News

New York City -- Ann Inc., the operator of Ann Taylor and Loft stores, posted a 21% increase in its fiscal-first-quarter earnings and raised its full-year sales estimate.

For the quarter ended April 30, Ann reported a profit of $27.3 million, up from $22.62 million in the prior-year quarter.

Sales rose almost 10% to $523.6 million, but margins slipped to 57.3%, against 59% last year. Same-store sales rose 7.8%.
 

New York -- Bombay Company said Kroger Co. has introduced select Bombay furniture, accessories and gifts at 180 of its stores, Furniture Today reported. 

The merchandise mix includes “mirrors, vases and novelty accents, as well as furniture pieces such as chairs, upholstered pieces, accent tables and iconic Bombay coffee tables," Bombay said in a release. 

New York City -- Discount retailer Syms Corp. was urged by a shareholder to stem losses in its clothing business and sell some of the real estate holdings accumulated by late founder Sy Syms.

According to a Friday report by Bloomberg, Capstone Equities Capital Management LP sent a letter to Syms directors and CEO Marcy Syms on Thursday advocating asset sales, share buybacks and other steps to “enhance shareholder value.” 

Plano, Texas -- JCPenney Co. announced that it will up its participation in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program to 400 stores by the end of 2013. Energy Star certification is awarded to buildings that rank within the top 25% of similar commercial buildings nationwide by meeting strict energy performance levels set by the EPA.

JCPenney has a companywide goal to reduce facility energy use 20% by 2015.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A few days after Dick's Sporting Goods reported higher-than-expected earnings, Hibbett Sports posted even more impressive sales and income growth. Hibbett Sports reported that net sales for the first quarter increased 10.4% to $203.7 million compared with $184.5 million for the same period last year. Comparable-store sales increased 6.8%.

Oakland, Calif. -- Cost Plus reported a narrower loss of $3.4 million for its first quarter, compared with a net loss of $10.3 million for the same period in 2010.

Revenue increased 6% to $199.7 million, from $188.6 million.
 

New York City -- Foot Locker said on Thursday that its first-quarter profit jumped 76% as sales rose sharply. The retailer, which has benefited from efforts to cut costs and close dozens of poorly performing locations, said it earned $94 million for the quarter that ended April 30.

Sales increased 13% to $1.45 billion, from $1.28 billion a year earlier. Same-store sales rose 12.8%. The results easily beat the average estimates of analysts.

Birmingham, Ala. -- Hibbett Sports Inc. reported Friday that net income for the quarter ended April 30 rose 23% to $21.3 million, compared with $17.3 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue increased 10.4% to $203.7 million, beating analysts’ projected $200.8 million in revenue. 

During the quarter, Hibbett opened eight new stores, expanded four others and closed seven underperforming stores. During the rest of the fiscal year, Hibbett said it expects to open between 50 and 55 new stores, close 10 to 15 stores and expand another 15 stores.