Business Analytics

New York City -- Kroger Co. reported double-digit jumps in first-quarter revenue and net income, as the chain's fuel stations and loyalty discounts helped draw more frequent shoppers.

Kroger said net income rose to $432.3 million, up nearly 16% from $373.3 million, or 58 cents per share, a year ago. Revenue rose 11% to $27.5 billion. Same-sales rose 4.6%, excluding fuel sales.

Kroger has steadily expanded its gas business, now with more than 1,000 store gas stations at its nearly 2,500 stores.
 

Repeated assurances by Walmart’s most senior executives that their top priority is growing U.S. same-store sales may be reassuring news to investors, but the company’s ability to do so by the end of the year now is a firmly established expectation. This is especially true, given the recent performance of once of the company top grocery competitors.

CINCINNATI — Kroger reported solid first-quarter results and marked 30 consecutive quarters in which identical-store sales increased, the supermarket retailer announced Thursday.

Kroger said that identical-store sales rose 4.6%, excluding fuel, to about $20.8 billion. Identical stores are defined as supermarkets open at least five quarters.

The company said its first-quarter revenue for the period ended May 21, including fuel, rose 11% to about $27.5 billion, compared with the year-ago period. Excluding fuel, total sales were 4.8% above last year.

FORT WORTH, Texas — Pier 1 Imports reported a comparable-store sales increase of 10.2% and net income of $14.1 million, or 12 cents per share, for the first quarter, as it continues to implement its three-year growth plan. For the prior year first quarter, the company reported net income of $7.7 million, or 7 cents per share.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Pier 1 Imports reported Thursday that its fiscal first-quarter profit nearly doubled, rising to $14.1 million, compared with $7.7 million in the prior year period.

Revenue increased 9% to $334.6 million from $306.3 million. Same-store sales rose 10.2%.

DALLAS — Tuesday Morning has revised its fiscal year guidance and now expects total net sales to be in the range of $820 million to $830 million and comparable-store sales to be slightly negative for the full year of fiscal 2011. Diluted earnings, based on these sales results, are now expected to be approximately 25 cents to 30 cents per share for fiscal 2011, the company.

Boston -- EnerNOC said Tuesday that Ahold USA will deploy EnerNoc’s EfficiencySmart Insight in the majority of its Stop & Shop, Giant Food of Maryland, and Giant/Martin’s grocery stores.

Ankeny, Iowa -- C-store operator Casey's General Stores said Monday that profit for the quarter ended April 30 rose 4% to $22.8 million, compared with $21.9 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue surged 31% to $1.55 billion, surpassing Wall Street expectations of $1.57 billion in revenue. Same-store sales rose almost 5% on groceries and other merchandise and increased 12% on food and fountain drinks. Same-store gasoline sales fell 2% on rising prices.