Business Analytics

Costco Wholesale Corp. reported its first quarterly decline in same store sales since 2009, although profit at the club store did rise.

Same store sales declined 1% in the third quarter ended May 10, including fuel and foreign currency impacts. This was below the 0.7% growth expected by analysts. The company said sales were hurt by low gas prices and a stronger dollar that reduced the value of sales from overseas markets.

Higher prices for generic drugs contributed to a net loss of $29,000 for Fred's in the first quarter.

ULTA Beauty is that rare breed of retailer capable of exceeding ever loftier growth expectations and it did so again with the release of first quarter results on May 28.

ULTA reported that net sales increased 21.6% to $868.1 million from $713.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. Same store sales increased 11.4% compared to an increase of 8.7% in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. The 11.4% same store sales increase was driven by 7.2% growth in transactions and 4.2% growth in average ticket. 

Atlanta -- Arby’s Restaurant Group, franchisor of the Arby’s brand, announced that it has reached an 11%  total energy reduction per company-owned restaurant since 2011, paving the way to a goal of 15% energy reduction by the end of 2015. This follows a 2014 reported reduction of 3.3% in average year-over-year energy consumption per company-owned restaurant.

Ft. Myers, Fla. -- Chico's FAS Inc. on Wednesday reported that its first-quarter profit dropped 18% amid restructuring charges and lower sales.

The apparel retailer reported a profit of $32.5 million for the period ended, down from $39.9 million in the year-ago period. The results met Wall Street expectations.

Revenue rose 1.7% to $693.3 million in the period, which was short of Street forecasts.

Same-store sales fell 0.1%.
 

New York - Fairway Group Holdings Corp., the parent company of Fairway Market, moderately shrunk its net loss in the first quarter of fiscal 2015.

The retailer reported net loss of $8.54 million, down 3% from $8.84 million a year earlier. The decrease in the net loss was primarily attributable to a decrease in general and administrative expenses, production center start-up costs and direct store expenses, partially offset by lower gross profit and an increase in the income tax provision, interest expense and store opening costs.

The stronger dollar hurt Tiffany and Co. in the first quarter, but the retailer's new efforts to woo ultra-wealthy shoppers helped offset weakness in its tourist business.

San Jose, Calif. – EBay Inc. is planning to roll out a service called Promoted Listings that will let sellers pay a percentage of sales resulting from listings that receive special promotion on the site. Sellers can agree to pay a higher percentage of sales to receive better placement of ads, although popularity of promoted items and seller reputation will also be considered in placement.

Birmingham, Ala. – Hibbett Sports Inc. cane up short of Wall Street expectations for earnings and revenues in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. Hibbett reported net income of $27.4 million, down 3% from $28.4 million a year earlier.

Increases in store operating, selling and administrative expenses, as well as depreciation and amortization, fueled the decline in profit. Net sales grew 3% to $269.8 million from $261.9 million, while same-store sales dropped 0.9%.

Greensboro, N.C. – It was a mixed first quarter for The Fresh Market Inc. as the grocery retailer met Wall Street expectations for profit but fell short on sales. Net income totaled $15.17 million, down 8% from $16.57 million.

Higher operating expenses drove the reduction in net income. Sales increased 7% to $462.04 million from $431 million. Same-store sales dropped 0.1%.