Data & Analytics

Amsterdam -- Royal Ahold NV reported Thursday that its third-quarter profit fell 4.4% to $315 million. The Dutch owner of the Stop & Shop and Giant supermarkets in the United States cited higher taxes for the performance decline.

Sales rose 11% to $9.12 billion.

U.S. same-store sales rose 1%. In the Netherlands, where Ahold operates the dominant Albert Heijn chain, same-store sales rose 4.5%.
 

Miami -- Retailers are continuing to invest in sustainability initiatives, even during tough economic times, according to a new report by RSR Research entitled "Lean and Green: Sustainable Practices Are Changing Retail, Benchmark 2010.”

Kearney, Neb. -- The Buckle reported Thursday that net income for the third quarter was $34.4 million, compared with a profit of $33.3 million a year earlier.

Net sales increased 5.2% to $243.3 million, from net sales of $231.2 million for the prior year.

Same-store sales edged up 0.5%.

Buckle currently operates 422 retail stores in 41 states.

Columbus, Ohio -- Limited Brands reported Wednesday that net income for the quarter ended Oct. 30 soared to $61.3 million, compared with $6.1 million a year earlier. The company also said it would repurchase $200 million in shares.

Same-store sales increase 10%, and net sales were $1.99 billion compared with $1.78 billion last year.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Stein Mart reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended Oct. 30 was $4.3 million, compared with net income of $3.2 million a year earlier.

Net sales were $267.9 million, a decrease of 0.9% from $270.2 million in 2009. Same-store sales increased 0.3% for the quarter.

Pleasanton, Calif. -- Ross Stores reported Thursday earnings for the quarter ended Oct. 30 rose 16% to a record $121.4 million, compared with $105.1 million in the year-ago period.

Sales increased 7% to $1.874 billion, with same-store sales up 3% on top of a strong 8% gain in the prior year.

New York City -- According to a special national consumer poll commissioned by the International Council of Shopping Centers and Goldman Sachs, 31% of households plan to shop on Black Friday in 2010 compared with 26% in 2009. However, the strongest driver of Black Friday shopping is children, as 43% of households with kids are planning to shop on that day. Additionally, 37% of households reported that they plan to shop on the Saturday or Sunday after Thanksgiving.