Data & Analytics

Greensboro, N.C. -- Fresh Market reported Wednesday that profit for the first quarter climbed 43% to $19.3 million, from $13.5 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 23% to $324.8 million, compared with $264.5 million in the previous year and surpassing Wall Street’s expected $310.6 million in revenue.  Same-store sales increased 8.2%. The strong performance across the board prompted the grocer to bump its outlook for the year.

DALLAS — Neiman Marcus reported total revenues of $1.06 billion for the third quarter compared with $983.8 million in the prior year. Comparable revenues increased 6.7%. Operating earnings for the third quarter of fiscal year 2012 were $146.6 million compared with $123.2 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2011, an increase of 19%.

The company reported net earnings of $62.6 million for the third quarter compared with $46.2 million in the prior year, an increase of 35%.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Dollar Tree has approved a 2-for-1 stock split in the form of a 100% common stock dividend. The new shares will be distributed June 26 for shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 12.

With the stock split, the number of outstanding shares of the company's common stock will increase from approximately 116 million shares, pre-split, to approximately 232 million shares, post-split.

New York -- Ashley Furniture Industries Inc. plans to open about 50 bedding stores, under the Zzz's By Ashley banner, in 2012, according to Furniture Today. The sleep shops will average about 4,500 sq. ft. each, and will offer a wide selection of mattresses and sleep accessories.

“I think we can open several thousand in the next 10 years,” Ben Thorud, the Ashley executive who is heading the new initiative, told Furniture Today.

New York -- Rite Aid has appointed president and CEO John Standley as chairman, the retail pharmacy chain said Friday.

Rite Aid announced that its board of directors had elected Standley to replace current chairman Mary Sammons, effective June 21. Sammons has served as chairman since June 2007 and plans to step down at the company's annual stockholder meeting.

Chesapeake, Va. -- Dollar Tree has approved a 2-for-1 stock split in the form of a 100% common stock dividend. The new shares will be distributed June 26 for shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 12.

With the stock split, the number of outstanding shares of the company's common stock will increase from approximately 116 million shares, pre-split, to approximately 232 million shares, post-split.

Armonk, N.Y. -- IBM announced it has completed the acquisition of Vivisimo, a leading provider of federated discovery and navigation software that helps organizations access and analyze big data. Financial terms will not be disclosed.

By David Kudas and Russell Parker, JDA Software

New York -- Consumer confidence in May rose to the highest level since October 2007, according to the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan final index of consumer sentiment. The index rose increased to 79.3 from 76.4 the prior month. 

Industry analysts said a decline in gas prices and an improving housing market is helping offset slower job growth and volatile stock prices.

Estimates for the confidence measure ranged from 76 to 79, according to a Bloomberg survey of 60 economists.
 

Dublin, Calif. -- Epicor Software Corp., announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire substantially all of the operating assets and intellectual property of New Zealand-based partner Cogita Holdings Limited. The transaction is anticipated to close by May 31, 2012.