Data & Analytics

Increased customer traffic helped drive Dollar Tree’s third-quarter results. The retailer cited growth in consumer basics as well as seasonal and variety merchandise, and said its higher margin variety categories are growing at a faster pace.

The company reported consolidated net sales for the quarter of $1.9 billion, a 9.5% increase from $1.72 billion for the year-ago quarter. Comparable store sales increased 3.1%.

San Francisco -- Gap Inc. reported a 9.4% increase in third-quarter profit as the retailer's turnaround continues. The company also reaffirmed its full-year profit guidance and said it is increasing its stock buyback authorization by $1 billion.

The chain posted net income of $337 million in the three-month period ended Nov. 2, compared with $308 million last year.

New York -- China takes the top spot in online retail market opportunity, followed by Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Korea, according to a new global e-commerce study by A.T. Kearney. (Kearney’s “2013 Global Retail E-Commerce Index” is comprised of 30 developed and developing markets.)

San Francisco -- Williams-Sonoma Inc.'s on Thursday reported that its third-quarter profit rose a better-then-expected 16% as same-store sales increased across all its brands. The company also raised its full-year view.

New Albany, Ohio -- Abercrombie & Fitch Co. swung to a loss in its third quarter, dragged down in part by charges related to the shuttering of its 28 freestanding Gilly Hicks stores. But its adjusted profit topped analysts' estimates, even as its sales softened.

Redlands, Calif. — Esri has launched a public beta version of its cloud-based Geotrigger Service, which helps developers create location-aware apps for iPhone and Android without compromising battery lift. Developers may use the beta Geotrigger Service at no cost, and their comments will help to shape the official release.

Add Target to the list of retailers whose weak third quarter sales performance highlighted troubling spending behaviors that threaten to undermine its holiday sales performance.

The company reported disappointing third quarter sales and profits Thursday morning and then stated the obvious that shoppers will price sensitive during an intensely competitive holiday season. The company said same store sales increased 0.9%, slightly less than the company’s forecast provided on August 21 which called for an increase of 1% to 2%.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Stein Mart reported a return to profit in the third quarter, recording net income of $28,000 for the period ended Nov. 2, compared with a loss of $1.7 million last year. Results matched Wall Street expectations.

Revenue climbed 6% to $290.5 million from $273.7 million, topping Wall Street's estimate of $287.9 million. Same-store sales rose 4.8%.