News

Gadgets, services propel Apple in Q3
Cupertino, Calif. – Sales of gadgets such as iPhone, iMac and the new Apple Watch, as well as services, helped propel Apple’s strong performance during the third quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income soared 39% to $10.7 billion from $7.7 billion the same quarter the prior year, aided by costs and taxes that did not increase as fast as sales. Revenue increased 33% to $49.6 billion, from $37.4 billion.
Starbucks shows perky performance in Q3
Seattle – Starbucks Corp. reported impressive financial performance in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 that could be described as downright perky. Net income jumped 22% to $626.7 million from $512.6 million the same quarter a year earlier, with higher pretax earnings offsetting higher income tax charges to produce profit growth.

Tractor Supply profit harvest meets Street; plans 110-115 new stores

Brentwood, Tenn. – Tractor Supply Company met Wall Street expectations with profit growth that was part of an overall bountiful financial harvest in the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income rose 15% to $153.3 million from $133.4 million the same period a year earlier, aided by selling, general and administrative expenses, which stayed flat as a percentage of increasing sales.
LIDS gives tip of hat to military families

LIDS Sports Group has selected a new charity partner that may resonate with many of its customers.

The company's philanthropic arm, LIDS Foundation, has named Our Military Kids as it 2015 national partner. The foundation presented a check of $200,000 to Our Military Kids to help sustain its efforts in keeping military children engaged in athletic, fine arts and tutoring programs.
Spanish retailers offer new smartphone payment

Madrid, Spain – Spanish retail chains including department store retailer El Corte Ingles and supermarket retailer BonPreu are leveraging a new smartphone-based payment solution. The retailers are deploying the digital payment network from Dinube, which uses tokenization, Near Field Communication (NFC) technology and biometric fingerprint security to replace card-based payments.
MarineMax cruises to success in Q3

Clearwater, Fla. – Recreational boat retailer MarineMax Inc. should be floating after receiving positive fiscal results for the third quarter of fiscal 2015. Net income sailed 29% to $14.9 million from $11.5 million in the same period the prior year, aided by gains from sale of real estate.

Revenue grew approximately 8% to $231.8 million, compared with $214.4 million. Same-store sales increased approximately 10%.
NRF cuts retail sales forecast

What’s wrong with America? Plenty, according to the National Retail Federation which just slashed its full year retail sales forecast ahead of second quarter earnings announcements from major retailers next month.
Nordstrom lets women join the club

Seattle – Nordstrom Inc. is letting women join the club. More specifically, Nordstrom is now allowing women to apply to its Trunk Club online personal shopper service that was previously only open to men.
Starbucks partners with media giant for mobile news offering

Seattle – Starbucks Corp, is partnering with one of the world’s best-known media brands to provide an elevated news experience for users of its mobile app. As part of an expanded agreement with the New York Times, top news of the day as well as a selection of other articles, will be available for free via the Starbucks mobile app for My Starbucks Rewards loyalty members.
Jet beats Walmart and Amazon on launch day

Online retailer Jet.com is all about low prices and so far the upstart membership club competitor is living up to it value proposition.