Business Analytics

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Limited Brands reported that adjusted earnings per share for the 14-week fourth quarter ended Feb. 2  were $1.76 compared with $1.50 for the 13-week fourth quarter ended Jan. 28, 2012.  

Comparable-store sales for the quarter increased 5%. Net sales were $3.86 billion for the quarter compared with $3.5 billion for the same period last year.  

Chesapeake, Va. -- Dollar Tree Inc. reported Wednesday a bigger-than-expected profit of $228.6 million for the quarter ended on Feb. 2, up from $187.9 million in the year-ago period.

Sales climbed 15.4% to $2.25 billion, boosted by an extra week in the quarter. Wall Street expected $2.23 billion in sales. Same-store sales increased 2.4%.

Toronto -- Sears Canada Inc. reported Wednesday that profit for the fourth quarter dipped 3% to $38.8 million on weakened hardware and electronics sales.

Revenue fell 5% to$1.25 billion in the period, and same-store sales dropped 3.8%.

Parent Sears Holdings Corp., which cut its stake in Sears Canada from 90% to 51% last year, said in January that Sears Canada's fourth quarter adjusted earnings would fall by about half.

Framingham, Mass. -- The TJX Cos. reported Wednesday a profit of $604.8 million for the quarter ended Feb. 2, compared with $475.3 million in the year-ago period. Despite the strong showing, TJX forecast a slowed growth pace for the new fiscal year and issued a profit forecast below analysts’ expectations. And joining many other retailers, the company announced that beginning with the fiscal 2014 second quarter, it will no longer report monthly sales.

Fourth quarter same store sales at The Home Depot advanced 7% and profits swelled 29% to $1 billion, or 68 cents, compared to profits of $774 million or 50 cents a share the prior year.

CINCINNATI — Macy's reported fourth-quarter sales and earnings growth that exceeded company expectations, prompting it to issue new guidance for 2013. 

Atlanta -- The Home Depot Inc. said Tuesday its fiscal fourth-quarter net income jumped 32%, beating expectations, helped by strong U.S. sales and repairs and cleanup resulting from Superstorm Sandy. The chain also said it will buy back $17 billion of its common stock and boosted its quarterly dividend by 34%.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Lowe’s reported net earnings of $288 million and diluted earnings per share of 26 cents for the fourth quarter of 2012. As a result of the extra week in 2011, net earnings for the fourth quarter declined 10.6% and diluted earnings per share were flat from the fourth quarter of 2011. 

Dillard’s posted its 10th consecutive quarter of same store sales growth with a 3% gain in the fourth quarter.

The operator of 284 department stores said merchandise sales for the 14 week fourth quarter ended February 2 increased 7% to $2.087 billion compared to $1.947 billion during the 13 week period ended January 28, 2012. Based on comparable weeks, merchandise sales increased 2%. Profits for the 14 week period increased to $161.4 million, or $3.36 a share, compared to $141.5 million or $2.77 during the 13 week period the prior year.

Mooresville, N.C. -- Lowe's Co. reported fourth quarter profits that topped Wall Street estimates, helped rebuilding efforts in the wake of Hurricane Sandy and general remodeling activity. The retailer also said it authorized a new $5 billion share buyback program that it expects to use in the next two year