Latest finance news and analysis articles 
Monthly, quarterly and annual financial updates on the leading apparel and footwear retailers, brands and manufacturers around the world, as well as details of expansions, mergers and takeovers, bankruptcies and closures
US: Gap Q1 off to strong start with 43% profit surge
24 May 2013
Specialty clothing retailer Gap Inc has seen its financial year get off to a "strong start" with profit jumping 43% thanks to sales gains at its namesake and Old Navy chains.
US: Abercrombie & Fitch first-quarter net losses narrow
24 May 2013
US retailer Abercrombie & Fitch saw first quarter net losses narrow despite sales declining as the company faced inventory shortage issues.
US: Ross Stores lifts outlook on Q1 profit growth
24 May 2013
Off-price retailer Ross Stores has raised its full-year earnings guidance after recording a 12% increase in first-quarter net profit, boosted by higher sales.
US: Foot Locker Q1 profit rises on growing sales
24 May 2013
US sportswear retailer Foot Locker saw first quarter net income rise on the back of sales growth.
US: Zumiez Q1 net income down on aquisition costs
24 May 2013
US sportswear retailer Zumiez saw first-quarter net income almost halve on the back of costs relating to its acquisition of sports retailer Blue Tomato.
US: New York & Co swings to Q1 profit
24 May 2013
US clothing company New York & Co swung to a first quarter profit despite sales edging down.
US: Aeropostale swings to Q1 loss
24 May 2013
Teen apparel retailer Aeropostale has swung to a second-quarter loss, after it was forced to increase promotions to clear inventory due to unseasonably cool weather.
US: Stein Mart Q1 profit jumps 35.6%
24 May 2013
Off-price fashion retailer Stein Mart has booked a 35.6% jump in first-quarter net profit, driven by fewer markdowns and increased sales.
US: Children's Place raises outlook despite Q1 profit fall
24 May 2013
Children's apparel retailer The Children's Place has lifted its full-year earnings guidance despite posting a 22.1% decline in first-quarter net profit.
US: Ralph Lauren Q4 profit surges 35%
23 May 2013
Luxury apparel and accessories business Ralph Lauren Corporation today (23 May) said its fourth-quarter profit surged 35%, even though falling wholesale orders and cold weather in Europe weighed on sales growth.
US: Rue21 to be taken private in $1.1bn deal
23 May 2013
Teen apparel retailer Rue21 is to be acquired by private equity firm Apax Partners for US$1.1bn, in a move that will enable it to expand its store portfolio and build an e-commerce platform.
US: Cato Q1 profit slips on weaker sales
23 May 2013
Value-priced fashion apparel The Cato Corporation has today (23 May) reported a 2.8% decline in first-quarter profit after cooler temperatures dampened sales.
US: Bon-Ton Stores Q1 loss narrows
23 May 2013
Department store retailer Bon-Ton Stores has seen its first-quarter losses narrow, boosted by higher sales and fewer markdowns.
UK: Mothercare full-year loss narrows to GBP21.5m
23 May 2013
Mother, baby and children's goods retailer Mothercare has narrowed its first-quarter loss at the end of the first year into its three-year transformation plan, despite being hampered by ongoing challenges in its domestic market.
US: American Eagle Outfitters Q1 profit falls
23 May 2013
Teen apparel retailer American Eagle Outfitters has posted a 29.5% decline in first-quarter net profit, after cooler weather dampened demand for its seasonal merchandise.
US: Limited Brands lifts outlook on Q1 profit
23 May 2013
Limited Brands (now operating under a new temporary name L Brands) has lifted its full-year earnings guidance after posting a 14.4% increase in first-quarter net profit.
US: The Buckle Q1 profit falls despite sales growth
23 May 2013
Denim specialist The Buckle has today (23 May) posted a slight decline in first-quarter net profit, despite delivering higher sales than last year.
US: Citi Trends first-quarter profit falls 39%
22 May 2013
Value-priced apparel retailer Citi Trends has today (22 May) seen its first-quarter profit slump 39% on the back of weaker sales in February and March.
US: Target cuts outlooks on lower Q1 profit
22 May 2013
General merchandise retailer Target Corporation has lowered its full-year earnings outlook after higher interest charges as well as soft apparel sales weighed on first-quarter profits.
US: TJX Companies Q1 profit rises 8%
22 May 2013
Off-price retailer The TJX Companies expects full-year earnings per share to be at the upper end of its previous guidance after first-quarter profit rose 8%.
UK: House of Fraser books 4.3% rise in FY earnings
22 May 2013
UK department store retailer House of Fraser has today (22 May) posted 4.3% profit growth in the 52 weeks to 26 January, boosted by record like-for-like sales growth.
US: Urban Outfitters Q1 profit jumps 38.4%
22 May 2013
Sales growth across all brands and channels has helped lifestyle retailer Urban Outfitters to a 38.4% hike in first quarter profit.
M&S plays up its clothing revamp as sales slide
21 May 2013
The challenges faced by Marks & Spencer's clothing business have already been well-documented, so it was no surprise that a fall in annual sales has weighed on the retailer's bottom line.
US: Investors take a stand on Bangladesh safety deal
21 May 2013
Institutional investors and shareholders with more than $2.5trn in assets under management are adding pressure to retailers sourcing clothing from Bangladesh to implement a number of reforms, including signing up to the new Accord on Fire and Building Safety.
UPDATE: UK: Burberry posts double-digit FY profit growth
21 May 2013
Luxury goods business Burberry has today (21 May) booked a 14% rise in full-year profit, bolstered by increased demand in China and Hong Kong and overseas store growth.
UK: General merchandise weighs on M&S FY profit
21 May 2013
Retailer Marks & Spencer today (21 May) reported a 6.5% drop in annual group profits as higher operating costs and poor sales of general merchandise - which includes clothing and footwear - continued to weigh on its performance.
US: Saks Q1 profit slumps 37.8% but sales rise
21 May 2013
Luxury retailer Saks has today (21 May) posted a 37.8% decline in first-quarter net profit after it was weighed down by store closing costs and debt-extinguishment losses.
US: Dick's Sporting Goods Q1 profit rises 13.4%
21 May 2013
Sportswear retailer Dick's Sporting Goods has today (21 May) reported a 13.4% jump in first-quarter net profit despite lower-than-expected sales growth.
FRANCE: LVMH rejects regulator findings over Hermès stake
20 May 2013
LVMH says it "vigorously contests" the conclusions of a leaked report by France's financial markets regulator that it carefully prepared, over several years, an increase in its shareholding in luxury fashion goods rival Hermès.
US: JC Penney Q1 losses more than double
17 May 2013
Weak sales, clearance deals and promotions have led struggling US department store retailer JC Penney Company to more than double its losses in the first quarter.
