For the November/December holiday season, Macy’s company-owned store comparable sales advanced 0.7% while owned plus licensed store comps gained 1.1%.
As Target reported a November/December 5.7% comparable sales growth, the retailer also revealed several changes in its executive suite.
For the retail month of December, the five weeks ended January 6, Costco Wholesale Corp. reported a 7.8% sales increase to $15.42 billion.
The first quarter provided a strong start to the new fiscal year for Costco as comparable store sales and net income both were up year-over-year.
Profits improved for Conn’s in the third quarter ended October 31, as the company posted net income of $14.6 million, or 45 cents per diluted share, versus $1.6 million, or five cents per diluted share, in the year-earlier period.
In the third quarter, with sales driven by store and e-commerce gains, Ulta Beauty comparable sales advanced 7.8%.
As it welcomed a new CEO and battled higher freight and store occupancy costs, Kirkland’s posted a narrower net loss as its comps gained in the third quarter.
For the third quarter ended November 3, when comparable sales in the U.S. increased 4.3%, Best Buy posted net earnings of $277 million, or 99 cents per diluted share, versus $239 million, or 78 cents per diluted share, in the year-before period.
In the U.S., Walmart pointed to a favorable economy that drove comparable store sales during the third quarter that suggested market share growth in key categories.
The Home Depot exceeded Wall Street expectations in a third quarter when net earnings were $2.87 billion, or $2.51 per diluted share, versus $2.17 billion, or $1.84 per diluted share, in the year-previous quarter.
With fourth quarter profits exceeding Wall Street expectations, Walgreens Boots Alliance touted gains for both the period and the fiscal year despite weak U.S. retail comps.
Pier 1 Imports launched a new strategic plan in the second quarter but customers didn’t jump on board, as the retailer posted a deeper net loss and a comparable sales decline.
After its failed merger attempt with Walgreens Boots Alliance, Rite Aid has been developing a standalone strategy to move forward, but still saw a net loss in the second quarter.
As it continues to focus on its initiatives to revamp operations, Bed Bath & Beyond earnings fell sharply in the second quarter with net sales coming in flat and comparable sales slipping.
A relaunch effort has not started the way the company hoped, Pier 1 Imports stated in preliminary financial results for a second quarter that included a comparable sales decrease of 11.4% in the period year over year.
Although the company touted an improvement in comparable store sales trends, Sears Holdings continued to post comp declines in the second quarter despite substantial under-performing store closures, even as company losses increased substantially.
Ulta Beauty enjoyed a healthy second quarter, with strong net income driven by a 6.5% comparable sales increase and a growing e-commerce business.
Best Buy beat Wall Street estimates with a solid performance in the second quarter, with comps driven by strong electronics product demand and what the company termed a favorable environment.
As Lowe’s reported a solid second quarter, the home improvement retailer said it will close its Orchard Supply Hardware store division.
Macy’s rebound continued into the second quarter, beating Wall Street estimates, although the retailer struggled to deliver sales growth.