Data & Analytics

New York -- Google came out on top, followed by Amazon and Apple, in a new survey by market research company Ipsos called “The Most Influential Brands in the United States 2013.” The survey, which asked U.S. consumers to rate 100 leading brands on a wide variety of attributes, determined that the dimensions or factors that drive a brand’s influence are: engagement; trustworthy; leading edge; corporate citizenship; and, presence.

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif. — Teen retailer Hot Topic reported net income in the fourth quarter of $12.1 million, or 29 cents per share, compared with net income of $9 million, or 21 cents per share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011.

Kearney, Neb. -- The Buckle said that its fourth-quarter net income increased 9%, topping Wall Street expectations.

For the quarter ended Feb. 2, the retailer earned $61.4 million, up from $56.1 million in the same quarter last year.
       
Net sales for the 14-week quarter ended February 2, 2013 increased 7% to $360.6 million from net sales of $337.1 million for the prior year 13-week fiscal quarter ended January 28, 2012. Same-store net sales for the quarter were flat.
 

Philadelphia -- PCSTrac, in partnership with Urban Outfitters, has launched the next generation of StoreTrac software,a web-based inventory control and management application for retail store operations.

The enhanced application delivers a store-level snapshot of shipments by volume and category type, as well as key details such as SKU, style, item quantity, item description, and shipment history on forthcoming shipments.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. said it has completed the sale of its entire consumer credit card portfolio to TD Bank Group for $5.7 billion, the gross value of the outstanding receivables at the time of closing.
 

WASHINGTON — The Department of Commerce reported that retail sales for the month of February rose by 1.1% seasonally adjusted month to month.

The newly released figures include nongeneral merchandise categories, such as automobiles, gas stations and restaurants; excluding those, sales rose 0.7%, while rising 0.5% unadjusted year over year. The National Retail Federation noted that sales beat estimates as consumers adapted and adjusted spending in response to higher gas prices and the payroll tax increase.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Express, a specialty retail apparel chain operating more than 620 stores, reported that fourth quarter net sales increased 8% to $728.7 million from $673.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. Comparable sales increased 1.5%, following a 5% increase in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Net income was $63.9 million, or 75 cents per diluted share. This compares to net income of $60.4 million, or 68 cents per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Columbus, Ohio -- Express said its fourth-quarter net income rose a better-than-expected 6%, but its full-year projection for earnings came up short as the retailer provided a weak outlook.
   
Express, similar to many other retailers, had less traffic in February, as higher taxes and rising gas prices cut into shoppers’ discretionary spending.
 
For the period ended Feb. 2, Express Inc. earned $63.9 million, up from $60.4 million a year earlier.