News

TJX Companies reported a 3% comp increase on top of a prior year gain of 4% while Ross Stores said posted a comp increase of 2% compared to last November’s 5% comp increase.

Total sales at TJX increased 7% to $2.2 billion during the November reporting period and so far this year sales at the company have advanced 10% to $20.3 billion. Total sales for November at Ross increased 6% to $813 million and so far this year are up 11% to nearly $7.8 billion.

SALT LAKE CITY — Black Diamond, a provider of outdoor recreation equipment and active lifestyle products, beefed up its senior leadership team with four new hires. The newly created positions are intended to bolster the company’s operational and sales teams, domestically and internationally.

"These four exceptional new hires mark the culmination of our two-year process to invest in the people necessary to support our global platform," said Peter Metcalf, president and CEO of Black Diamond.

ABILENE, Kan. — Broad-line retailer ALCO Stores asserted that it is off to a favorable start this holiday season, after reporting a 2.7% in sales from continuing operations for the quarterly period ending November 25.

New York -- Tiffany & Co. reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended Oct. 31 plummeted 30% to $63.2 million from $89.7 million, hurt by higher costs and tax rates as well as continued economic softness.

Revenue climbed 4% to $852.7 million, missing Wall Street’s expected $858.8 million in sales. By region, sales rose 6% in Europe and 3% in the Americas.

The retailer has cut its full-year earnings forecast.

New York -- J. Crew Group reported Thursday that net income for the third quarter rose to $33.2 million, from $21.6 million in the prior year.

Revenues increased 16% to $555.8 million, and same-store sales increased 10%.

Los Angeles -- Guess Inc. reported Wednesday a profit of $36.6 million for the third quarter, down 44.7% from net earnings of $66.3 million in the same period last year.
 
Revenue fell 2.2% to $628.8 million, from $642.8 million in the prior-year quarter, but beating analysts’ expected $624.8 million in revenue. Retail sales in North America dipped 1.3% to $262.1 million. Same-store sales overall dropped 6%.
 
The company said economic pressures hurt consumer confidence in most of its markets.

Santa Monica, Calif. -- Mobile payment platform provider Kuapay said Thursday it has launched a new payment system at 14 KFC/Taco Bell restaurants in the Los Angeles area.

Duapay and franchisee Great American Chicken Corp launched the system in order to make smartphone ordering and payment faster and easier. The launch follows a two-month pilot program and encompasses locations in Los Angeles County, Orange County and the Ontario area.

Cincinnati -- Kroger Co. reported Thursday that net income for the quarter ended Nov. 3 rose to $316.5 million, compared with $195.9 million in the year-ago period.

Total sales rose 6% to $21.81 billion, beating Wall Street’s expected revenue of $21.55 billion.

Same-store sales rose 3.2%.

New York -- Aeropostale reported Thursday that profit for the third quarter rose to $24.9 million, from $24.1 million last year.
 
Sales increased 2% to $605.9 million, beating Wall Street’s expected $601.2 million. Same-store sales dipped 2%.

New York -- Barnes & Noble reported Thursday net income of $2.2 million for the quarter ended Oct. 27, compared with a loss of $6.6 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue was nearly flat at $1.88 billion, missing Wall Street’s expected $1.91 billion in revenue.