MARCH SAME-STORE SALES REPORT

Same-store sales results are in for March and the results are mixed. Same-store sales are calculated only for stores that have been in business for more than one year. Here is a breakdown of some popular retailers.

March 2007
Nordstrom +15%
Target +12%
J.C. Penney +10.6%
Saks +10.1%
Limited +8%
Abercrombie & Fitch +7%
Costco +6%
Wal-Mart +4%

The Wal-Mart sales increase was better than expected, but the company has cautioned that April will likely be flat and that quarterly results may not meet expectations.

WAL-MART SAME-STORE SALES DISAPPOINTING

On Thursday Wal-Mart reported weak same-store sales for February, continuing its sales slump that began last year.

From USA Today:

Also Thursday, Wal-Mart's board approved a 31% increase in the company's dividend, bringing the annual payout to 88 cents a share from 67 cents a share. The world's largest retailer said it plans to return more than $3.6 billion to its shareholders in the form of dividends during fiscal 2008, based on the expected dividend increase.

Same-Store Sales February 2007
Wal-Mart +0.4%
Sam's Club +3.9%
Target +5.7%
Costco +4.0%

MIXED RETAIL SAME-STORE SALES RESULTS FOR NOVEMBER

Retailers have reported mixed same-store sales results for the important pre-holiday shopping month of November. Overall, same-store sales rose 2.1%, the weakest increase since March. Comparisons of same-store sales are made only for stores open more than one year and compare November of 2006 to November of 2005.

Losers
Wal-Mart -0.1%
Ann Taylor -4.3%
Abercrombie & Fitch -5.0%
Gap -8.0%
Pier One Imports -15.3%

Winners
Kohl's +3.7%
Costco +5.0%
Nordstrom +5.4%
Target +5.9%
CVS +8.4%
Federated Department Stores +8.5%
Limited Brands +12.0%

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