 7%. By division, same-store sales rose 8% at namesake stores, 2% at Abercrombie kids stores and 7% at surf-themed Hollister stores.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores reported Tuesday that profit for the quarter ended Oct. 31 rose 9.3% to $3.44 billion, compared with a profit of $3.15 billion in the year-ago quarter.

However, same-store sales in the United States declined as Wal-Mart’s shoppers remain under pressure in a weak economy. Same-store sales in the United States fell 1.3%, the sixth consecutive quarterly decline at the world’s largest retailer.

Net sales rose 2.6% to $101.2 billion.
 

Cincinnati -- A Monday report by the Cincinnati Business Courier said that Kroger Co. is planning to spend about $15 million to renovate four stores in the Cincinnati area in 2011.

The grocery retailer said it plans to renovate stores in Westwood, Madeira and Montgomery, Ohio, as well as a store in Cold Spring, Ky.

The Westwood and Montgomery locations are scheduled for renovation in the first half of 2011, while Kroger is still finalizing the renovation plans for the Madeira and Cold Spring stores.

Brussels, Belgium -- Delhaize Group announced on Monday that AllianceBernstein LP lifted its voting stake in the food retailer to 5.04%.

The New York asset manager, a member of France's AXA group, now holds 5.11 million Delhaize shares, compared with 3.73 million as of Oct. 5, Delhaize reported.