For the first quarter ended May 5, ALCO Stores, Inc., posted a net loss of $1.7 million, or 51 cents per diluted share, versus a net loss of $1.3 million, or 34 cents per diluted share, in last year’s period. Loss from continuing operations, net of tax, was $1.7 million, or 51 cents per diluted share, versus a loss of $1.1 million, or 29 cents per diluted share, for the year-ago period, the retailer reported.

Lord & Taylor parent Hudson's Bay Co., which also operates broadline and specialty retailers in Canada, has reported that its first quarter consolidated comparable store sales gained 4% or 3.2% on a constant currency basis. The company pointed out that a low single digit comp decline at Lord & Taylor partially offset gains in much of the operation.

For the first quarter ended May 4, Five Below, Inc. posted GAAP net income of $1.6 million versus a net loss of $1.2 million in the fiscal 2012 period, and adjusted net income of $2.5 million versus $2.6 million year over year. GAAP diluted income per common share was three cents compared to a loss of 32 cents per share in the fiscal 2012 first quarter, while adjusted diluted income per common share came in at five cents in both the fiscal 2013 and 2012 period, it announced.

For the month of May, Costco Wholesale Corp. has reported that, excluding the effect of gasoline price volatility, foreign exchange rate movement and one-time charges, comparable store sales gained 5% in the United States, 7% internationally and 6% for the total company. With the gas, exchange and one-time charges included, May comps increased 5% in the U.S., 6% internationally and 5% in total for the company.

In the four-week fiscal month of May, which ended June 1, Fred's Inc. saw comparable store sales decrease 0.5%. Total sales for the month increased 0.2% to $152.4 million, the company stated.

For the 13-week period ended June 1, Rite Aid Corp. today announced that comparable store sales decreased 2.5% versus the prior-year period. Front-end comps, including those for general merchandise, increased 0.4% while pharmacy comps decreased 3.8%, the company reported.

Today, Stein Mart, Inc. reported that for the four-week period ended June 1, comparable store sales increased 8.2%. Total sales increased 3.6% to $107.3 million, the company related.

As it prepares to merge with OfficeMax, Inc., Office Depot, Inc. announced that it has reached an agreement to sell its 50% stake in Latin American Joint Venture Office Depot de Mexico S.A. de C.V. to Grupo Gigante, S.A.B. de C.V. for the Mexican Peso amount of 8.78 billion in cash, or U.S. $687.4 million at today’s conversion rate. Office Depot pointed out that the deal is conditional on receiving Mexican regulatory and Grupo Gigante shareholder approval.

For its fiscal 2013 first quarter ended May 3, Dollar General Corp. posted net income of $220 million, or 67 cents per diluted share, versus $213 million, or 63 cents per diluted share, in the 2012 period. Adjusted net income, excluding one-time charges, increased to $232 million versus $215 million in the 2012 first quarter, the company noted, while adjusted diluted EPS was 71 cents versus 63 cents in the year-earlier period.

For the three-month period ended March 31, hhgregg, Inc. reported net income of $9.9 million, or 31 cents per diluted share, versus $53.6 million, or $1.45 per diluted share, for the prior-year period. Fourth quarter 2012 results included $39.6 million of net income related to life insurance proceeds net of severance paid to the estate of the company’s former executive board chairman as well as a $500,000 after-tax charge related to impairment of two store locations.

For the first quarter ended May 4, Gordmans Stores, Inc. posted net income of $3.2 million, or 17 cents per diluted share, versus $8.1 million, or 41 cents per diluted share, in the year-prior period. Comparable store sales for the first quarter decreased 10.5%, according to the company.

For the first quarter ended May 4, Fred's, Inc. announced that net income increased 9.1% to $11.4 million while earnings per diluted share increased 10.7% to 31 cents from 28 cents for the same period last year. Comparable store sales for the quarter declined 1.3%.

In its fiscal third quarter, Costco generated net income of $459 million, or $1.04 per diluted share, versus $386 million, or 88 cents per diluted share, in the year-prior period. Comparable store sales, excluding the effects of gasoline prices and foreign exchange rates, were up 7% in the United States and 7% internationally for a 7% company comp.

For the first quarter ended May 4, Michaels Stores, Inc. announced that net income decreased 11.3% to $47 million. According to Michaels, comparable store sales declined 0.7% due to a 3% decrease in transactions partly offset by a 1.7% gain from a higher average ticket and a positive 0.6% impact from deferred custom framing revenue.

For the quarter ended May 4, Dollar Tree, Inc. reported net income of $133.5 million and earnings per diluted share of 59 cents versus net income of $116.1 million and earnings per diluted share of 50 cents in the 2012 period. Comparable store sales increased 2.1%, in the first quarter year over year.

For the first quarter ended March 30, OfficeMax posted net income of $56.3 million, or 64 cents per diluted share, versus $4.9 million, or six cents per diluted share, in the 2012 period. However, the company noted, adjusted net income, excluding the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates, the impact of stores closed and opened, and the difference in the number of business days in the quarter this year versus last, was $10.1 million, or 11 cents per diluted share, versus $19 million, or 22 cents per diluted share, in the 2012 first quarter.

