Data & Analytics

Camp Hill, Pa. — Rite Aid  reported a $123.1 million profit for the fourth quarter and a $118.1 million profit for the fiscal year, compared with respective losses of $161.3 million and $368.6 million during the same period last year. It was the drugstore chain's second-straight quarterly profit and first annual gain in six years, amid  increases in prescription count  and front-end end sales.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Pier 1's fourth-quarter earnings fell 46% compared with last year, when the chain recorded a large, one-time tax benefit.

The company earned $61.7 million in the three months that ended March 2, compared with $115.2 million in last year's quarter. Revenue rose 16% to $551.6 million. Same-store sales climbed 7.9%.

For the full year, Pier 1 earned $129.4 million on $1.7 billion in revenue.

For its current fiscal year, the chain expects to open 30 stores.

Philadelphia -- Destination Maternity its total sales for the second quarter fell 2.1% to $134.9 million from $137.8 million. The company attributed the drop to the closure of all of its remaining leased departments within Babies “R” Us stores in October, along with the closures of underperforming stores.

Despite the sales drop, Destination Maternity said it now expects its second-quarter profit to fall in the top half of its previously projected range of 38 cents to 44 cents per share, crediting tight management of its expenses.

New York -- L.Brands, parent of Victoria's Secret, reported better-than-expected 3% sales in same-store sales for March. Zumiez Inc. and Buckle Inc. also both reported better-than-expected numbers.

But other retailers were hampered by a colder-than-normal March, which caused many shoppers to put off buying warmer-weather clothing, and an early Easter. At The TJX Companies, same-store sales fell 2% in March, a bigger drop than was expected.

By Ellis Verdi, president of the NYC advertising agency DeVito/Verdi

Here are the five lessons I learned from the J.C. Penney debacle — unfortunately we knew all of this before Ron took his ideas to market.

FORT WORTH, Texas — Pier 1 Imports reported net income of $61.7 million, or 58 cents per share, for its fourth quarter. For the fourth quarter ended Feb. 25, 2012, the company reported net income of $115.2 million, or $1.04 per share.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corporation  reported net sales of $9.67 billion for the month of March, the five weeks ended April 7, 2013, an increase of 7% from $9.07 billion during the similar period last year.

For the thirty-one weeks ended April 7, 2013, the company reported net sales of $61.02 billion, an increase of 8% from $56.34 billion during the similar period last year.

Total comparable-store sales for the month, excluding fuel were up 6%. For the thirty-one week period, they were up 5%.

AUSTIN, Texas — Digital coupon site, RetailMeNot.com, is launching an updated version of its free RetailMeNot Coupons app for iPhone that includes the ability for consumers to search for and find digital coupons for nearby retailers located in 500 shopping malls. The app also enables users to request that additional shopping areas be geo-fenced by RetailMeNot.

ROUND ROCK, Texas — Dell OEM Solutions announced that it has worked with Microsoft Corp. to become a global distributor, outsource manufacturer and integrator for Windows Embedded products.

The agreement, which went into effect on April 1, enables Dell to provide Windows Embedded product licenses (COAs) with Dell product solutions. This means it is easier for Dell OEM Solutions customers to bring their products and solutions to market through:

• Shorter lead times with in-stock COAs

NEW YORK — Duane Reade has launched its first mobile application for iOS devices. The free app, available in the iTunes store, will facilitate and further enhance customer access to Duane Reade’s pharmacy services, photo printers, prescription refills, Balance Rewards offers, account information and in-store maps.