Business Analytics

Issaquah, Wash. -- Costco Wholesale Corp.'s profit climbed 18% in its first fiscal quarter, buoyed by sales from its consolidated Mexican operations and improved sales and traffic at its U.S. stores. Net income rose to $312 million for the period ended Nov. 21, up from $266 million a year earlier.

The results topped analysts' average forecasts.

Revenue rose 11% to $19.24 billion from $17.3 billion, also beating Wall Street's expectation.

Houston -- Men's Wearhouse said Tuesday that higher sales lifted its third-quarter profit by 31%, but its forecast for the fourth quarter missed Wall Street's expectations.

Net income rose to $25.3 million in the three months ended Oct. 30, from $19.3 million a year earlier. Revenue increased 19% to $550.1 million, from $462 million in the previous year. Tuxedo rental revenue rose 13% and accounted for more than 20% of the company's quarterly total. Other clothing sales climbed 22% in the quarter.

New York City -- More than $17.5 billion has been spent online for the November-December 2010 holiday season to donate , marking a 12% increase versus the corresponding days last year, comScore reported on Wednesday.

Hingham, Mass. -- The Talbots on Tuesday said its third-quarter profit rose 17% on cost-cutting. But its revenue fell and the retailer offered weak fourth-quarter guidance and cut its full-year outlook.