Data & Analytics

The trend of fewer people shopping Walmart stores less often has hurt the company’s efforts to revitalize U.S. sales growth, and now it the appears trip consolidation trend is playing out internationally as well.

New York City -- Aeropostale reported Wednesday that net income for its second quarter plummeted 93% to $2.94 million, from $43.6 million in the year-ago period.

Sales declined 5% to $468.2 million and same-store sales dropped 14%.

The company revised its third quarter forecast downward.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Whirlpool Corp. announced that Roy Templin, EVP and CFO, will retire from the company. As part of the planned transition, Templin will remain in his current capacity until April 2012 to complete Whirlpool's year-end reporting and other transitional items. At that time, Larry Venturelli – currently SVP corporate controller, chief accounting officer and CFO for Whirlpool International – will succeed Templin as EVP and CFO.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp. reported Thursday that its losses for the second quarter widened more than expected to $146 million, compared with a loss of $39 million in the year-ago period.

The operator of Sears and Kmart stores cited aggressive merchandise markdowns as one reason for the poor performance. This is the second consecutive quarterly loss of the company, and its fourth in the last five quarters.

City of Industry, Calif. -- Hot Topic reported Wednesday that it tightened its loss in the second quarter to $6.2 million, compared with a loss of $6.3 million a year earlier.

Revenue edged up to $150.9 million from $150 million. Same-store sales rose 2.6% for quarter.

Hot Topic said it will open 25 to 45 Torrid stores in fiscal 2012. It also plans to close 10 to 20 Hot Topic stores and about five Torrid stores next year, and remodel or relocate 40 to 50 Hot Topic stores and 10 to 20 Torrid stores.
 

Blend equal parts easy prior year comparisons, the recent easing of gas prices with the pass through of product inflation , and Walmart could be looking at the recipe for same-store sales growth. If not in the third quarter, then certainly by the fourth quarter, which is the line in the sand the company has drawn for its U.S. business.

Grapevine, Texas -- GameStop Corp. reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended July 30 dropped 23% to $30.9 million, compared with $40.3 million in the year-ago period. The company cited slowing video game sales for the lackluster performance.

Revenue fell 3% to $1.74 billion, missing expectations, and same-store sales dropped 9.1%.
 

SECAUCUS, N.J. — The Children's Place Retail Stores announced second quarter net sales were $343.5 million, compared with $345.3 million in the second quarter of 2010. Comparable-retail sales declined 5.6% in the second quarter of 2011.