News

The Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas was ranked among the top 30 public undergraduate business schools in the most recent edition of U.S. News & World Report's "Best Colleges 2013."

BUCKEYE, Ariz. — Walmart boosted its sustainable reputation Thursday with the announcement of a new solar initiative at its distribution center near Phoenix.

The retailer will outfit the DC with more than 14,000 solar panels -- making it Walmart's largest solar installation to date. The panels will cover the 1,000 sq. ft. building and parking canopies. The panels will produce up to 30% of the center's energy needs and generate up to 5.3 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy per year, according to Walmart.

FORT WORTH, Texas — Pier 1 Imports continues on a positive trajectory, reporting its 12th consecutive quarter of earnings and same-store sales growth.

For the second quarter, the company reported net income of $26.2 million, or 24 cents per share, compared with net income of $16.6 million, or 14 cents per share, for the same period last year.

Columbus, Ohio -- DSW Inc. said Thursday that it has been awarded $7.2 million as a result of litigation with its insurance carrier stemming from its credit card data breach in 2005.

The $7.2 million award represents damages plus accrued interest.

In other news, DSW has declared a special dividend totaling $91 million to be paid on Oct. 26 to shareholders. According to president and CEO Mike MacDonald, the special distribution, which is in addition to the regular dividend, represents “significant cash flow generation.”

Cincinnati -- The Kroger Co. said Thursday it will increase its quarterly dividend by 30% to 15 cents per share, payable Dec. 1.

The grocer said the move is prompted by a strong confidence in its business strategy.
 

TORONTO — Nordstrom is partnering with Cadillac Fairview to open its first full-line stores in Canada beginning fall of 2014. The company will lease four stores at premier shopping centres located in Calgary, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver.

Nordstrom will be moving into space that will be vacated by Sears and then renovated at Pacific Centre in Vancouver, Calgary's Chinook Centre, Rideau Centre in Ottawa, with a new-construction store opening in Toronto's Sherway Gardens.

GRAPEVINE, Texas — The struggling video game category should see a much-needed boost with the arrival of Nintendo's Wii U.

GameStop is wasting no time getting in on the buzz by announcing that it has begun taking pre-orders for the platform along with many popular Wii U games, including "Call of Duty: Black Ops II," "ZombiU," "New Super Mario Bros. U" and "Batman: Arkham City: Armored Edition."

TORONTO — Target is bringing its REDcard Rewards program to Canada. The company announced that its Canadian customers will receive an additional 5% off every day when shopping at Target with its REDcard products, which include the Target Debit Card and Target RBC MasterCard. Similar to the REDcard Rewards loyalty program in the U.S., the additional savings - which apply to almost everything at Target - will be applied instantly at time of purchase.