News

Kearney, Neb. -- The Buckle Inc. reported Thursday that profit for the quarter ended April 28 increased 13% to $37.8 million, compared with $33.5 million in the year-ago period, as shoppers spent more in the teen retailer’s stores and online.

Sales climbed 10% to $263.8 million, matching Wall Street estimates, and same-store sales rose 7.4%.

Online revenues surged 15% in the period.

Everett, Wash. -- Action sports retailer Zumiez Inc. reported Thursday that profit surged 140% to $4.5 million for the quarter ended April 28, compared with $1.9 million for the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 22.7% to $129.9 million from $105.9 million, and same-store sales climbed 12.9%.

The company said it plans to open 50 stores in fiscal 2012, including up to 10 locations in Canada.
 

WAYNE , N.J. — Toys"R"Us has added QR codes to more than 20 large outdoor items to help customers better visualize how the toy would work and look in their own backyards.

Customers can simply scan the QR code of the product they are interested in with their smartphone to view video footage or images of the item fully set up. Many of the products have corresponding videos that showcase kids playing with these fun summer toys.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reported a better-than-expected 9.2% increase in first-quarter profit on increased sales in the United States and a strong performance abroad.

Wal-Mart earned $3.74 billion in the quarter ended April 30, 2012, up from $3.39 billion period. 

HOFFMANESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings posted net income of $189 million in the quarter, compared with a loss of $165 million in the prior-year period.

After several rounds of closings of Kmart and Sears full-line stores in the past months, revenues decreased $270 million to $9.3 billion for the quarter ended April 28. Domestic comp-store sales declined 1.3% -- 1.0% at Sears Domestic and 1.6% at Kmart. Sears also saw declines in its home appliances and consumer electronics categories.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp. reported Thursday that it generated a profit of $189 million for the quarter ended April 28, after losing $170 million in the same period last year. The improvement was due largely to a $233-million gain from selling off some of its stores.

ST. LOUIS — Supervalu is bringing its Save-A-Lot banner to Atlantic City, N.J.

The store, which opened Thursday, will become the first full-service grocery store within a 21-mile radius of the city, the company said. The Atlantic City location is the 11th Save-A-Lot store in New Jersey.

Secaucus, N.J. -- The Children's Place reported Thursday that net income for the first quarter slid 19% to $23.6 million from $29.1 million last year, but beat Wall Street forecasts and prompted the retailer to raise the low end of its full-year outlook.

Revenue rose 2% to $438.5 million from $430.8 million, widely missing Wall Street’s expected $447.7 million in revenue, and same-store sales dipped 0.7%.