Williams-Sonoma Inc. reported net revenue gains of 8.6% to $888 million for the first quarter of 2013, compared to revenue of $818 million for the comparable year earlier period. The company’s operating margin increased to 7.2% for the quarter, compared to 6% for the first quarter of 2012.

Sears Holdings Corporation reported a net loss of $279 million for the first quarter of 2013 compared to net income of $189 million in the prior year quarter. Comparable store sales declined 3.6% for the quarter with the company citing, “a cooler spring than last year,” as a contributory factor. The company reported adjusted EBITDA of $(8) million for the first quarter of 2013 compared to $160 million in the prior year quarter.

In the quarter ended May 3, the Lowe’s Cos., Inc. generated net earnings of $540 million, or 49 cents per diluted share, versus $527 million, or 43 cents per diluted share, in the year-prior period, the company reported. Comparable store sales for the quarter decreased 0.7% compared with the period a year ago.

For the first quarter ended May 4, Staples, Inc. reported income from continuing operations of $170.4 million, or 26 cents per diluted share, versus $192.9 million, or 28 cents per diluted share, in the 2012 period. Total company sales were $5.8 billion, a decrease of 3% compared to the 2012 first quarter, Staples stated.

For the first quarter ended May 4, Target Corp. posted net earnings of $498 million, or 77 cents per diluted share, versus $697 million, or $1.04 per diluted share, in the period a year ago. Comparable store sales declined by 0.6% with average transaction amount up 1.3% and units per transaction up 1.8% but number of transactions down 1.9% and selling price per unit down 0.6%.

For the first quarter ended March 31, Primo Water Corp. has announced that total net sales increased 12.8% to $22.3 million compared to $19.8 million in the 2012 period. Dispenser segment sales for the first quarter increased 53.7% to $7.4 million compared to $4.8 million in the 2012 time frame.

For the first quarter ended May 5, The Home Depot today reported net earnings of $1.2 billion, or 83 cents per diluted share, versus $1 billion, or 68 cents per diluted share, in the fiscal 2012 period. Comparable store sales increased 4.3% versus last year’s quarter.

For the 13-week first quarter ended May 4, Best Buy Co. Inc. posted a net loss of $81 million, or 24 cents per diluted share, versus net earnings of $158 million, or 46 cents per diluted share, in the year-earlier period. Comparable store sales fell 1.3% in the quarter with domestic comps down 1.1% and international comps down 2.8%, the retailer announced.

For the first quarter ended May 4, Nordstrom, Inc. has announced that net earnings were $145 million, or 73 cents per diluted share, versus $149 million, or 70 cents per diluted share, in the period last year. According to the company, comparable store sales increased 2.7% versus last year’s quarter.

For the first quarter ended May 4, Kohl’s Corp. has reported that net income decreased to $147 million, or 66 cents per diluted share, from $154 million, or 63 cents per diluted share, for the year-prior period. Comparable store sales decreased 1.9% in the quarter year over year.

For the first quarter ended April 30, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. posted net income of $3.8 billion, up 1.1% versus the year-earlier period, while diluted earnings per share reached $1.14, a 4.6% advance from $1.09. However, comparable stores sales at namesake stores in the United States fell by 1.4% as overall U.S. comps slipped by 1.2% versus the period last year, the retailer reported.

For the first quarter ended May 4, Macy’s, Inc. today reported earnings of $217 million, or 55 cents per diluted share, versus $181 million, or 43 cents per diluted share, for the period last year. Comparable store sales increased 3.8% from last year’s first quarter.

Even as it posted first quarter sales results, Five Below, Inc. announced that it was redistributing stock and entering new markets. For the fiscal first quarter, the tween-oriented discount store chain announced that total sales increased 33% to $95.6 million as comparable store sales increased 4.2%.

Meijer is the 2013 HomeWorld Business Retail Champion. Meijer is featured in the May 13 edition of HomeWorld Business.

For the 13 weeks ended May 4, 2013, Ross Stores, Inc. comparable store sales rose 3% over those in last year’s first quarter, the company reported. Total sales reached $2.54 billion, up 6% from the prior-year period.

For the 13-week period ended May 4, TJX Cos., Inc. announced that consolidated comparable store sales increased 2% over last year’s period. Overall sales reached $6.2 billion, a 7% increase over the 13-week period ended April 28.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. has announced that net sales for its fiscal second quarter, ended March 30, were $1 billion, up 14% from sales of $885 million for the year-earlier period. For the first half of the company’s fiscal year, GMCR reported net sales of $2.34 billion, up 15% from sales of $2.04 billion in the prior year’s first half.

SodaStream International Ltd. today reported first quarter revenue gains of 33.9% to $117.6 million from $87.9 million in the 2012 period. The company reported that net income increased 19.5% to $12.1 million compared to $10.1 million in the first quarter 2012, and adjusted net income was $14.5 million compared to $11.5 million in the year-earlier quarter.

