FINANCE

India tops an annual list of the 30 top developing countries for retail investment, pushing China, which took the No. 1 spot for the past several years, into second place.  

As Sears Holdings continues to struggle, the chain has once again updated is restructuring plan.   The embattled retailer has added 72 more stores to its list of upcoming closures. This is in addition to more than 180 closings that it already an-nounced, according to Business Insider.   

At Home reported a strong first quarter, helped by the addition of 23 new stores the chain opened in the past 12 months — and there are more on the way.   

Duluth Trading Company continues to grow its sales and store footprint.    The retailer of men’s and women’s workwear, casual clothing, and accessories reported that net sales increased 21.9% to $83.7 million in the quarter ended April 30, up from $68.6 million in the prior-year first quarter. It was the company's 29th consecutive quarter of increased net sales year-over-year.  

Retailers could unlock $2.95 trillion in value over the next decade simply by investing in transforming, digitally driven business models.   

Already navigating tumbling sales, Macy’s is preparing for even tighter margins.   At the company’s annual investor day, Macy’s CFO Karen Hoguet said that second-quarter gross margins are running about 1 percentage point below what they were last year. The company is slashing costs in a bid to maintain its earnings forecast, which it reaffirmed on Tuesday, according to Bloomberg.  

Increased online and offline competition is giving arts and crafts leader Michaels Cos. a run for its money.   The company's profit fell 20% to $67 million, or 38 cents a share, in the first quarter ended April 29, down from $85 million, or 34 cents a share, a year ego. Its results missed analysts' expectations.    Total sales were flat at $1.16 billion, also less than expected. Same-store sales fell 1.2%  

Despite 16 consecutive years of positive same-store sales growth among key categories, Casey’s General Stores’ top and bottom line revenues missed the mark in the fourth quarter.