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Business Analytics

  • Growth potential intact at Walmart China despite exec departures

    Shenzhen, China — Walmart will be looking to capitalize on compelling growth prospects in China under the leadership of new senior executives following the simultaneous departure of CFO Roland Lawrence and COO Rob Cissell.

    Both men left the company to pursue other development opportunities, according to Walmart, leaving leadership of Chinese business in the hands of Walmart China president and CEO Ed Chan and Wal-Mart Stores Asia president and CEO Scott Price.

  • Ann Inc. raises outlook on strong EPS performance

    NEW YORK  — Ann Inc., the parent company of Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor Loft stores, reported that for the fiscal first quarter of 2011, earnings per diluted share were 51 cents, compared with earnings per diluted share of 38 cents in the first quarter of 2010.

  • Target remains confident in the face of sales and expense pressures

    Target CFO Doug Scovanner moderated analysts’ second-quarter and full-year earnings expectations slightly, although it can at times be difficult to tell given the language used to communicate in the Wall Street guidance game.

  • Ann Taylor tops estimates, raises view

    New York City -- Ann Inc., the operator of Ann Taylor and Loft stores, posted a 21% increase in its fiscal-first-quarter earnings and raised its full-year sales estimate.

    For the quarter ended April 30, Ann reported a profit of $27.3 million, up from $22.62 million in the prior-year quarter.

    Sales rose almost 10% to $523.6 million, but margins slipped to 57.3%, against 59% last year. Same-store sales rose 7.8%.
     

  • Bon Ton’s Q1 loss widens

    York, Pa. -- Bon-Ton Stores said Thursday that its first-quarter loss grew as it booked hefty debt-related charges and sales declined almost 2%. Management blamed unseasonably cold and wet weather for weak sales of seasonal apparel, which forced the retailer to take markdowns and other adjustments.

    The company reported a loss of $36 million for the three months ended April 30, compared with a loss of $23.5 million in the same period last year.

  • JCPenney to increase Energy Star certifications to 400 stores

    Plano, Texas -- JCPenney Co. announced that it will up its participation in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program to 400 stores by the end of 2013. Energy Star certification is awarded to buildings that rank within the top 25% of similar commercial buildings nationwide by meeting strict energy performance levels set by the EPA.

    JCPenney has a companywide goal to reduce facility energy use 20% by 2015.

  • Dollar Tree profit soars 59%, raises forecast

    Chesapeake, Va. -- Dollar Tree reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended April 30 rose 59% to $101 million, compared with $63.6 million in the year-ago period. The 2010 figure included a charge of $26.3 million for a retail inventory accounting change.

    The retailer raised its sales and profit forecast for the rest of the year.

    Revenue increased more than 14% to $1.55 billion, beating Wall Street expectations. Same-store sales rose 7.1%.

  • Walmart CEO talks traction on comps

    Despite progress on several key merchandising initiatives during the first quarter, it wasn’t enough to prevent Walmart from logging a 1.1% decline in same-store sales, losing customer traffic and introducing the possibility the second quarter will bring more of the same. The company’s forecast for second quarter same-store sales envisions a range of possibilities between a 1% decline and 1% increase.

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