Data & Analytics

Minneapolis – Target Corp. is taking a centralized approach to security to help ensure that data breaches such as the one which inflicted serious financial and branding damage in late 2013 do not happen again. Target has opened a Cyber Fusion Center (CFC) that brings Target’s key information security teams together.  

Brentwood, Tenn. – Tractor Supply Company met Wall Street expectations with profit growth that was part of an overall bountiful financial harvest in the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income rose 15% to $153.3 million from $133.4 million the same period a year earlier, aided by selling, general and administrative expenses, which stayed flat as a percentage of increasing sales.  

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is taking control of its e-commerce operations in China. The discount giant has acquired the 49% of its Chinese e-commerce arm Yihaodian it did not previously own, taking full ownership of its e-commerce business in China.   

Cupertino, Calif. – Sales of gadgets such as iPhone, iMac and the new Apple Watch, as well as services, helped propel Apple’s strong performance during the third quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income soared 39% to $10.7 billion from $7.7 billion the same quarter the prior year, aided by costs and taxes that did not increase as fast as sales.   Revenue increased 33% to $49.6 billion, from $37.4 billion.  

Sidney, Neb. – Specialty outdoor retailer Cabela’s Inc. missed the target Wall Street set for profit and revenue during the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Cabela’s reported net income of $40.5 million, down 8% from $43.5 million the same quarter the prior year.   Growing cost of revenue helped drive down profit. Total revenue grew 10% to $836.28 million, from $761.2 million. Consolidated same-store sales dropped 0.9% due to Canadian currency fluctuations, although same-store sales in the U.S. increased 0.8%.

New York – The changes continue at eBay. Jeff Wong, who ran eBay’s Business Incubation Group, has joined professional services firm Ernst & Young as chief innovation officer.    Wong will lead Ernst & Young’s newly formed Global Innovation Team. The team will identify emerging concepts and solutions and also work to develop new technologies, strategies and solutions.  

The CEO of Tractor Supply Company credited strong marketing and merchandising initiatives with a significant increase in same store sales in the second quarter.

Smart & Final says it's focused on growth and expansion of its new Extra! format as the retailer posts another quarter of impressive same store sales.

For the second quarter ended June 14, Smart & Final said net sales increased 9.3% to $905.1 million. Same store sales incraesed 3.5%. The company had net income of $11.0 million, or $0.14 per diluted share. And adjusted EBITDA increased 6.7% to $50.7 million. 

Target is always trying to appeal to a younger, hipper crowd, and its 2015 back-to-school marketing strategy is no exception.

The retailer has launched a new digital tool, Target Made For U College Styler, that allows the digitally inclined college crowd to design and shop for their dorm rooms and apartments.

Walmart wants to advance its long-term growth prospects in China and has acquired full ownership of an e-commerce company in which it already held a majority stake to further that objective.