Data & Analytics

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.  

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.  

Shares of Amazon.com surged past the $500 mark after the company reported a second quarter profit and revealed more details about a phenomenally successful Prime day promotion that fell in the third quarter.

Framingham, Mass. – Off-price retailer T.J. Maxx provides “compare at” prices that tell shoppers how much cheaper an item is than it would be at a full-price department store, but how truthful are those comparisons?    According to a class action lawsuit brought against T.J. Maxx in San Francisco by two customers, Staci Chester and Daniel Friedman, “compare at” pricing leaves a lot of wiggle room for the retailer.  

Brampton, Canada – Loblaw Companies Ltd. swung from loss to profit in the second quarter of fiscal 2015, but still plans to improve profitability even more. Loblaw reported net income of $185 million, compared to a net loss of $456 million the same period a year earlier.  

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. 

Seattle – Sales growth outpaced that of expenses during second quarter 2015, leading to a rare report of positive net income at Amazon.com Inc. Amazon reported net income of $92 million, compared to net loss of $126 million the same quarter the prior fiscal year.  

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%.