Business Analytics

El Segundo, Calif. – Expenses associated with the development of its e-commerce platform helped drive net income at Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp. down 59% to $2.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2014, from $6.1 million in the same quarter a year earlier.

For the fiscal 2014 full year, Big 5 currently anticipates opening approximately 12 net new stores

Santa Cruz, Calif. - Sixty-six percent of retailers attending the recent Big Data & Analytics for Retail Summit believe the number one way to ensure a successful holiday season is to understand customer behavior to drive sales and build loyalty. Moreover, data from business analytics provider Looker shows that four-in-10 retailers feel they are still ineffective when it comes to using data to improve business performance.

After a delay of several days, Lumber Liquidators has reported second-quarter results, nearly three weeks after the company revised its full-year guidance, which caused its stock to plummet in recent days.

Net sales for the quarter increased by 2.3%, totaling $263.1 million, compared with $257.1 million in the same quarter last year. But comparable-store sales decreased by 7.1%, with the average sale declining 1.8%. Net income was $16.6 million for the three months ended June 30, down 18.7% from last year's $20.4 million.

Big 5 Sporting Goods’ second-quarter results were affected by a continued reduction in demand for firearms and ammunition. The company also pointed to general softness in the overall consumer environment, adding that the calendar shift of the Easter holiday had a small but unfavorable impact on sales.

Same-store sales continue to decelerate at Whole Foods as the nation’s leading natural and organic grocer continues to face traffic and ticket pressures caused by upstart rivals and established competitors.

Chicago – True Value Company posted a quarterly net margin of $23.2 million, down 2.5% compared to $23.8 million the prior year period in the second quarter of fiscal 2014. Revenue was $429.5 million, an increase of 4.5% from $411.2 million for the same period a year ago.

Same-store sales rose 4.2%. True Value Company’s expanded farm, ranch, automotive and pet product assortments, plus seasonal and plumbing categories, drove the majority of sales increases.

New York – Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO) reported net income of $2.24 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2014, a turnaround from a net loss of $636,000 in the second quarter of the previous fiscal year. Revenues fell 11% to $37.6 million from $42.2 million, due to lower print and merchandising revenue partially offset by higher digital advertising revenue.

Pittsburgh – Net income at GNC Holdings Inc. slipped during the second quarter of fiscal 2014, falling 2% to $69.89 billion from $71.69 billion in the prior year period. For second quarter 2014, the company reported consolidated revenue of $675.2 million, a decrease of 0.2% as compared to consolidated revenue of $676.3 million for second quarter 2013.

Minneapolis – Tile Shop Holdings Inc. reported a 38% dip in net income during the second quarter of fiscal 2014 compared to the same period a year earlier. Net income fell to $3.96 billion from $6.48 billion, with Tile Shop citing adverse macroeconomic conditions, including home sales, as having a generally negative impact on the business.

Dublin, Ohio - The Wendy’s Company has extended its partnership and will continue licensing APT’s Test & Learn software for another three years. Wendy’s will use the software to test strategic initiatives in menu changes, remodels, marketing, pricing, and operations across its system of more than 6,500 company and franchise-operated restaurants.