Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN) reported fiscal third quarter results on Thursday. The company posted earnings of $62.4 million, a growth of 5.3% from $59.3 million recorded in the year-ago quarter. Earnings per share came in at 36 cents, which edged past the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 35 cents derived from 28 covering analysts.   The company reported a 5.8% increase in net sales to $505.9 million during the quarter, compared to $478 million in the year-ago period. The expansion was primarily driven by a 2% growth in same-store sales coupled with the addition of 25 new stores in the first nine months of this fiscal. In terms of divisions, same-store sales grew by 3% in Anthropologie stores, while it reduced by 13% in Free People stores and by 5% in Urban Outfitters stores.   Urban Outfitters’ gross profit rose by 7.5% year over year to $210.1 million, while ...

American Apparel is a vertically integrated branded fashion apparel in downtown Los Angeles. Operating more than 275 retail stores in 20 different countries, the company recently announced its newest store opening in Victoria, British Columbia.

The store is located on Lower Johnson Street, a short walk from popular boutiques, restaurants and cafes in the area. The company renovated the 3,000-square-foot space with archive photos of the building’s original look.

“Lower Johnson is the perfect street for our brand and we were very set on having our only store in Victoria on this street as opposed to the malls or another more commercial street. We wanted this to be convenient to the loyal customers who had been driving all the way to Vancouver to shop at American Apparel,” Dan Abenhaim, American Apparel’s Canadian operations manager stated in the press release.

The store is American Apparel’s 41st Canadian store, and will offer

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Lowe’s Cos. Inc. (LOW) reported a 60% slump in quarterly earnings on Friday and guided to 2009 profit below market expectations as fewer consumers spent money on home-improvement items in the deepening economic crisis.

In the three-month period ending Jan. 30, Lowe’s was forced to make aggressive discounts on seasonal products due to stiff competition. The company’s fourth-quarter profit of $162 million, or 11 cents per share, fell a penny shy of the consensus estimate. Its quarterly revenue slipped 4% to $9.98 billion.

Chief Executive Robert Niblock said, “The economic pressures on consumers intensified in the fourth quarter, resulting in a further decline in consumer confidence and dramatic reductions in consumer spending.” Lowe’s also forecast earnings in the range of $1.04 and $1.20 per share for 2009 while analysts were expecting $1.50.

Though the Mooresville, North Carolina-based retailer said it gained market share from rival

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Tractor Supply Company (TSCO), based in Brentwood, Tennessee, focuses on the supply needs of recreational farmers and ranchers through 814 stores the company operates across the U.S. Tractor Supply also serves the maintenance needs of those who enjoy a rural lifestyle, as well as tradesmen and small businesses. The company offers the following selection of merchandise: equine, pet and animal products; maintenance products for agricultural and rural use; hardware and tool products; seasonal products such as lawn and garden power equipment; truck and towing products; and work/recreational clothing and footwear for the entire family.

Tractor Supply recently announced that its board of directors has authorized a $200M increase to its current share repurchase program. The program, established in February 2007, now totals $400M, and the term has been extended through December 31, 2011. As of June 28, 2008, the company has purchased 4.0 million shares for approximately

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