Q4 bump not enough to salvage sluggish year

But for the full fiscal year, Kohl’s comps were nearly flat, declining by 0.3 percent, as were total sales, which were stagnant at $19.02 billion. Net income declined by 2 percent compared with 2013, falling to $867 million. 

Target turned in positive results for both the fourth quarter and the full year.

Same-store sales in the fourth quarter for the retailer were up 4 percent, driven by better-than-expected sales and strong performances in the company’s “signature categories,” it said--style, baby, kids, and wellness.

Sales also rose in the three-month period compared with 2013, increasing 4 percent to climb from $20.9 billion to $21.75 billion.

For full year, comps were up 1 percent, and sales increased 2 percent to $72.62 billion.

Earlier this year, Target announced its decision to close its Canadian division after less than two years in the market.

Target CEO Brian Cornell said in a statement at the time that the company evaluated the Canadian division and was “unable to find a realistic scenario that would get Target Canada to profitability until at least 2021.”

As a result, Target recorded after-tax losses from discontinued operations of $3.6 billion in the fourth quarter and $4.09 billion in the full-year.

U.S. same-store sales (excluding fuel) were up 2 percent in the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31 for Walmart. Sam’s Club, meanwhile, was up 2 percent as well during the 13-week period.

Net sales during the quarter for Walmart U.S. (without fuel) were up 4 percent compared with the prior-year period to $79.57 billion.

“Our fourth quarter was the first positive traffic comp we’ve had since the third quarter of fiscal year 2013,” Walmart U.S. President and CEO Greg Foran said. “Walmart U.S. had increased traffic during the six-week holiday season, with strong sales in seasonal, toys, home and apparel.”

For the full year, Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club same-store sales both increased by 1 percent. Total sales for Walmart’s U.S. operations for the 52-week period rose 3 percent to $288.05 billion.

Meanwhile, TJX Companies (T.J. Maxx and Marshalls stores) and Costco both ended the year with comps up 4 percent in the United States, and also rounded out with strong full-year and half-year results, respectively.

For the TJX Companies, comps in the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31 were up 4 percent, while net sales increased 6 percent to hit $8.3 billion. Net income for the company was $648.2 million during the three-month period.

For the full year, same-store sales were up 2 percent over the prior-year period while net sales increased 6 percent to $29.08 billion and net income for the fiscal year reached $2.22 billion.

The increases in same-store sales were driven mostly by customer traffic, the company said, with consumers responding to the “exciting merchandise assortments, amazing values, and effective marketing.”

Costco Wholesale Corp. turned in one of retail’s strongest performance for its most recent quarter. The company’s second quarter ended Feb. 15 saw same-store sales in the U.S. increase 4 percent over the year-earlier period.

Total sales for the three-month period, including its international operations, increased from $25.76 billion last year to $26.87 billion this year, and net income reached $598 million.

For the half-year results, comps were up 5 percent in the U.S., and net sales were up 6 percent to $53.16 billion. Net income for the first half of the fiscal year reached $1.09 billion.