The Dress Barn Inc. (DBRN) recently reported fiscal 2010 first-quarter results. The company recorded a GAAP net income of $21.7 million, a growth of nearly 10% over GAAP net earnings of $19.7 million posted in the year-ago period. Excluding certain items, adjusted earnings per share came in at 37 cents, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 12%, or 4 cents. The company reported a 7.4% growth in net sales to $404.1 million during the quarter, compared to $376.4 million in the year-ago quarter. The growth was primarily driven by a 4% increase in same-store sales coupled with the addition of 47 stores in the last one-year period. In terms of divisions, same-store sales expanded by 5% in Dressbarn stores, while it grew by 4% in Maurices stores. Dress Barn also stated that it expects the acquisition of Tween Brands Inc. (TWB), a specialty retailer focused ...

Hong Kong apparel retailer Giordano has published its financial results to September 30, 2009. According to the report, its overall revenues decreased by 9.6% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2009 and its revenues from retail and distribution department decreased by 6.9% year-on-year. During the period, Giordano's retail and distribution revenue in Hong Kong and Macau [...]

Hong Kong-based apparel retailer Bossini has published its annual financial report for the year ending June 30, 2009, stating that mainland China was Bossini's only marketplace that saw revenue growth over the period. During the fiscal year end June 30, 2009, due to the impact of the global financial crisis Bossini's annual revenue decreased by 3% [...]

The Gap, Inc. (...

Shares of Dress Barn, Inc. (DBRN) are up more than 9% today on heavy volume of 3 million shares, compared to the average of around 1.14 million.

< ?DART(15);?> The company has made the Zacks #1 Rank Top Performers List for Thursday after announcing a merger agreement with Tween Brands, Inc. (TWB). (By the way, shares of TWB have soared about 30% in response to the deal.)

Earnings estimates for DBRN have been steady for the past month, but remain higher than 2 months ago. Analysts currently expect $1.05 for the fiscal year ending July 2009, which is 14% higher than 60 days ago.

Meanwhile, the consensus for the fiscal year ending July 2010 is $1.23, or approximately 17% atop this fiscal year's outlook. The past 2 months have seen an almost 13% advance in the guidance.

A Move to Diversify

Specifically, the

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Citi Trends, Inc. (CTRN) shares are up almost 7% today on news that JP Morgan upgraded the apparel retailer to "overweight" from "neutral".

< ?DART(15);?> However, even before the upgrade, earnings estimates for CTRN had been trending higher after a solid fiscal first-quarter report, which continued an impressive streak of better-than-expected earnings.

This Zacks #1 Rank Top Performer is moving on heavy volume this afternoon of about 488,000 shares, compared to the daily average of 259,000.

Good Growth Potential

This Southeastern retailer is one of those niche players that are bucking the overall economic trend. As a result, analysts believe the company could continue adding or expanding stores and, therefore, increase its square footage; hence the recent brokerage upgrade.

CTRN expects to increase selling square footage by at least 15% during its fiscal 2009. Also, in its fiscal first quarter, the company opened

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A.F. analysts clash… can the niche retailer survive the credit crunch?…Crisis begets steadfast citizens… Americans move about the country at lowest rate in 47 years…A long-term outlook on the American stock market…The latest sector to catch Chris Mayer’s attention…U.K. launches historic spending spree, hikes taxes to 50%..

If the credit-strapped suburban mall culture is truly on the rocks, how long do you think this can survive:

Lady Amaranth, Goth Temptress

Among our analysts, a debate brews at the heart of the current consumer conundrum: “Cutting-edge apparel retailer Hot Topic,” writes Wayne Burritt, about the purveyor of goth clothing and lip-piercing paraphernalia, “is loaded with attractive fundamentals and technicals, while its call options offer an oversized premium. Hot Topic is a mall and Web-based specialty retailer that has a proven track record in the often-fickle teen

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The international apparel retailer Hennes & Mauritz has announced that the company plans to open 225 new specialty stores around the world in 2009, and its first specialty store will be opened in Beijing this spring.
H&M says in its report that its newly opened specialty stores in 2009 will be mainly located in the United [...]

Urban Outfitters Inc's (URBN) share price took a dive a day after the apparel retailer reported flat same-store sale for November and cautioned of declining comps during the crucial holiday season.

The National Retail Federation forecast the worst holiday season in 6 years, and Urban Outfitters, which has generally been seen as a safe play in the retail segment, does not appear confident in its future performance. The company had reported a 10% rise in same-store sales in October.

Shares Urban fell as much as $14.70 in the early session, before paring some losses to trade down nearly 20% at noon.

"URBN" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?Zacks Investment Research