Data & Analytics

Kearney, Neb. -- The Buckle reported Thursday that net income for the period ended July 28 dipped 2% to $23.2 million, compared with $23.6 million in the year-ago period, but matching forecasts.
 
Net sales rose 2% to $215.5 million, just missing Wall Street’s expected $215.9 million in revenue. Same-store sales dipped 0.8%.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — A fourth consecutive quarter of same-store sales growth at Walmart’s U.S. business helped the company achieve a slightly better than expected profit performance.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Limited Brands reported that adjusted earnings per share for the second quarter were 50 cents compared with 48 cents for the same period last year. Adjusted net income was $147.2 million compared with $150.7 million last year. 

Comparable-store sales for the second quarter increased 8%, and net sales were $2.4 billion compared with $2.46 billion last year. 

Sales for the second quarter ended July 28 increased 10.5% to $1.7 billion thanks to a 4.5% increases in same store sales and the addition of 77 new Dollar Tree stores, the company announced Thursday. Net income increased 25.6% to $119.2 million and earnings per share increased 30.8% to 51 cents. The profit performance met analysts’ estimates, but guidance for the third quarter in the range of 47 cents to 51 cents was a penny less than the 52 cents Wall Street expected and shares of the company sold off sharply after the earnings report.

Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based Sears Holdings reported a second-quarter net loss of $132 million, compared with a loss of $146 million in the year-ago period.

Revenues totaled $9.5 billion for the quarter ended July 28, down 6% from $10.1 million in the second quarter of 2011. The company cited lower domestic comparable-store sales for the quarter and the effect of having fewer Kmart and Sears Full-line stores in operation. Sears Canada's comparable-store sales also decreased and included a decline of $55 million due to changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — KitchenAid has introduced new freestanding French door refrigerators that utilize a system of cutting-edge advancements to help extend the storage life of both fresh and frozen ingredients. These latest models join a collection of freestanding side-by-side models available with its Preserva Food Care System, designed to control the humidity, ethylene gas and odors that can rob foods of their freshness.

Minneapolis -- Best Buy Co. co-founder Richard Schulze said Thursday that he is staying the course on his plan to acquire the company and take it private, adding that he has heard from a lineup of private equity firms prepared to make "significant commitments."

In a letter to the Best Buy board, Schulze indicated that he'd like to create a group and put forth a fully financed plan.

Chesapeake, Va. -- Dollar Tree Inc. reported Thursday that profit for the quarter ended July 28 soared 26% to $119.2 million, compared with $94.9 million in the year-ago period.

Sales rose 10.5% to $1.7 billion, just missing Wall Street’s expected $1.71 billion. Same-store sales grew 4.5%.

However, the company’s outlook fell short of Wall Street expectations, saying that it expects revenue between $1.71 billion and $1.75 billion in the third quarter while Wall Street expects $1.77 billion.
 

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holding Corp. reported Thursday a loss of $132 million for the quarter ended July 28, narrowed from a loss of $146 million in the year-ago period. The retailer cited expense cutting and reduced inventory for the performance improvement.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores reported Thursday that net income for the second quarter rose 5.7% to $4.02 billion, compared with $3.8 billion in the year-ago period. Total revenue increased 4.5% to $114.3 billion, but missed Wall Street’s forecasted $115.8 billion in revenue.

Same-store sales in the quarter advanced 2.2%, edging Wall Street expectations but trailing last quarter’s 2.6% same-store sales gain.