Oreck Corp., headquartered Nashville, TN has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, "in order to accommodate a sale as an ongoing business," according to the company's website. The statement on the company site indicated that Oreck is consolidating its assets and restructuring its financing under the protection of Chapter 11, and will continue to operate in the ordinary course of business while the sales process takes place.

For the fiscal first quarter ended March 30, OfficeMax, Inc. posted net income available to common shareholders of $56.3 million, or 64 cents per diluted share, compared to net income of $4.9 million, or six cents per diluted share, in the prior-year period. Adjusted net income was $10.1 million, or 11 cents per diluted share, versus $19 million, or 22 cents per diluted share, in the 2012 first quarter.

In restating results for 2011 and the first quarter of the latest fiscal year, as the company previously announced it would do, Stein Mart, Inc. posted an increase in net income to $25 million, or 57 cents per diluted share, for 2012 from $19.9 million, or 44 cents per diluted share, in previous annum. The retailer also related plans for its e-commerce launch.

For the four weeks ended April 27, Rite Aid Corp. comparable store sales decreased 4% from the prior-year period. April front-end comps slipped 3.5%, hit by an earlier Easter this year compared to last, the company stated.

For the first quarter ended March 31, Lifetime Brands, Inc., reported that consolidated net sales for the quarter were $98.7 million, a decrease of $10.3 million, or 9.4%, from the corresponding period in 2012. Net loss for the quarter was $632,000 as compared to net income of $1.3 million for the corresponding period in 2012.

In April, Walgreens generated sales of $5.98 billion, an increase of 3.8% from the same month in fiscal 2012, the retailer announced. Total front-end sales, including general merchandise such as home furnishings and housewares, decreased 2.9% versus the same month in fiscal 2012, while comparable store front-end sales decreased 4.3%.

Spectrum Brands reported fiscal second quarter net sales for its Global Batteries & Appliance segment, which includes its Remington personal care and Russell Hobbs small appliance businesses, of $468.6 million, a decline of 2.4% from $480.1 million for the 2012 period. The company attributed the net sales decline to decreased revenues in the small appliance category from the planned and continued elimination of low-margin promotions in North America totaling nearly $10 million.

NACCO Industries today reported first quarter net income for its Hamilton Beach small appliance division was $1.5 million compared with $1 million in the first quarter of 2012. According to the company, the increase was primarily the result of increased sales of higher-margin products, favorable foreign currency movements and lower interest expense, partially offset by a moderate increase in product costs and higher selling, general and administrative expenses.

For the three months ended March 31, CVS Caremark Corp. posted a 23.1% gain in income from continuing operations to $956 million. Adjusted earnings per share were 83 cents versus 65 cents in the first quarter of 2012, an increase of 28.1%.

For the fiscal quarter ended March 30, Office Depot, Inc. reported a net loss, after preferred stock dividends, of $17 million, or six cents per share, compared to net earnings, after preferred stock dividends, of $41 million, or 14 cents per diluted share, in the 2012 quarter. Total company sales were $2.7 billion, down 5% versus the 2012 first quarter in both U.S. dollars and in constant currency, the company stated.

In the first quarter, Safeway Inc. generated net income of $118.9 million, or 49 cents per diluted share, a number that includes tax benefits of 14 cents per diluted share. In the year-earlier period, Safeway posted net income of $72.9 million, or 27 cents per diluted share.

For the first quarter ended March 31, Libbey Inc. reported that sales were $183.5 million compared to $187.8 million for the first quarter of 2012, a decrease of 2.3%, or 2.8% excluding currency fluctuation. Net income grew to $2 million from $600,000 in the 2012 first quarter, the company stated.

For fiscal 2013, supermarket operator and distributor Supervalu Inc. reported net sales of $17.1 billion and a net loss from continuing operations of $263 million, or $1.24 per diluted share, versus net sales of $17.34 billion and net loss of $110 million, or 52 cents per diluted share, in the year earlier. When adjusted for charges, net loss from continuing operations in fiscal 2013 was $76 million, or 36 cents per diluted share, the company stated.

Jarden Corp. today reported organic net sales growth of 4% to $1.58 billion, up from $1.5 billion for the first quarter of 2012. The company’s net income declined to a loss of $4.4 million versus net income of $35.1 million for the comparable year earlier period.

Groupe SEB reported first quarter revenue gains of 2.3% to $1.2 billion versus revenue of $1.18 billion for the comparable period of 2012. The company’s North American business delivered slightly stronger results, achieving growth of 4.9%, or plus 5.2% when accounting for exchange rates, to approximately $125 million for the first quarter, up from $118 million in the 2012 period.

Vincent Leonard has been named senior executive vice president of Groupe SEB in charge of finance. The new appointment will take effect on June 1, 2013, and Leonard will report directly to chairman and CEO Thierry de La Tour d’Artaise.